Tamil Nadu has emerged as India’s leading state in research publications and patent applications, according to NITI Aayog’s India Science and Technology Scoreboard. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra ranked second and third, respectively, in research publications.
New Delhi, November 3 — Tamil Nadu has emerged as the top state in India for research publications, according to the India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard launched by NITI Aayog on Tuesday.
The state recorded 44,611 research publications during 2024-25, significantly ahead of other major states.
Uttar Pradesh ranked second with 29,298 research publications, while Maharashtra stood third with 28,947 publications.
Tamil Nadu also maintained its leadership in patent applications, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The scoreboard has been developed by NITI Aayog to provide a comprehensive picture of the science and technology ecosystem across Indian states and Union Territories.
Releasing the report, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Kumar Lahiri said India’s further progress in science and technology would require a more active role from states.
He said the scoreboard, guided by the principles of cooperative and competitive federalism, would enable states to identify their strengths and gaps, learn from each other and develop better science and technology policies.
NITI Aayog Member for Science and Technology Abhay Karandikar said reliable and comparable evidence is essential for effective policymaking.
Until now, research and innovation data has remained fragmented across multiple sources, making it difficult for states to assess their performance.
The new scoreboard seeks to address this issue by bringing together ecosystem, research publication and patent data on a single interactive dashboard. It also provides trends over multiple years, allowing states to track their progress.
The platform includes data on higher education institutions, research and development institutions, deep-tech startups and incubators, along with research publications and patents.
It goes beyond measuring only the volume of research output.
The scoreboard also includes indicators covering research quality, impact, collaboration and open access across priority research areas.
It provides information covering three major sectors — academia, government R&D laboratories and industry.
States and Union Territories can also be compared side-by-side, while individual state profiles provide information about their policies and best practices.
Department of Science and Technology Secretary Umesh V Waghmare said the scoreboard adds an important state-level perspective to India’s national science and technology evidence base.
