A Free Hand – Science Must Be Free to Be Useful : THE HINDU EDITORIAL SIMPLIFIED

A Free Hand – Science Must Be Free to Be Useful

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1. New Government Orders

• Scientists call the new rules revolutionary.

• Now, scientific institutions can skip buying through GEM.

• GEM: A portal for buying low-cost, Made-in-India products.

• Before 2020, labs had freedom to choose vendors.

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2. Problems with GEM

• Example: Table salt (sodium chloride)

  • Used a lot in labs, but purity is very important.

  • Cheapest option may not have the required quality.

• GEM’s low-cost rule didn’t suit research needs.

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3. Impact on Research

• Research needs the same methods and materials for accuracy.

• GEM made it hard to:

  • Get the right materials

  • Finish experiments

  • Be creative in research

• Led to:

  • Failed experiments

  • Wasted time and resources

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4. Complex Materials

• Special tools (like precision machines, lab diamonds) need trusted sources.

• India lacks industries for such high-end equipment.

• GEM’s one-rule-for-all approach slowed research.

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5. Why Science Needs Freedom

• Scientific ministries are led by scientists, not just officials.

• Idea:

  • Science can help the government,

  • But science itself must stay independent.

• Bottom line: Free science is better than controlled science.

  By: Shivam Saxena