If you want to be a researcher then you need to do PhD and then add on your research experience in different research institutes. Now if you wish to be a researcher, the first thing is that in which area you will do research, is to be decided for you. If you want to go for pure sciences such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry etc then you have to do the BSc and MSc in the subject of your choice and after the MSc or BSc you have to qualify some entrance for the admission to the course of PhD or Integrated PhD respectively. If you go for the Engineering sciences, then you have to complete BTech or BE and the procedure is somewhat the same.

So as you are in 12th, you need to realize what is the field you are the most interested in and pursue a degree in that program.

Some of the top PhD entrances are-

• NET
• TIFR GS
• JEST
• IIT JAM

For more information regarding PhD consider the link below:

https://www.careers360.com/courses/ph-d-doctor-of-philosophy

I hope this helps. Wish you a great day!