A new NITI Aayog report reveals that even when funds exist, they get lost in paperwork, delays, and rigid rules. Young talent? There’s plenty of it; but few want to stick around when fellowships are delayed, positions stay vacant, and research feels like bureaucracy with a lab coat. The real shocker? Most research still runs on government handouts; private players and philanthropists are barely showing up. If India wants to compete globally, it can’t just build labs; it needs to fix the system that runs them. Because right now, even the brightest minds are asking: Is this worth the wait?