Science is always suborned by politics! The dirty politicians have the money after all, and the scientists want the money. The conclusions drawn by the scientists also reflect the source of the money in positive ways.

As they await an answer, some researchers are giving the government the benefit of the doubt, saying a number of factors might have prompted the ministry to scale back the list of awardees. But, “The government now needs to reassure the scientific community that the awards will be given for scientific achievements and no other considerations are important,” Trivedi says. “And this has to be substantiated by giving clarity on what is the role that the different committees and people involved are going to play.”

Why would anybody give any government the benefit of the doubt? They are all crooked anyway? Can you tell me of one government that only does the job the government is supposed to do?