How to Become a Scientist in India: Complete Guide with Courses, Colleges & ISRO Career Path
It is one of the most challenging career paths in India. It is strictly for those who love solving real world problems. Read this Shiksha article to learn about the detailed steps of how to become a scientist in India.
How to Become a Scientist in India?
Becoming a scientist can be great for those who have a passion for invention and finding new solutions for the world's real problems. They play and important role in society as they invent sustainable technologies, find medical breakthroughs and even unveil the secrets of the universe. All this contribution shapes the future of the world.
The way to become a scientist in India starts from Class 10 or 12, when students choose science subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. After that, a strong academic foundation along with a bachelor's degree in science (B.Sc), engineering (B.Tech), or medicine is important for those students who wish to become scientists in India. Those students who wish to pursue more research-focused careers, postgraduate degrees (M.Sc or M.Tech) and eventually a PhD. are advised, as these degrees can help students gain a deeper understanding, expertise and hands-on experience in their specific field of interest. Read this Shiksha article to know how to become a scientist in India after 12th, the eligibility criteria to become a scientist and the top institutes to become a scientist in India.
Who is a scientist?
A scientist is an individual who discovers the unexplored, guided by curiosity and uses observation, experimentation, and analysis to test theories, discover patterns, and solve problems in nature, technology, health, and beyond. Scientists can work in labs, in the field, or even behind computers, studying everything from microscopic cells to distant galaxies. A Scientist is not just defined by a lab coat; they are known for their mindset of questioning, learning, and contributing their knowledge to improve our lives and to understand the universe.
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How to Become a Scientist in India? Courses, Exams & Career Path
Many think of becoming a scientist in ISRO, but only a handful of geniuses can fulfil this dream. If you are looking for an answer to how to become a scientist after 12th, then first of all, congratulations, because you are already on the right track. To get an answer, the right questioning is crucial.
Apart from curiosity, it takes determination, dedication and an unbreakable dream to become a scientist in India in some of the most renowned institutes like ISRO, DRDO, and NASA. Students, after passing class 12, can start their journey of becoming a scientist in India.
The way to become a scientist is tough but achievable with the right mindset, education, and dedication and with the help of a step-by-step guide on how to make that dream a reality right after completing 12th. To get started with, how to become a scientist after 12th, students must go through the following steps to understand the roadmap related to courses for scientists, subjects to choose in class 12, how to clear the entrance exam to become a scientist and more.
1. Choose the science stream in class 12 early
If you have the right guidance, it is great, but if you do not, make sure you choose the science stream in class 12, and your core subjects should be Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. This will make a better foundation that will help you during higher education as well.
2. Selecting the right courses for Scientists
Once a student completes their class 12 exams, they can go for graduation courses to make the first steps towards becoming a scientist in ISRO. Students can go for a bachelor's degree, such as BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BTech (Bachelor of Technology), as per their preferred subjects like Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology and more. This will help students get a grip on theoretical and technical knowledge in their field of interest.
3. Mastering the subject
The answer to how to become a scientist in India is not as easy as it sounds, because being good at science is not enough; one should have an endless curiosity, dedication and love for what they want to do. This process also involves deep research and advanced learning. After completing a bachelor’s degree, students must go for a master’s degree, such as MTech and MSc, to gain research-level work, mainly if a student’s wish is to get into a research-focused institute like ISRO.
4. A PhD degree is a must
For research-based roles, especially in India, future scientists must go for a PhD degree to get specialisation in their preferred courses. This degree will prepare the future scientists to be able to conduct research, become a pro at their subject and publish their original findings.
Useful Tip: Students must know that if they are planning to become scientists in India, institutes like IISc, IISERs, and IITs provide integrated MSc-PhD courses with great exposure.
5. Get hired for Scientist Positions
After completing a PhD in the preferred subject, it is high time to apply for scientist roles in India at various institutes like ISRO, BARC, DRDO, CSIR labs and ICMR. Students can also go for research Institutes and labs after completing their UG and PG degrees. They can start working as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) or Research Assistant. Some of the top research institutes in India are mentioned below.
- ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation
- DRDO – Defence Research and Development Organisation
- CSIR – Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- ICMR – Indian Council of Medical Research
- BARC – Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
- IIT and IISc – As research associates or postdoc fellows
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