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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 realized 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 analyzed 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>

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 realized 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 analyzed 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 recognized 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>

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 recognized 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 ==

== Activities ==

Latest revision as of 15:02, 9 December 2025

Indian academic organisation

IRW
Abbreviation IRW
Formation 2022
Founder Achal Agrawal
Founded at India
Type Non-profit organization
Purpose Promote research integrity and combat scientific misconduct in Indian academia

Advisor

 Sunil Mukhi

Advisor

 Subhash Chandra Lakhotia

Advisor

 Ganesh Natarajan

Advisor

 Shashi Kant Shankar
Website https://irw.co.in/

India Research Watch (IRW)[1] is a volunteer-run non-profit organization established in 2022 to combat scientific misconduct and research fraud in India.[2][3] The group monitors cases of suspected research fraud, plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, and related malpractice reported anonymously..[4]

IRW was founded in 2022 by Achal Agrawal,[5] 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 realized that a first-year student had published a research paper by simply paraphrasing another work.[6] In its early work, IRW analyzed public databases and launched anonymous tip lines to gather information on suspected misconduct.[7][8]

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.[9][10] IRW and its founder, Achal Agrawal, were recognized by Nature’s 10 in 2025. [11]

IRW published an article in  The Hindu presenting data on a rising trend of scientific misconduct by showing evidence from Retraction Data. This article was among the earliest in Indian media to discuss the country’s retraction rates in academic publishing.[12]

For example, in 2023 IRW compiled data showing that 58 papers by Indian Institutes of Technology faculty[13] had been retracted (for plagiarism or duplication) between 2006 and 2023.[14] 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 scrutinizing 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.[15][16] Citing alleged irregularities in NAAC assessments, Agrawal has proposed discontinuing the current NAAC rating system.[17] A 2025  Nature article described IRW’s work using the Retraction Watch Database to visualize and analyze retraction trends at Indian institutions.[18]

  1. ^ “Concerns Arise As IIT Faculty Retract 58 Research Papers Over 17 Years”. Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  2. ^ “Scientific Misconduct Rising, Warns India Research Watchdog”. IASPOINT. 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  3. ^ Pillai, Soumya (2025-06-27). “Indians are gaming US immigration to get Einstein visas meant for top scientists”. ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  4. ^ Agrawal, Achal (2023-11-16). “Alarming rise of scientific misconduct recorded in India | Data”. The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  5. ^ “Reactions: Retractions of Ethiopian-affiliated papers”. Chemical & Engineering News. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  6. ^ Basu, Mohana (2024-01-22). “This Indian watchdog is cleaning up ‘mess’ in academia—falsification, fabrication & fraud”. ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  7. ^ “The scientific world does not need more bad quality papers”. University World News. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  8. ^ Global, IndraStra. “Growing Cases of Scientific Misconduct in India Spark Worry Within the Academic Community”. IndraStra Global. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  9. ^ Pillai, Soumya (2024-09-11). “India’s research crime is getting worse. Scientists are gaming peer review system”. ThePrint. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  10. ^ “Indian Research watchdog is cleaning up ‘mess’ in academia—falsification, fabrication & fraud – Biotech Express”. 2024-01-04. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  11. ^ Naddaf, Miryam (8 December 2025). “This science sleuth revealed a retraction crisis at Indian universities”. Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03839-2. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  12. ^ Agrawal, Achal. “Alarming rise of scientific misconduct recorded in India”. The Hindu.
  13. ^ “Concerns Arise As IIT Faculty Retract 58 Research Papers Over 17 Years”. Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  14. ^ “Retraction of papers soar, but no clarity on action on IIT faculty”. The Times of India. 2023-11-07. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  15. ^ Pandey, Mohit (2024-07-01). “NIRF Rankings are Totally Flawed | AIM”. Analytics India Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  16. ^ “OSF”. osf.io. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  17. ^ Solanki, Saumya (2025-02-26). “NAAC under fire: Can India’s university ranking system be trusted?”. EdexLive. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  18. ^ Van Noorden, Richard (2025-02-19). “Exclusive: These universities have the most retracted scientific articles”. Nature. 638 (8051): 596–599. Bibcode:2025Natur.638..596V. doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00455-y. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 39972233.

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