The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) recently elected a new class of fellows, including prominent industrialists and business leaders. This year’s selections, which feature chairpersons from Reliance Industries , Aditya Birla Group , and Tata Group , have drawn criticism from the scientific community.
INSA introduced two new fellowship categories two years ago. These categories, titled science for society and science for translation , aim to recognize non-scientists. The academy seeks to acknowledge their significant contributions to society and the economy through science and technology. Annually, 20 fellows are selected from each of these two new categories. They form part of a total intake of 100 new fellows for INSA.
New INSA Fellows
The following individuals are among the prominent new fellows:
| Name | Affiliation/Role | Category Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mukesh Ambani | Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries | First list |
| Kumar Mangalam Birla | Chairman, Aditya Birla Group | First list |
| Naushad Forbes | Co-Chairman, Forbes | First list |
| Natarajan Chandrasekaran | Chairman, Tata Group | Second list |
| Nadir Burjorji Godrej | Managing Director, Godrej | Second list |
| Rohit Srivathsa | CTO, Microsoft | Second list |
INSA Justifies Diversification
INSA president explained the academy’s rationale for these new selections. The president told The Hindu that while most fellows traditionally focus on scientific creation, INSA believes at least 20% should be associated with science’s consumption and use. This new approach aims to create opportunities and broaden the scope of recognized contributions.
Scientific Community Expresses Criticism
The inclusion of business leaders has faced strong opposition from within the scientific community. Critics question the criteria and the potential impact on INSA’s traditional focus on pure scientific research and merit.
An earth scientist voiced concerns on X (formerly Twitter). He highlighted perceived inconsistencies in the nomination process. The scientist noted difficulties with his own nomination, while Mukesh Ambani was successfully elected. He questioned the lack of protest from fellow academics regarding Ambani’s inclusion, referencing past strong objections to other nominations.
Traditional Fellowship Selection Process
For INSA’s established fellowship categories, scientist fellows nominate their peers. Selection for these traditional positions depends on several factors. These include papers published in scientific journals and a nominee’s overall contribution to their specific field of science. The new “science for society” and “science for translation” categories follow distinct, recently introduced eligibility guidelines.