India is rapidly advancing in the fields of science and technology, medicine and health, and innovative thinking. Each day, new discoveries, inventions and ideas are created, driving India towards an even brighter future.
The driving force behind this tremendous progress are various locations throughout the country containing research laboratories and academic institutes, in which brilliant individuals from around India collaborate to develop effective solutions to problems in the real world.
One location, in particular, is exemplary of having a rich cultural heritage and research environment.
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Kolkata leads in...
Kolkata, the City of Joy, is not just acclaimed for being home to Nobel laureates but also because it is called the 'Research Capital of India'.
According to the prestigious Nature Index 2024, Kolkata is described as India's Centre of Research Excellence. Globally, the city ranks 84th, which places it ahead of several established research centres in Europe and elsewhere.
This distinction stems from Kolkata's large volume and superior level of published research in some of the world's most reputable scientific journals.
Kolkata has ranked consistently as India's number one city according to the Nature Index Research Rankings due to the high-quality output of research produced here, the large number of premier research institutes located and the long-standing tradition of academic excellence.
The city has particularly excelled in physics, chemistry, life sciences and earth science research.
Kolkata tops the list
In India, the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (MA) tops the chart with a share of 183.40 and a count of 398, which is 12.5 per cent of India's total research publication output. Bengaluru ranks 85th, Mumbai MA at 98, Delhi NCR at 124 and Hyderabad MA at 184.
In terms of world rankings, Kolkata outpaced major international research centres such as Edinburgh, Helsinki and Geneva. Beijing ranked as the largest global research centre and Shanghai has moved into second place ahead of New York, which currently occupies the third rank.
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Legacy
The culture we see today was established over many years. Kolkata has been home to many of India's oldest modern academic institutions, many which were established before independence and continue to be at the forefront of their respective fields.
The Indian Statistical Institute influenced the way statistics and mathematics are thought of throughout the world.
The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science was the first to offer opportunities for conducting experiments in science in India. Institutions such as Bose Institute, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and IISER Kolkata are still producing a substantial amount of highly referenced and cited work from all over the globe.
Kolkata's academic heritage has been influenced by the same individuals that helped shape modern scientific thought on a global scale. Nobel winning physicist CV Raman conducted some of his early work out of Kolkata.
Another individual who is a key figure in modern physics is SN Bose whose legacy can be found in Kolkata as well. Both of their legacies still exist, but not just in museum displays or memorabilia; rather, their legacies continue through the methods that are used to conduct research; slow, methodical and uncompromising.
Why does the ranking matter?
The Nature Index is important because it measures impact rather than just the number of publications. It tracks contributions to a carefully selected list of journals, so it serves as a standard for research quality.
