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Mains Master Notes

TOPIC: CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................................3

MEDICINE....................................................................................................................................................................4

CHARAK SAMHITA ..............................................................................................................................................4

SUSHRUTA SAMHITA ...............................................................................................................................................5

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY: ....................................................................................................................................5

SHIP BUILDING AND NAVIGATION: .................................................................................................................6

CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS IN MODERN INDIA: ......................................................................6

SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN: ..................................................................................................................................6

C.V. RAMAN: ..........................................................................................................................................................7

SIR J.C. BOSE: .........................................................................................................................................................7

HOMI J. BHABHA: .................................................................................................................................................8

VIKRAM SARABHAI: ............................................................................................................................................9

DR. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM: ................................................................................................................................ 10

SATYENDRANATH BOSE: ................................................................................................................................. 10

MEGHNAD SAHA: ............................................................................................................................................... 10

HAR GOBIND KHURANA: ................................................................................................................................. 11

M. VISVESVARYA:.............................................................................................................................................. 11

SHANTI SWAROOP BHATNAGAR: .................................................................................................................. 12

SUBRAMANYAN CHANDRASEKHAR:............................................................................................................ 12

MAHALANOBIS P. C. .......................................................................................................................................... 13

PRAFULLA CHANDRA RAY: ............................................................................................................................. 13

BIRBAL SAHNI: ................................................................................................................................................... 13

M.S. SWAMINATHAN: ........................................................................................................................................ 14

CONCLUSION: .......................................................................................................................................................... 15

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS: ................................................................................................................... 15

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INTRODUCTION-
India has a strong tradition of science and technology since the ancient times which is
reflected in its polity, society and even in its religion. Be it distillation of perfumes, making of
dyes, extraction of sugar, weaving of cotton or the technique of algebra and algorithm, concept of
zero, technique of surgery, concept of atom and relativity, herbal system of medicines, technique
of alchemy, smelting of metals, and even the game of chess, the martial art of Karate etc. have
evidences to be found in ancient India.
This indicates the fact that India carries a rich legacy of scientific ideas.
Contribution of Indian scientists throughout the history-
1. ARYABHATA
• Around 499 AD wrote Aryabhattiya, in which the concepts of mathematics as well as
astronomy were explicitly mentioned.
• The book has 4 sub-parts –
1. Method of denoting big decimal numbers by alphabets
2. Number theory, Geometry, Trigonometry and Bijaganita
3 & 4. on Astronomy
• Astronomy was also called Khagol Shashtra. Khagol was the famous astronomical
laboratory in Nalanda, where Aryabhata studied.
• In Aryabhattiya, the aim of studying astronomy is to:
✓ To get the accuracy of calendars.
✓ To know about the climate and rainfall patterns.
✓ Navigation.
✓ To look at the telescope.
✓ Knowledge about Tides and Stars.
• Aryabhatta also provided that- Earth is round and rotates on its own axis.

Note: Arabs called mathematics “Hindusat” or the Indian art as it was learnt by them from India.
The Sulva Sutras is supposed to be the origin of Indian Mathematics. Baudhayan was the first
person to calculate the value of pie. Pythogoras Theorem is also found in Baudhayan’s Sulva
Sutra.

2. BRAHMAGUPTA
• Wrote Brahma Sputa Siddantika that mentioned Zero for the first time as a number.
• Introduced Negative numbers.
• In 9th century AD, Mahaviracharya wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha, 1st textbook on
arithmetic. He describes in detail the current method of finding Lowest common
multiple.
3. BHASKARACHARYA
• One of the leading mathematicians in the 12th C AD.
• Book- Siddhanta Shiromani, which is divided into four parts-
1. Lilavati (dealing with Arithmetic)- translated into Persian by Faizi.

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2. Beejaganit (dealing with Algebra)- translated into Persian by Faizi

3. Goladhyaya (about Spheres)
4. Grahaganita (mathematics of planets)
• Chakrawat method or the Cyclic method to solve algebraic equations was introduced
by him in his book Lilavati.
• In 9th C, James Taylor translated Lilavati.

Varahamihira’s Brihat- Samhita is considered as a pioneer work in the field of Astronomy. He

observed:
- Moon revolved around the Earth
- Earth revolved around the Sun
Medieval period:
• Narayan Pandit produced works of mathematics which include Ganitakaumudi and
Bijaganitavatamsa.
• Nilkantha Somasutvan wrote Tantrasamagraha, which contains the rules of
Trigonometric functions.
• Nilkantha Jyotirvida compiled Tajik.
• Feroz Shah Tuglaq established an observatory in Delhi and Feroz Shah Bahamani at
Daulatabad.
• The court astronomer of Feroz Shah Bahamani, Mahendra Suri, invented an astronomical
instrument called ‘Yantaraja.’
• Sawai Jai Singh set up 5 astronomical observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Ujjain,
and Mathura.

MEDICINE
• Atharva Veda was the first book which contains diseases, its cure and medicines.
However, the era of practical and more rational cure to diseases emerged around 600 BC.
• Takshila and Varanasi emerged as the Centre for Medicinal learning.
• Two important Treaties during this time were-:
1. Charak Samhita by Charak
2. Sushruta Samhita by Sushruta

CHARAK SAMHITA-
• Deals with use of plants and herbs for medicinal purpose. It has 8 components-:
1. Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine)
2. Kaumara- Bhrtya (Pediatrics)
3. Shalya Chikitsa (Surgery)
4. Salakya Tantra (Ophthalmology/ENT)
5. Buta Vidya (Demonology/Psychiatry)
6. Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
7. Rasayana Tantra (Elixirs)
8. Vajikarana Tantra (Aphrodisiacs)

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• In Charak Samhita, extensive note on digestion, metabolism and immune system is written.
• Charak is known as the Father of Sushruta and Ayurvedic Medicine.
SUSHRUTA SAMHITA-
• Deals with practical problems of Surgery and Obstetrics. Sushruta is known as the
Father of Plastic Surgery.
• His forte was mainly-
✓ Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery)
✓ Ophthalmology (ejection of Cataract)
• Surgery was termed as Sastrakarma during those times.
• The Buddhist monks took the Ayurveda system to Tibet and China from India.
Medieval Period:
• Sarangdhara Samhita written in 13th C AD emphasized on the use of Opium in medicines
and for urine examination in laboratories.
• The Rasachikitsa system dealt with treatment of diseases using mineral medicines.
• Unani system of medicine came to India from Greece with the book Firdausu hikmat
written by Ali-bin-Rabban.

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY:

In Vedic times, the materials on Earth have been divided into panchbootas. These panchbhootas
were identified with human senses of perception.
1. EARTH with smell
2. FIRE with vision
3. AIR with feeling
4. WATER with taste
5. ETHER with sound
Kanada and Pakudha Katyayana of 6th C BC first coined the idea of atoms and the material
world being constituted of atoms.
Kanada explains that material world is made up of kana (atom) which cannot be seen through
any human being.
CHEMISTRY
• The development of chemistry in India was in phases through experimentation. The areas
of application of chemistry were-
✓ Metallurgy
✓ Distillation of perfumes
✓ Making of dyes and pigments
✓ Extraction of sugar
✓ Production of paper
✓ Production of gunpowder
✓ Casting of canons etc.

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• In India, Chemistry was called Rasayan Shastra, Rasatantra, Rasa Vidya and
Rasakriya. All of which means science of liquids. Chemists were referred to as
Rasadanya.
• Development of metallurgy started from the Iron Age. The idea may have been borrowed
from Mesopotamia.
• Best evidences of Indian metallurgy are Iron Pillar near QUTUB MINAR in Delhi and
an Idol of Gautama buddha in Sultanganj, Bihar.
• One of the famous chemist or alchemists of ancient times was Nagarjuna during 10th C
AD.
- He wrote a treatise Rasaratnakara., a book on chemistry and is in the form of
dialogue between him and the Gods. The treatise deals with preparation of liquids
(mainly Mercury).
- He also wrote Uttaratantra which is a supplement to Sushruta Samhita and deals
with preparation of medicinal drugs.
• Use of paper began in medieval period. Kashmir, Patna, Murshidabad, Ahmedabad,
Aurangabad, Mysore, etc. were well known center of paper production.
• After the advent of Mughals, the manufacture of gunpowder and its usage in guns also
started in India. Saltpetre, Sulphur and charcoal were used in different ratios to produce
different varieties of gunpowder. The casting of canons explicitly mentioned in Tujuk-i-
Baburi.
• Ain-i-Akbari discusses the “regulation of perfume office”.
• Varahamihir contributed in the field of geology, hydrology and ecology. He claimed that
presence of termites and plants could indicate the presence of water. The Earth cloud
theory was propounded by him in his book Brihat Samhita.
SHIP BUILDING AND NAVIGATION:
Yukti Kalpataru of Bhoja is a treatise in Sanskrit which deals with the various techniques used
in ship building during ancient times. The ships were mainly classified into two classes-:
1. Samanya (ordinary class)
2. Vishesha (special class)
The ordinary class is for sea voyage and had two types of ships-:
1. Dirgha type of ships- long and narrow hull
2. Unnata type of ship- higher hull
According to length and the position of cabins, the ships were classified into-:
1. Sarva mandira vessels (for royal voyages)
2. Madhya mandira vessels (for pleasure trips)
3. Agra mandira vessels (used for warfare)

CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS IN MODERN INDIA:

SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN:
o He was one of the great mathematicians India has ever produced and was widely
remembered as “the man who knew infinity”.

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o Ramanujan was the first Indian fellow of Trinity College, London and was also one of
the youngest fellows in the history of Royal Society.
o In spite of no formal education in mathematics, Ramanujan was interested in the
mathematics and his interest got reflected into his research.
o This research attracted the eyes of the Indian & western mathematicians. So, he was called
to Cambridge where he worked on Mock theta functions.
o Ramanujan Prime, Theta functions, Partition formulae & many more mathematical
formulas were his original contribution. His contribution also includes number theory,
infinite series, continued fractions etc.
o Among the most famous are Ramanujan Number- also called the magic number which
is 1729. It is the smallest number that can be expressed as a sum of cubes of two different
sets of numbers.
o The scientists & mathematicians are working to use the research of Ramanujan to find
out more facts about black-holes & formation of Universe.
o National Mathematics Day in India is celebrated on 22th December to celebrate his
achievement and raise awareness among people about the importance of mathematics
for humanity’s development.
C.V. RAMAN:
o Known for his work in the field of light scattering and nature of light which proved that
light is made up of particles known as photons.
o He and his student K. S. Krishnan discovered that when light traverses a transparent
material, the deflected light changes its wavelength and frequency termed as RAMAN
Scattering.
o With the help of the Raman scattering, the reason for blue sky can be answered (presence
of the air molecules in the atmosphere).
o Raman spectroscopy, which uses this phenomenon to detect various substances, is today
used in everything from quality control in the pharmaceutical industry (examining
active pharmaceutical ingredients in drugs) to medical diagnostics like understanding
the composition of tumors in cancer patients.
o IISc researchers showed how Raman spectroscopy can identify dangerous substances
such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at airports and border checks, and scientists
also showed how it can help drug discovery.
o Other Applications include: understand the structure of nanowires, molecules and their
bonds, used in remote sensing and planetary exploration (sense the minerals in Mars).
o Sir CV. Raman received the Nobel prize in 1930, and was the first Asian to receive a
Nobel Prize in any branch of science.
SIR J.C. BOSE:
o He was a biologist, physicist, botanist and an early writer of science fiction.
o He made significant contributions to plant science, and was a major force behind the
expansion of experimental science on the Indian Sub-continent. He was the first person to
prove that plants feel pain and understand affection and demonstrated the electrical
nature of plant stimuli (like wounds, chemical agents, etc.)

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o He invented Crescograph, a device for measuring the growth of plants.

o He pioneered the investigation of radio and microwave optics- a wireless coherer
(Radio Signal Detector) and an instrument for indicating the refraction of electric
waves.
o IEEE named him one of the fathers of radio science.
o He founded Bose institute, a premier research institute of India and also one of its oldest.
o He served as the director of Bose institute from its inception until his death.
o Awarded with various honors like- Companion of The Order of the Indian Empire (1903),
Companion of the Order of the Star of India (1911) and Knight Bachelor (1917).
o He also performed a comparative study of the fatigue response of various metals and
organic tissues in plants.
o A crater on the moon (Bose Crater) has been named in his honor.
HOMI J. BHABHA:
o He was an Indian nuclear Physicist, Founding Director, and Professor of Physics at the
TATA Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
o He was also the Founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay
(AEET) which is now known as Bhabha Atomic research centre (BARC).
o He was the first Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
o He founded the Cosmic Ray Research Institute.
o He is known for cascade process of cosmic radiations, Point particles, Bhabha
scattering and theoretical prediction of Muon.
o He was known as the Father of Indian Nuclear Programme.
o He suggested that atomic reactor should be used for peaceful purposes for reducing
India's misery and poverty (later on he talked in favor of having capability in nuclear
weapons).
o The country’s first atomic reactor- Apsara was established during his period.
o He received several awards in his lifetime such as Adams award, Padma Bhushan, an
honorary fellow of American Academy of Arts and sciences etc.
Indian Nuclear Programme:
To secure the country’s long term energy independence, Homi Bhabha formulated 3 stage Nuclear
Programme that make use of uranium and thorium reserves found in the monazite sands of
coastal regions of South India.
• Stage 1- Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR): uses natural uranium to fuel
PHWR to produce electricity and Plutonium-239 as a byproduct.
• Stage 2- Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR): Plutonium 239 undergoes fission to produce
energy. Once a sufficient amount of plutonium-239 is built up, thorium will be used in
the reactor, to produce Uranium-233.
• Stage 3- Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR): uses a combination of
Uranium-233 and Thorium for sustainable production of nuclear energy and make India
energy independent.

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VIKRAM SARABHAI:
o Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped develop
nuclear power in India.
Great Institution Builder:
He was a great institution builder and established or helped to establish a large number of
institutions in diverse fields. He was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad: after returning from Cambridge to an independent India in
1947, he persuaded charitable trusts controlled by his family and friends to endow a research
institution near home in Ahmedabad. Thus, Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947. He was only 28 at that time. Sarabhai
was a creator and cultivator of institutions and PRL was the first step in that direction. Vikram
Sarabhai served of PRL from 1966-1971.

Some of the most well-known institutions established by Dr. Sarabhai are:

1. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
2. Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad
3. Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad
4. Darpan Academy for Performing Arts, Ahmedabad (along with his wife)
5. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuramm
6. Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad (This institution came into existence after merging six
institutions/centres established by Sarabhai)
7. Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam
8. Varaiable Energy Cyclotron Project, Calcutta
9. Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad
10. Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Jaduguda, Bihar

Father of Indian Space Program

The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was one of his greatest
achievements. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme
for a developing country like India after the Russian Sputnik launch. Dr. Sarabhai emphasized the
importance of a space program in his quote:
"There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there
is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically
advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. "
"But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community
of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real
problems of man and society."
Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India's nuclear science program,
supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This center was
established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily
because of its proximity to the equator. After a remarkable effort in setting up the infrastructure,
personnel, communication links, and launch pads, the inaugural flight was launched on November
21, 1963 with a sodium vapour payload.

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As a result of Dr. Sarabhai's dialogue with NASA in 1966, the Satellite Instructional Television
Experiment (SITE) was launched during July 1975 - July 1976 (when Dr.Sarabhai was no more).

Dr. Sarabhai started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian Satellite. As a result, the
first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.

Dr. A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM:

The missile man of India, Dr Kalam had worked for 20 years at ISRO and was responsible
for developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at DRDO.
Contributions to DRDO:
o He directed two projects namely Project Devil and Project Valiant, aimed at developing
ballistic missiles.
o Played an instrumental role in developing missiles like Agni and Prithvi under the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of which he was the
chief executive.
o Played major role in the Pokhran nuclear tests.
o He developed five defence projects namely Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and Agni.

Contributions to ISRO:
o He was a part of Indian Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by Dr.
Vikram Sarabhai.
o INCOSPAR set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
o He was also Project Director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which
successfully deployed the Rohini satellite to near-earth orbit.
o He has also played a major role in development of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV).
SATYENDRANATH BOSE:
o He was an India Mathematician and Physicist specializing in theoretical physics.
o Known for his work on Quantum Mechanics in the early 1920s, in developing the
foundation for Bose statistics and the theory of the Bose Condensate.
o A fellow of the Royal Society, he was awarded India’s second highest civilian award, the
Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
o Known for Bose-Einstein Condensate, Bose gas, Boson, Ideal Bose Equation of state,
Photon gas.
o The name ‘Boson’ was given after his name and he is known as the ‘Father of God
Particle’.

MEGHNAD SAHA:
o Indian Astrophysicist noted for his development of Thermal Ionization Equation.
o This equation has been widely applied to the interpretation of stellar spectra, which are
characteristic of the chemical composition of the light source. It expresses how the state

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of ionization of any particular element in a star change with varying temperatures

and pressures.
o India had its first Cyclotron in operation because of him.
o He invented an instrument to measure the weight and pressure of solar rays.
o He was instrumental in the creation of the Calcutta Institute of Nuclear Physics which
was later named after him as Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics.
o He was the leading spirit in organizing scientific societies like the National Academy
of Science, Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Association for the Cultivation
of Science.
o He was the Chief Architect of River planning in India. He prepared the original plan
for Damodar Valley Project.
HAR GOBIND KHURANA:
o An Indo- American biochemist, received Nobel Prize for Physiology in 1968 for the
study of nucleotides in nucleic acids.
o He analyzed genetic code of the cell those are responsible for the control of protein
synthesis. He built different RNA chains with the help of enzymes and using these
enzymes, he was able to produce proteins.
o He also proved that the nucleotide code is always transmitted to the cell in groups of
three, called codons.
o In 1970, he and his research team were able to synthesize the first artificial copy of a
yeast gene.
o He also explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the cell signaling pathways of
vision in vertebrates (the structure and function of Rhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein
found in the retina of the vertebrate eye).
o He also received the National Medal of Science in 1987.

M. VISVESVARYA:
o An Indian Civil Engineer, Statesman and Scholar.
o He carried out various significant initiatives throughout his life, be it water reservoirs,
town planning or industry and commerce.
o He was Chief Engineer to work for Flood Protection System for City of Hyderabad
and also involved in the construction of Krishna Raja Sagar Dam of Mysore (without
using cement and smelting iron ore and was rather constructed using traditional stone
masonry and a lime-pozzolan mortar called surki).
o His other inventions include designing the block system of irrigation, which ensured even
distribution of water supply to parched agricultural lands across a number of villages, and
the introduction of automatic sluice gates on dams, which enabled storage of water well
above the crest of the weir of the dam.
o He was a renowned precursor of economic planning in India.
o He also set up one of the first engineering institutes in the country, the Government
Engineering College, now called University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering.
o He also played a major role in setting up Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which would
go on to manufacture fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

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o Visvesvaraya is a pioneer in setting up the Bhadravati Iron and Steel Plant. This plant
is known for producing high quality alloy & special steels and pig iron by using
charcoal (instead of traditional Coke).
o His birth anniversary is celebrated as Engineer’s Day on 15th September by India, Sri
Lanka and Tanzania.
SHANTI SWAROOP BHATNAGAR:
o A great Scientist and was known as “The Father of Research Laboratories”.
o He established 12 National laboratories like Central Food Processing Technological
Institute, Mysore; National Chemical Laboratory, Pune; National Metallurgical
Laboratory, Jamshedpur etc.
o He was the Founder Director of CSIR and played a significant role in building of post
independent S & T infrastructure and in the formulation of India’s S & T policies.
o He was the first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and played an
instrument role in the establishment of the National Research Development
Corporation (NRDC) of India.
o Bhatnagar jointly with K.N. Mathur wrote a book ‘Physical Principles and Applications
of Magneto chemistry’.
o His major innovation was an improvement of the procedure for drilling crude oil. By
applying colloidal chemistry, he added an Indian gum, which had the remarkable
property of lowering the viscosity of the mud suspension and of increasing at the same time
its stability against the flocculating action of electrolytes.
o The prestigious award "Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize for Science &
Technology" was instituted in his honor.
SUBRAMANYAN CHANDRASEKHAR:
o An astrophysicist, who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1983 for key discoveries that
led to the currently accepted theory on the Structure and Evolution of Stars.
o His contributions led to the eventual understanding of the stars and their evolution in the
universe, a particular star’s life that is characterized by thermonuclear fission,
supernovas, neutron stars, and black holes.
o Chandrasekhar determined what is known as the Chandrasekhar Limit (by applying
Einstein's theory)—that a star having a mass more than 1.44 times that of the Sun does
not form a white dwarf but instead continues to collapse, blows off its gaseous envelope
in a Supernova explosion, and becomes a neutron star. An even more massive star
continues to collapse and becomes a black hole.
o The Chandrasekhar limit is considered to be a threshold because of which life is possible.
o His other important works include energy transfer by radiation in stellar atmospheres
and convection on the solar surface.
o In 1995, NASA launched Chandra, an X-ray observatory named in honor of
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. The observatory studies the Universe in the x-ray portion
of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Effect of Chandrasekhar Limit:

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When the nuclei of lighter elements fuse into the nuclei of a heavier one, the collapsing of the
star’s core is prevented due to the resultant heat. Gradually, the condensation of the core
will happen.
MAHALANOBIS P. C.
o An Indian Scientist and Statistician best remembered for being one of the members of
the first Planning Commission of free India.
o He was instrumental in formulating India’s strategy for industrialization in the Second
Five-Year Plan (1956–61).
o His interest in racial biometrics and Anthropometry resulted in the theorizing of
Mahalanobis distance which is a measure of comparison between two data sets. This is
widely used in the field of cluster analysis, classification and Population distribution.
o He introduced innovative techniques for conducting large-scale sample surveys (E.g.,
Impact of 1943 Bengal Famine, rural indebtedness, tea drinking habits, family budgets,
circulation of rupee coins) and calculated acreages and crop yields by using the method of
random sampling.
o He devised a statistical method called fractile graphical analysis, which could be used to
compare the socioeconomic conditions of different groups of people.
o He also applied statistics to economic planning for flood control which later formed the
basis for the construction of Hirakud Dam.
o In 1931, he established the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta.
o Every year June 29 is observed as National Statistics Day in recognition of his notable
contributions.
PRAFULLA CHANDRA RAY:
o A renowned Chemist and is regarded as the Father of Chemical Science in India.
o He established the first modern Indian Research School in Chemistry.
o He discovered the stable compound mercurous nitrite in 1896 which paved way for a
large number of investigative papers on nitrites and hyper nitrites of different metals, and
on nitrites of ammonia and organic amines.
o He also researched organic compounds containing sulphur, double salt, homomorphism
and fluorination.
o He set up the first Chemical Factory of India, “Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Works Ltd.”
o It was the first Indian company of its kind to manufacture quality chemicals, drugs,
pharmaceuticals, and home products, employing indigenous technology, skill, and raw
materials. Some of these products included fire extinguishers, surgical instruments, talcum
powder, toothpaste, glycerin soap, carbolic soap, etc. popular during that period.
o He also established many other industries such as the Bengal Enamel Works, National
Tannery Works and the Calcutta Pottery Works.
o He was elected as the President of Indian Science Congress and Indian Chemical
Society.
BIRBAL SAHNI:
o Founder of Palaeobotanical research in India.

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o His research contribution in palaeobotany covered such a vast range of fossil plants from
Rajmahal Hills of Bihar, the most remarkable discovery of a new group of fossil
gymnosperms, to which he gave the name “Pentoxylae” and the anatomy and
Morphology of Palaeozoic Ferns.
o He found that stem Buaklandia, leaf Ptilophyllum and flower Williamsonia belong to the
same plant which he reconstructed and named as Williamsonia sewardiana.
o He founded the Institute of Palaeobotany at Lucknow, which was later renamed as
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany.
o Further, his work on the “Technique of casting coins in ancient India” set a new standard
in archaeological research in India.
o His contributions in geological studies include problems like the age of the Decan
Traps, the Saline Series and the timing of the Himalayan uplift.
o He was the recipient of the Barclay Medal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal in
1936 and the Nelson Wright Medal of the Numismatic Society of India in 1945.
M.S. SWAMINATHAN:
o Indian Geneticist and Agricultural Scientist renowned for his leading role in India’s
Green Revolution.
o He was Director General of the ICAR, and Principal Secretary of the Indian Ministry
of Agriculture and Irrigation.
o He also served as Director General of the International Rice Research Institute and as
President of the IUCN.
o He headed Farmers’ Commission (2006) and recommended that MSPs for crops
should be fixed at 50 per cent higher than the cost of production.
o He received the First World Food Prize in 1987 for developing and spearheading the
introduction of high-yielding wheat (Mexican semidwarf) and rice varieties into India
when the country faced the prospect of widespread famine and helped to bring about greater
acceptance of modern farming methods.
o He was also credited for his research on potato, rice, wheat, jute etc.
o He coined the term ‘Evergreen Revolution’ in 1990 to describe his vision of
'productivity in perpetuity without associated ecological harm'.
o He opened a research center, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, in Chennai,
India, in 1988, the pioneer organization behind the “evergreen revolution”.
o The Foundation’s projects collaborate with global leaders and rural citizens to protect
coastal biodiversity, promote biotechnological approaches to micro-level farming,
pursue groundbreaking innovations in ecotechnology, foster new methods for community
education and technical training, initiate low-cost and self-maintained programs for rural
Internet access, and empower grassroots-level food producers to take action toward
increased food security and sustainable development.
o He was elected President of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pugwash Conferences on
science and world affairs, the first citizen of a developing country to hold this post.

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CONCLUSION:
Thus, India’s scientific history dates back to Pre-Colonial and Colonial period. Post-
independence, our Constitution embarks on developing the scientific temper. The rising focus
on research and development in the present times has enhanced the scientific contributions of India
towards the world like discovery of water on moon by Chandrayaan-1 and its confirmation by
Chandrayaan-2, reaching to MARS planet in the first attempt etc. Further, creating new
knowledge, improving education, and increasing the quality of our lives will drive our young
minds towards pursuit of more equitable and sustainable development with the help of Science
and Scientific Community in the long run.

UPSC Previous Year Questions:

1. Discuss the works of ‘Bose-Einstein Statistic’ done by Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose and
show it revolutionized the field of Physics. (Answer in 150 words) 10
2. How was India benefitted from the contributions of Sir M.Visvesvaraya and Dr. M.
S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science
respectively? (Answer in 150 words)

Practice Questions:
1. Sarabhai’s contributions in space research gave him recognition as the Father of the
Indian space program. Discuss.
2. “We owe a lot to the ancient Indians, teaching us how to count. Without which most
modern scientific discoveries would have been impossible.” – Albert Einstein. In the
light of this statement, discuss ancient India contribution to Science and Technology.
3. Homi Jehangir Bhabha is considered to be the 'Father of the Indian nuclear
programme'. Comment

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