The long and winding R&D: While India tracks where publicly funded research money goes, it should track what it creates

India's research funding system suffers a staggering ₹3,000 crore in losses each year due to overlapping grants. Implementing a unified tracking system is crucial for monitoring all publicly funded research outputs. By utilising persistent identifiers and a robust digital framework, we can create an accessible record of research results, thus enhancing verification, discovery, and reuse while maximising the value of public investments.