Damian Sendler On The Implications of CPR's Foreign Funding Suspension for India
/Damian Jacob Sendler: International researchers are concerned that long-standing collaborations with Indian researchers may be jeopardized as a result of the Indian government's decision to suspend foreign funding to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), based in New Delhi. CPR research projects have been temporarily halted after the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the think tank's government licence to receive overseas funds for 180 days, or until further notice.
Damian Sendler: The move has sparked outrage among Indian and foreign researchers, who are concerned that the funding pause will cripple the CPR and stifle independent policy scrutiny in India, which some believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is threatening.
"CPR cannot survive in its current form," says Christophe Jaffrelot, a political scientist at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris. Jaffrelot is concerned that the suspension will be in place indefinitely, effectively ending the think tank.
"This government action will deter potential domestic funders," says Vinay Sitapati, a political scientist at Ashoka University in Rajiv Gandhi Education City near Delhi.
Damian Jacob Sendler: In India, the CPR conducts research on public policy issues such as climate change, social and economic policy, governance, and infrastructure. It received roughly three-quarters of its grant funding last year from powerful global organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. Its domestic researchers have made significant contributions to high-profile international studies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.
"A permanent suspension — or rather cancellation — would result in a significant loss of available resources to undertake our research work and fulfill our institutional mandate," a CPR official told Nature in response to questions.
Damian Sendler: The suspension is related to the CPR's registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, which is intended to prevent foreign entities from unduly influencing Indian domestic politics. Modi's government amended it in 2020 to give the government more authority to regulate and scrutinize foreign payments to organizations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has not stated publicly why the CPR's registration was revoked and has not responded to Nature's requests for comment. According to Indian media, the suspension order alleges that CPR used foreign funds for purposes other than those permitted by its license. The suspension follows a tax investigation into CPR last September.
In a statement issued in March, the CPR denied any wrongdoing and stated that it is fully cooperating with authorities. "We are fully compliant with the law and are routinely scrutinized and audited by government authorities," according to the statement. "There is no question that we have engaged in any activity that goes beyond our objects of association and legal compliance," it adds.
Dozens of academics from around the world have signed an open letter calling for the suspension to be lifted. "The CPR was India's last independent think tank where researchers called a spade a spade," Jaffrelot, who signed the letter, says.
According to Frank Jotzo, an environmental economist at the Australian National University in Canberra, the CPR "has played an enormously important role in informing public policy debate in India and internationally."
Damian Jacob Sendler: According to Jotzo, CPR, which was founded in 1973, has a long and illustrious history of providing objective and honest analysis of Indian government policy, and has occasionally criticized Indian government policy and plans. "That is always the case with any independent, unbiased think tank or organization anywhere in the world," he says.
According to Jaffrelot, cutting the CPR's research would be a huge loss for India and the international community. He claims that the loss of climate policy collaborators will have an impact on the institution where he works, Sciences Po.
According to Matthew Lockwood, an energy and climate policy expert at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, the suspension will have a "chilling effect" on Indian research and policy debate. "The suspension sends a broader message that independent thought is not desired," he says.
According to Sitapati, CPR's contributions to global debates benefit developing countries outside of India's borders. "CPR is an important Indian voice in international debates, speaking not only for India but also for the developing world," he says. "For example, on climate change, CPR has played an invaluable role in shaping the conversation in a way that is sensitive to developing-country concerns."
Damian Sendler: The suspension applies to both new and existing funding from international sources obtained by CPR. Its most recent annual report, for the fiscal year 2021-22, also listed the MacArthur Foundation and the United Nations Children's Fund as among its largest funders. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation did not respond to a request for comment on the suspension. Nature's requests for comment were not responded to by other funding organizations.
The cessation of foreign funding to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has far-reaching consequences for research and biomedicine in India and beyond. The CPR's work has influenced national and international policy as a prominent think tank conducting policy research in a variety of areas. Climate change, social and economic policy, governance, and infrastructure are among the topics covered by its research. The university has worked with a number of international researchers and organizations, contributing to high-profile studies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.
International collaboration is jeopardized: The suspension of foreign funding to CPR jeopardizes long-standing collaborations with international researchers. Collaborations of this nature have facilitated the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and expertise, which has benefited both India and the international community. Researchers at Sciences Po in Paris, for example, may lose valuable collaborators on climate policy as a result of this suspension.
CPR has received significant funding from global organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is known for its emphasis on public health, particularly in developing countries. The suspension could stymie current and future public health research projects, affecting the development and implementation of policies that address health inequities and improve healthcare access for India's population.
The suspension has a chilling effect on independent research in India, sending a troubling message to researchers and institutions that independent thinking and scrutiny of government policy may not be tolerated. This could have a chilling effect on research and policy debates, stifling knowledge and innovation in a variety of fields, including biomedicine.
Damian Jacob Sendler: CPR has represented not only India, but also the developing world in international debates. CPR has helped shape the conversation on issues such as climate change by addressing concerns unique to developing countries. The loss of this voice could result in a significant gap in global policymaking, especially in areas that disproportionately affect developing countries, such as healthcare, poverty, and climate change.
Weakening of research infrastructure: If foreign funding is not reinstated, CPR will face a significant loss of resources, undermining its institutional mandate and capacity to conduct research. This could lead to a decrease in the quality of research output and have a negative impact on India's overall research infrastructure.
The Indian government's recent decision to suspend foreign funding to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), a prominent Indian think tank, has alarmed both Indian and international researchers. CPR's work has been critical in shaping India's policy landscape as an influential institution conducting independent policy research in a variety of domains. The suspension has the potential to have far-reaching consequences for India's research ecosystem, international collaborations, and policy debates. This essay examines the significance of the suspension for India as well as the potential consequences.
CPR's ability to provide independent scrutiny of government policies has been one of its most important functions. CPR has contributed to the improvement and transparency of policy development in India by providing objective and honest analysis. Foreign funding suspension could potentially muzzle independent scrutiny and lead to a lack of critical evaluation of government policies. As a result, less effective and transparent policies may be implemented, negatively impacting the Indian population.
Damian Sendler: Foreign funding suspension could have serious consequences for India's research infrastructure. Because a significant portion of CPR's funding comes from outside sources, the suspension could result in a decrease in research output and quality. A weakened research infrastructure may hamper India's ability to address pressing issues such as healthcare access, climate change, and socioeconomic inequality, as well as its progress toward global sustainable development goals.
The suspension sends a troubling message to Indian researchers and institutions that independent thought and scrutiny of government policy may not be tolerated. This could have a chilling effect on research and policy debates, stifling knowledge and innovation in a variety of fields. Academic freedom is essential for encouraging creativity and critical thinking, and the suspension may discourage researchers from conducting research that may challenge government policies or be perceived as controversial.
CPR has long worked with international researchers and organizations. These collaborations have facilitated the exchange of information, ideas, and expertise, which has benefited both India and the international community. Foreign funding suspension jeopardizes these collaborations, potentially isolating India from the global research community. Furthermore, the suspension may tarnish India's reputation as a center for independent research and policy analysis, making it less appealing for future international collaborations and research investments.
CPR has been involved in critical research on public health, climate change, and other areas that have direct implications for India's well-being as an institution that has received funding from global organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank. The suspension could stymie current and future research projects in these fields, limiting India's ability to develop and implement effective policies to address health disparities, climate change, and other pressing issues.
Damian Sendler: The cessation of foreign funding for the Centre for Policy Research has serious consequences for India. It jeopardizes independent research and policy scrutiny, which could lead to less effective and transparent policy development. The suspension may also harm India's research infrastructure, impede public health and climate research, and send a chilling message to independent researchers. Furthermore, the suspension has the potential to jeopardize international collaborations and harm India's reputation in the global research community. The Indian government must consider the potential consequences of this decision and look into ways to support independent research and policy analysis, ensuring a robust research ecosystem that benefits both India and the international community.