West Bengal accounts for 3.96% of India's scientists in world's top 2% list, Jagannath Chattopadhyay says

West Bengal has 276 scientists featured in the 2026 World's Top 2% Scientists list across 16 universities and research institutions, according to data shared by Minister of Higher Education of West Bengal, Jagannath Chattopadhyay. Highlighting the state's representation in the list, Chattopadhyay said West Bengal's name was “shining in the top 2% list of scientists ”. India has a total of 6,953 scientists in the World's Top 2% Scientists list. They come from 1,759 institutions and universities across the country.

197 scientists associated with universities and research institutions in West Bengal have featured in the single-year citation category. They account for 2.83% of the Indian scientists included in this category, with an average of around 13 scientists per institution. 225 scientists are included in the career-long citation category. The combined figure of 276 scientists accounts for 3.96% of the total number of listed scientists from India.

Also read Jadavpur University has 63 researchers in top 2% scientists list – highest count among state institutions

In the career-long citation category, 225 scientists from 16 institutions and universities in West Bengal have featured in the list. The scientists represent 5.77% of the Indians included in this category, with an average of around 14 scientists per institution.

Considering both categories, the data puts the average number of listed scientists at around 17 per institution across the 16 institutions and universities in West Bengal. It describes this average as approximately five times India's overall institutional average of four scientists.

Around 925 WB scientists feature in India's list

The data shared by Chattopadhyay also estimates that approximately 925 of the 6,953 Indian scientists included in the single-year citation list are Bengali. This represents around 13.3% of the listed Indian scientists. The document defines Bengali scientists as Bengali-speaking people or people with Bengali surnames.

Also read No lab, little funds, full-time job: Midnight equations land Tumkur University prof on top 2% scientists list

India's representation in 2026 list

India has 6,953 scientists in the single-year citation category in 2026, representing 2.79% of the 2,49,310 people listed worldwide. These scientists are associated with 1,759 institutions and universities across India, with an average of around four scientists per institution.

In the career-long citation category, India has 3,898 scientists from 1,185 institutions and universities. They account for 1.6% of the 2,43,949 people listed worldwide, with an average of around four scientists per institution. The data shared by Minister Chattopadhyay highlights West Bengal's representation across both categories of the 2026 World's Top 2% Scientists list.