The Silent Struggle of India’s Scholars: Why PhD Holders Still Wait for Dignity and Opportunity-Dr.Pratik Mungekar

In a nation that speaks proudly of its demographic dividend and dreams of becoming a global knowledge hub, the plight of its most educated citizens remains an uncomfortable contradiction. Across India, numerous individuals who have earned a PhD from the country’s top universities and elite research institutions often face an uncertain and discouraging future. They carry with them not just degrees, but years of hard work, research, and sacrifice. Yet when they step beyond the gates of academia, many are greeted not with opportunities, but with silence. Some remain unemployed for months or years. Others manage to find work, but only on temporary contracts. And shockingly, many earn salaries that are no greater than the modest stipends they received as research fellows during their PhD years.

This is not a fringe issue. It is a reflection of something deeper and more troubling in how we as a society value knowledge, research, and intellectual labor. To become a PhD holder in India is to enter into a long, demanding journey—one that tests the limits of endurance, patience, and critical thinking. But what lies at the end of that journey is often far removed from the aspirations with which it began. For many, instead of a secure job or a respected position, there is frustration, financial instability, and a growing sense of alienation.

One of the key reasons for this crisis is the widening disconnect between research and employment. While PhD programs focus on deep, domain-specific study, the job market—especially in the private sector—is oriented toward speed, profit, and immediate applicability. Many research scholars, especially those from fundamental sciences, social sciences, or humanities, find themselves with little visibility or recognition in industries that value applied skills over academic depth. Even in technical fields, research is often treated as a luxury rather than a necessity.

Compounding this is the shrinking space within academia itself. The traditional pathway for a PhD graduate—becoming a faculty member in a university—has become increasingly narrow. Government universities suffer from delayed recruitment, frozen posts, and bureaucratic red tape. Private institutions, while growing rapidly, are often unwilling to pay salaries that reflect the qualifications of a PhD holder. In many cases, a freshly appointed lecturer earns as much—or even less—than they did while on a research fellowship. This is not just economically unjust; it is deeply demoralizing.

Equally troubling is the lack of structured support systems. In many of our top institutions, there is no dedicated career cell for PhD graduates. There are no workshops that help scholars translate their research into policy briefs, business plans, or public-facing narratives. Most scholars are left to figure out their career transitions on their own—often without the networks, exposure, or industry insights needed to make informed decisions. The result is a growing sense of being “overqualified but unwanted,” as scholars watch their peers in the corporate or administrative world move ahead financially and socially.

Behind these numbers and narratives lie countless personal stories—of families who supported a child’s dream only to see them return home unemployed; of young researchers who delay marriage, homeownership, or even basic healthcare due to financial insecurity; of brilliant minds who slowly lose their confidence and sense of purpose in a system that seems indifferent to their efforts. The emotional toll is immense. Many scholars battle depression, anxiety, and self-doubt—not because they lacked ability, but because the system lacked empathy and vision.

And yet, this crisis is not inevitable. It is the result of choices—policy decisions, institutional neglect, and a societal failure to value research as a form of national service. The solutions, though complex, are within reach. India urgently needs to build bridges between research and industry, to create roles where doctoral training is an asset, not an afterthought. Postdoctoral research must be institutionalized and funded with dignity. Public and private sectors must revise their pay structures to reflect the depth of training and the intellectual labor of PhD holders. Universities must be equipped with placement cells and career support systems tailored for research scholars. And above all, we need a cultural shift: to see research not just as an academic exercise, but as a vital engine of progress—one that deserves investment, recognition, and respect.

If India truly wishes to lead in innovation, technology, and sustainable development, then it cannot afford to let its most qualified minds languish. A PhD is not just a certificate. It is a symbol of discipline, creativity, and perseverance. To neglect those who carry that symbol is to squander a national resource. Let us not wait until our brightest scholars turn away from research in disillusionment, or leave the country in search of recognition abroad. Let us act now—to restore dignity, to build opportunities, and to honor the promise we make to every student who dares to dream beyond the obvious.