SILVER LININGS IN INDIAN RESEARCH FUNDING SCENARIO: A STUDY OF SCIENTOMETRICS DIMENSIONS OF RESEARCH FUNDED BY DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY DURING 2003-2017

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of research performed in institutes supported by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. Articles from the Scopus database were searched and identified where funding source was acknowledged as DAE. Around 8240 articles were retrieved. The study revealed the exponential growth in immediacy index in the research, funded by DAE, indicating the trendiness in research with cited to uncited articles ratio of 12.55:1. Leimkuhlar model of BradfordÅs distribution yielded 26 core journals where 25.13% of the published articles were distributed. India has a strong collaboration with USA, China, Germany and Russia in the research activity funded by DAE. The analysis also found that DAE is providing ample funding for research under the areas of Biochemistry, Biology, Medicine, Spectroscopy and particle property studies in the selected time period i.e. 2003- 2017. DAE being a premier government research funding organization in India, the outcome of the study may helpful to the government and policy makers of DAE for deciding their future course of action in providing budgets for research.

Keywords: Scientometrics, Research Funding, Keyword Analysis, BradfordÅs Law, Science Mapping, Leimkuhlar model