Srinagar, Aug. 28 -- India aspires to become a knowledge economy, a global education hub and a developed nation. Yet a disturbing contradiction exists within its higher-education system: the country produces highly educated scholars while, in many institutions, failing to provide them with the professional dignity, fair compensation and working conditions they deserve. PhDs, D.Litt. and D.Sc. holders represent years of intellectual investment, but many academics continue to face low remuneration, excessive workloads, insecure employment and relentless institutional pressure.

This is not simply an employment problem. It is a national problem. A PhD is not merely another certificate. It represents years of specialized study, original resea...