Research Fraud in India's Higher Education

Research fraud is a global problem exacerbated by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In India, this issue is acute within the higher education sector, where both journal publications and retractions are increasing. However, retractions do not fully capture the extent of research fraud, as many fraudulent publications escape notice.

Causes of Research Fraud

• The 'publish or perish' culture is often blamed for the epidemic.
• The institutional bias favors publishing over teaching, driven by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Faculty members are rewarded for publishing with promotions and other benefits, whereas teaching does not offer similar incentives.

Rationale for Publishing Over Teaching

• National and global university rankings reward publications but not teaching, encouraging HEIs to focus on publishing.
• Research is believed to improve teaching, although evidence does not support this.
• The Academic Performance Indicator (API) introduced in 2010 emphasizes publications for faculty promotions.
• The 2025 UGC draft regulations aim to reduce focus on quantifiable metrics like publications, but the current focus remains.

Challenges and Criticisms

• All types of HEIs require publishing, regardless of their infrastructure, human capital, or academic environment.
• The emphasis on research is impractical without necessary resources and balance in responsibilities.
• The 'publish or perish' culture leads to fraudulent practices by faculty and students to secure rankings and benefits.
• 80% of students in India's HEIs are undergraduates who need effective teachers more than researchers.

The preference for research over teaching primarily serves to boost university rankings and faculty members' individual gains, contributing to research fraud but not to India's knowledge sector.