India’s university research funding among the lowest worldwide, warns MP

India's university research funding ranks among the lowest globally, hindering progress and innovation, warns MP C.N. Manjunath.

Research has taken a back seat due to a paucity of funds in almost all universities. The allocation of funds for research activities in universities is the lowest in India compared to the rest of the world, lamented C.N. Manjunath, Member of Lok Sabha from the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency.

Delivering the convocation address at the 12th and 13th convocations of Karnataka Sanskrit University, held in the city on Tuesday, he said, “It is imperative for both the State and the University Grants Commission to allocate sufficient funds for research activities. Without research, there is no progress, no innovation, and no new ideas. Research is the lifeline of discoveries and innovations. Without it, the learning process will become stagnant,” Dr. Manjunath said. 

He said Sanskrit was not just a language but “an expression of our highest moral values, ethics, and cultural heritage”. It is a medium that teaches us not only how to speak but also how to live — a guiding force for a balanced, meaningful, and happy life. Historically, Sanskrit has been at the heart of India’s intellectual and cultural evolution, he said. 

“Sanskrit is truly the mother of many languages, influencing linguistic traditions across the world. Among the 22 languages recognised in the Constitution of India, it stands as one of the most ancient and foundational. It shares historical contemporaneity with classical languages like Greek and Latin, yet continues to remain relevant in modern times,” the MP said. 

He further said that the contributions of Sanskrit scholars and writers to human knowledge were immense and unparalleled. “From philosophy and education to mathematics, science, ancient medicine, astronomy, and even physics, Sanskrit literature has enriched every sphere of human understanding. The wisdom contained in texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and classical treatises continues to inspire generations across the globe,” he said.  

At this convocation, 53 students were awarded gold medals instituted by various endowments for securing top ranks in different disciplines. A total of 36 research scholars were awarded PhD (Vidyavaridhi) degrees for successfully completing their research in various fields such as Sanskrit, Vedas, philosophy, literature, and yoga. Meanwhile, 917 students who passed undergraduate and postgraduate examinations during 2023–24 and 2024–25 were conferred degrees, including Shastri (B.A.), Acharya (M.A.), and M.Sc. in Yoga and Yoga Therapy.