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{{Short description|Indian academic organisation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = IRW
| full_name = India Research Watch
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| abbreviation = IRW
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| formation = 2022
| founder = Achal Agrawal
| founding_location = India
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| type = Non-profit organization
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| purpose = Promote research integrity and combat scientific misconduct in Indian academia
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| leader_title2 = Advisor
| leader_name2 = [[Subhash Chandra Lakhotia]]
| leader_title = Advisor
| leader_name = [[Sunil Mukhi]]
| leader_title3 = Advisor
| leader_name3 = Ganesh Natarajan
| leader_title4 = Advisor
| leader_name4 = Shashi Kant Shankar
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| website = {{url|https://irw.co.in/}}
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'''India Research Watch''' ('''IRW''')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concerns Arise As IIT Faculty Retract 58 Research Papers Over 17 Years |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/concerns-arise-as-iit-faculty-retract-58-research-papers-over-17-years |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref> is a volunteer-run [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]] established in 2022 to combat [[scientific misconduct]] and research fraud in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-13 |title=Scientific Misconduct Rising, Warns India Research Watchdog |url=https://iaspoint.com/scientific-misconduct-rising-warns-india-research-watchdog/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=IASPOINT |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pillai |first=Soumya |date=2025-06-27 |title=Indians are gaming US immigration to get Einstein visas meant for top scientists |url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/indians-are-gaming-us-immigration-to-get-einstein-visas-meant-for-top-scientists/2672046/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> The group monitors cases of suspected research fraud, [[plagiarism]], [[duplicate publication]], [[data fabrication]], and related malpractice reported anonymously.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-15 |title=Penalise ‘retraction hotspot’ universities, says integrity expert |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/penalise-retraction-hotspot-universities-says-integrity-tsar |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Agrawal |first=Achal |date=2023-11-16 |title=Alarming rise of scientific misconduct recorded in India {{!}} Data |url=https://www.thehindu.com/data/alarming-rise-of-scientific-misconduct-recorded-in-india-data/article67531607.ece |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== History ==
IRW was founded in 2022 by Achal Agrawal,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reactions: Retractions of Ethiopian-affiliated papers |url=https://cen.acs.org/research-integrity/Reactions-Retractions-Ethiopian-affiliated-papers/103/i5 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=Chemical & Engineering News |date=21 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref> an engineer and research scientist who earned a PhD at the [[Paris-Saclay University]]. Agrawal, a former professor of [[computer science]], became concerned after he realised that a first-year student had published a research paper by simply paraphrasing another work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Basu |first=Mohana |date=2024-01-22 |title=This Indian watchdog is cleaning up 'mess' in academia—falsification, fabrication & fraud |url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/this-indian-watchdog-is-cleaning-up-mess-in-academia-falsification-fabrication-fraud/1933904/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> In its early work, IRW analysed public databases and launched anonymous tip lines to gather information on suspected misconduct.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The scientific world does not need more bad quality papers |url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250122141243375 |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=University World News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Global |first=IndraStra |title=Growing Cases of Scientific Misconduct in India Spark Worry Within the Academic Community |url=https://www.indrastra.com/2023/11/growing-cases-of-scientific-misconduct.html |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=IndraStra Global |language=en}}</ref>

As of July 2025, IRW members, comprising scientists, students, and data analysts from various institutions, investigate tips about suspect papers and flag issues publicly (e.g., on [[PubPeer]] or social media) to pressure journals and universities to take disciplinary action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pillai |first=Soumya |date=2024-09-11 |title=India's research crime is getting worse. Scientists are gaming peer review system |url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/indias-research-crime-is-getting-worse-scientists-are-gaming-peer-review-system/2261884/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-04 |title=Indian Research watchdog is cleaning up 'mess' in academia—falsification, fabrication & fraud – Biotech Express |url=https://biotechexpressmag.com/indian-research-watchdog-is-cleaning-up-mess-in-academia-falsification-fabrication-fraud/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> IRW and its founder, Achal Agrawal, were recognised by Nature's 10 in 2025. <ref>{{cite web |last=Naddaf |first=Miryam |date=8 December 2025 |title=This science sleuth revealed a retraction crisis at Indian universities |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03839-2 |website=Nature |access-date=9 December 2025 |doi=10.1038/d41586-025-03839-2}}</ref>

== Activities ==
IRW published an article in [[The Hindu|''The Hindu'']], on 17 November 2023, presenting data on a rising trend of scientific misconduct by showing evidence from Retraction Data.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Agrawal |first=Achal |date=2023-11-16 |title=Alarming rise of scientific misconduct recorded in India {{!}} Data |url=https://www.thehindu.com/data/alarming-rise-of-scientific-misconduct-recorded-in-india-data/article67531607.ece |access-date=2026-04-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> This article was among the earliest in Indian media to discuss the country’s retraction rates in academic publishing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Agrawal |first=Achal |title=Alarming rise of scientific misconduct recorded in India |url=https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/58941/OPS/GF4C09HNK.1.png?cropFromPage=true |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

For example, in 2023 IRW compiled data showing that 58 papers by [[Indian Institutes of Technology]] faculty<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concerns Arise As IIT Faculty Retract 58 Research Papers Over 17 Years |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/concerns-arise-as-iit-faculty-retract-58-research-papers-over-17-years |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref> had been retracted (for plagiarism or duplication) between 2006 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-07 |title=Retraction of papers soar, but no clarity on action on IIT faculty |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/retraction-of-papers-soar-but-no-clarity-on-action-on-iit-faculty/articleshow/105025488.cms |access-date=2025-07-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> IRW’s analyses have examined possible links between institutional ranking systems and instances of research fraud. In recognition of its retraction‑data analyses, IRW received a Digital Science Catalyst Grant to develop PostPub, a platform intended to enhance research accountability. IRW has published reports scrutinising practices such as manipulation of NIRF rankings and irregularities in NAAC accreditation.

In 2024, Agrawal highlighted flaws in India’s NIRF ranking methodology and its susceptibility to manipulation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pandey |first=Mohit |date=2024-07-01 |title=NIRF Rankings are Totally Flawed {{!}} AIM |url=https://analyticsindiamag.com/it-services/nirf-rankings-are-totally-flawed/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Analytics India Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=OSF |url=https://osf.io/preprints/osf/f8apm_v1 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=osf.io}}</ref> Citing alleged irregularities in NAAC assessments, Agrawal has proposed discontinuing the current NAAC rating system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solanki |first=Saumya |date=2025-02-26 |title=NAAC under fire: Can India's university ranking system be trusted? |url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/2025/Feb/26/naac-under-fire-can-indias-university-ranking-system-be-trusted |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=EdexLive |language=en}}</ref> A 2025  ''Nature'' article described IRW’s work using the [[Retraction Watch|Retraction Watch Database]] to visualise and analyse retraction trends at Indian institutions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Van Noorden |first=Richard |date=2025-02-19 |title=Exclusive: These universities have the most retracted scientific articles |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00455-y |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=638 |issue=8051 |pages=596–599 |doi=10.1038/d41586-025-00455-y |pmid=39972233 |bibcode=2025Natur.638..596V |issn=1476-4687|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

At present, IRW is actively engaged in identifying AI-generated falsified results and detecting image manipulation in published research by Indian academics, while also conducting training programmes on ethical research practices<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gandhi |first=Divya |date=2025-12-12 |title=‘Publication retractions from India have skyrocketed since 2022’ |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/research-papers-retractions-india-skyrocketed-achal-agrawal-interview/article70388758.ece |access-date=2026-04-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 2022]]
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Research in India]]
[[Category:Research ethics]]
[[Category:Scientific misconduct]]
[[Category:Watchdog journalism]]

India Research Watch - Revision history

Mrav: Adding a article!