Rethinking Research Evaluation in India: Is the Ecosystem Ready for a Responsible Reform Agenda?

India stands at a critical juncture in its research and innovation trajectory. With growing ambitions to become a global knowledge economy, the way research is assessed in Indian institutions warrants serious introspection. Globally, the research community is increasingly adopting the principles of Responsible Research Assessment (RRA) to ensure that evaluation mechanisms foster quality, equity, integrity, and societal relevance. The Indian research ecosystem, however, remains tethered to outdated metrics and bureaucratic inertia. This opinion paper explores whether India is truly ready for reform in research assessment and what systemic shifts are needed to realize a more responsible, context-sensitive, and robust framework.