Bengaluru, June 13 -- union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday stirred a debate on the quality of higher education and research in India, asserting that many PhD holders have entered doctoral programmes 'by default' rather than by choice, aptitude or commitment to scientific inquiry.
Speaking at the RISE 2026 conclave in Bengaluru, the minister said India's education system had for decades encouraged students to view advanced degrees as fallback options when other career aspirations did not materialise, contributing to concerns over employability and the quality of research output.
In a candid assessment of the country's academic landscape, Dr Singh said a section of PhD holders struggling to find s...