How To Become A Scientist In India? Eligibility & Career Opportunities

Become a Scientist in India: If you are a naturally curious person, loves science as a subject, and are always ready to explore new fields, you may enjoy a career as a scientist. Learning about the role of scientists and the steps to be taken to become one can help you decide if this career is the right fit for you. The very first thing you need to understand to become a scientist is to understand that it is more than some degree or qualifications. Becoming a scientist is not similar to becoming a doctor or engineer.

Scientists observe their surroundings, do research and come up with new ideas. Indeed, it is not an easy task to become a scientist. Successful scientists are often the ones whose area of study becomes their all-time obsession. You must be passionate about your field of study and the results will be rewarding. It is a very well reputed and promising career which demands passion for the work.  Read on to know the basic guidelines to become a scientist in India.

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How To Become A Scientist In India?

Where you can work as a scientist?

The best thing to do is to start your preparation in high school itself. Opting for a science stream is an obvious step but the choice of field is also very important as you’ll have multiple options as a scientist, among which you need to acquire expertise in any one field. At the high school level, choose between a combination of PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) as per your interest. 

Get Specialization in your field: Pursue Higher Education

Now that you have decided on your specific area of study, you attain bachelor’s and master’s degrees in that field. There are numerous options available for the same. For example:

• Graduation: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), B.tech in relevant field.
• Post-graduation: M.Sc, M.E., M.tech or master’s degree in relevant field.

Selected your study area keeping available options in mind like Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Geology, Biology, etc. After your master’s, you can go for a doctorate (PhD) in your chosen field of study. You can apply for a fellowship along with a PhD which will support you financially during your research.

Career Opportunities: Where to work as a scientist?

With the advancement in sciences and technology every day, the demand for scientists is not going down. In fact, the world will always need scientists. They are important for the progress of humanity. Scientists are required in the field of agriculture, space, mining, defense, physical science, data science, engineering, technology, medical sciences, and many more. Both private and public sector offers job opportunities for scientists. Following are some organizations that provide employment opportunities to scientists:

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)
• BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre)
• DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization)
• TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)
• CSIR( Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
• ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
• IITM (Indian Institute of Meteorology)
• IASC (Indian Association for Cultivation of Science)
• ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences)
• ASI (Archeological Survey of India)
• Indian Air force

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Admission Process to Become a Scientist in India

In India, admission to these courses is either on a merit basis or entrance exams. After getting shortlisted for admission, some colleges also conduct further selection rounds like group discussions and personal interviews. Some of the popular entrance exams in India are:

• JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) Main
• JEE Advanced
• GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
• IISER aptitude test

Some of the best colleges for science in India that provides quality education are:

• Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)
• National Institute of Technology (NITs)
• Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)

Salary of a Scientist in India

After completing your studies at a reputed institute like IIT, you can earn around 5-6 lakh INR per annum in the beginning. With more academic qualifications, skills, learning, and work experience, the earning potential increases and there is no upper limit to what one can earn.

A learning mindset, scientific aptitude, patience, keen observation, curiosity, and staying up to date are some skills that will be an asset for your career as a scientist. The earlier you start working on these skills, the better it gets. All the best! 

Become a Scientist in India: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How can I become a scientist in ISRO?

ISRO recruits scientists from IIST, IITs, or NITs. It also conducts ISRB exams for recruitment.

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• How can I become a data scientist?

For becoming a data scientist, you must have an M.Sc degree in Mathematical Statistics along with coding skills, statistical skills, understanding of machine learning, etc.

• Is a scientist a good career option?

If you are genuinely interested in your field of study and have the right skills, then definitely, yes!