Creating Visibility for Indian Research: From Output to Global Influence

India is among the world’s most prolific producers of research—especially in medicine, life sciences, pharma, and digital health. And yet, Indian research often sits on the fringes of global influence.

We publish a lot, but we don’t always get seen. Or cited. Or acted upon.

This is not a reflection of our research capacity. It’s a reflection of the ecosystem in which that research is created, communicated, and recognised.

A National Imperative

The time has come for a cohesive, forward-looking National Publishing Strategy—one that doesn’t just measure output but cultivates credibility, discoverability, and ethical integrity. A strategy that sees publishing not merely as academic performance, but as a public good.

The goals? To elevate Indian research in global conversations. To improve trust in Indian journals. To ensure every region—every voice—is heard.

What’s Holding Us Back?

The hurdles are well-known:

- Fragmented publishing infrastructure with uneven editorial and peer review standards.

- Pressure to publish for promotions, often at the expense of quality or ethical rigor.

- Limited institutional support for writing, compliance, and submission processes.

- Lack of incentives for peer reviewers and editorial mentorship.

- And a perception bias—where Indian journals are seen as less credible, even when they host strong research.

In medical publishing specifically, where journal publications often drive career progression or postgraduate degree requirements, rigor and quality control are critical. Regulatory bodies like the National Medical Commission (NMC) have a role to play in setting clear, quality-linked standards for journal recognition and faculty appraisal.

We also need to acknowledge the subtle but significant role of ranking and accreditation frameworks. Whether national (like NAAC) or international (like THE or QS), these systems increasingly reward institutions that produce and disseminate impactful research. They are, in effect, catalysts for quality scholarship—if harnessed with intent.

What’s Working: Lessons from the Field

1. ONOS: One Nation, One Subscription

BMJ’s partnership with the Government of India under the ONOS programme helped unlock access to global research resources for thousands of institutions. But ONOS is more than a licensing initiative. It reflects a national belief: that access to knowledge is foundational to progress.

Yet, true participation requires reciprocity.

We must now find ways to amplify Indian-authored research—through indexing, cross-border collaborations, and investment in editorial standards.

2. IPS – A Home for Indian Research with Global Standards

BMJ’s Indian Journals Publishing Strategy (IPS) supports Indian journals with robust editorial systems, ethical publishing practices, indexing, and international visibility. It strengthens India’s own STM publishing capacity—offering a model where Indian research can thrive locally without compromising global standards.

This is not about outsourcing credibility—it’s about co-creating it, grounded in context, and powered by trust.

3. Building Research Literacy—Not Just Outputs

One of the most overlooked needs in our system is capacity-building—helping researchers write well, follow ethical practices, and navigate the evolving publishing landscape. We must destigmatise research—for too long, it's been seen as elite, difficult, or intimidating.

By creating safe spaces for learning, offering mentorship, and demystifying the publishing process, we can make research fun, simple, and socially meaningful.

And why stop with researchers?

Catch Them Young

Imagine if schools introduced students to basic research thinking—how to ask questions, evaluate evidence, write scientifically, or even peer review. These are not just academic skills. They are life skills—building curiosity, confidence, and communication.

If India is to lead in science, we must nurture a generation that values inquiry as much as innovation.

Rethinking What Counts

Beyond outputs and rankings, we must also ask: whose voice is being heard in our research?

Globally, there’s growing interest in patient involvement in research and peer review, especially in public health, mental health, and chronic disease management.

India, too, must explore this path—inviting patient advocates, lived experience contributors, and community stakeholders into the research process.

This doesn’t dilute science. It strengthens relevance and deepens trust.

A Call to Action

Creating visibility for Indian research is not just a technical project—it’s a national imperative. Our research must influence global policy, inform practice, and shape scientific discourse.

The world is not waiting for us.

But it is ready to listen—if we speak clearly, credibly, and collaboratively.

It’s time India built a publishing ecosystem as ambitious as its researchers.