Discover India's Achievements in Science and Technology

Science and Technology Development in India

India's technology spending is projected to reach approximately US$ 54.5 billion (Rs. 4.49 trillion) by 2027, making it the highest in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Advantage India

Robust
Demand

*The country remains among the top three countries in scientific publication as per NSF database and in terms of no. of PhDs, in size of Higher Education System; as well as in terms of number of Start-ups.

*94% of the total 8,067 projects under the Smart Cities Mission have been completed, with Rs. 1.64 lakh crore (US$ 18.97 billion) invested. All 100 cities now feature Integrated Command and Control Centres leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to enhance urban management.

*India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for space sector engagement according to the Science and Technology Minister, emphasizing the country's growing capabilities in space technology and innovation.

Attractive
Opportunities

*IIT Madras and ISRO have developed and booted India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip, the RISC–V Controller for Space Applications (IRIS), showcasing domestic R&D strength in space technology.

*India is home to over 1,800 Global Capability Centres, of which more than 500 specialise in AI. The country boasts approximately 180,000 startups, with nearly 89% of new ventures incorporating AI into their products or services. According to the NASSCOM AI Adoption Index, India achieves a score of 2.45 out of 4, reflecting that 87% of enterprises are actively deploying AI solutions.

*India’s drone market could grow from US$ 0.47 billion in 2025 to US$ 1.39 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 24.4%

*India filed over 86,000 AI patents between 2010 and 2025, accounting for 25% of all tech patents, with filings from 2021-25 seven times higher than 2010-15, and 63% originating domestically.

Policy
Support

*India's ambitious vision towards 2047 in science and technology emphasizing self-reliance and innovation-led growth, underscoring ongoing positive momentum in policy support.

*The Government has established a Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund worth Rs. 1 lakh crore (US$ 11.56 billion) under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). This initiative offers long-term, concessional funding for high-risk, high-impact deep tech projects while encouraging private sector investment.

*The Government has approved a Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 113.69 million) Venture Capital Fund for the space sector, anchored by IN-SPACe and managed by SIDBI Venture Capital, to furnish growth and early-stage funding to Indian space start-ups.

Rising
Private Activity

*In tune with Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi’s vision of National Hydrogen Mission (NHM), M/s Multi Nano Sense Technologies Private Limited, Maharashtra, has come up with a plan to manufacture Hydrogen sensors indigenously.

*Under the IndiaAI Mission, startups like Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, and Gan AI are building open-source models, backed by affordable GPUs, datasets, and global programmes to drive AI solutions in key sectors.

*Micron Technology Inc. is establishing a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat, with an investment of Rs. 22,516 crore (US$ 2.56 billion). The Indian facility will support assembly and test manufacturing for both DRAM and NAND products, meeting demand from domestic and international markets. Production capacity will reach approximately 14 million units per week.

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Last updated: Feb, 2026

Science and R&D Industry Report

Feb, 2026

Introduction

Modern India has placed science and technology at the core of its economic growth strategy, recognizing their role as key drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and prosperity. The country now ranks third among the world’s most attractive destinations for technology investments, with global corporations increasingly setting up R&D centres to leverage India’s talent pool and cost efficiencies. India ranked 38th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 among the world's most innovative economies. According to the WIPO Report 2023, India holds the 6th position globally for intellectual property (IP) filings, with over 64,000 patent applications, marking a major milestone for its innovation ecosystem. India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for space sector engagement according to the Science and Technology Minister, emphasizing the country's growing capabilities in space technology and innovation.

India has also emerged as a global leader in scientific research and space exploration, ranking among the top five nations in space capabilities. Landmark missions such as the Chandrayaan lunar program and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) have cemented India’s reputation for low-cost, high-impact innovation.

The country is now poised to play a larger role in offering satellite launch services for international partners, including SAARC nations, thereby creating new avenues of revenue generation. The government has introduced a series of forward-looking policies to position India as a science and technology powerhouse, actively encouraging both public and private sector participation in research and development. Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) has been rising steadily, supported by targeted fellowship programs that nurture advanced research talent across disciplines.

Meanwhile, India’s information technology sector continues to act as a backbone of this progress. Indian technology revenue is projected to reach US$ 315 billion in FY26, up from US$ 283 billion in FY25, reflecting 11.31% annual growth and reinforcing India’s role as a global digital hub.

Market size

India’s engineering R&D and product development market is expanding rapidly, forecast to post a CAGR of 12% to reach US$ 63 billion by 2025 from US$ 31 billion in 2019. Complementing this momentum, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is projected to touch Rs. 2,47,766 crore (US$ 28.8 billion) by 2025, growing at 45% CAGR, with demand for AI professionals expected to cross one million by 2026.

The global software outsourcing sector is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.54% from 2023 to 2027. Notably, Asia is at the forefront with a growth rate of 9.16%. Amid this expansion, India holds approximately 17.58% of the global outsourcing market. India boasts the world's largest developer workforce, with over 5.4 million software engineers. Moreover, its universities produce more than 500,000 new graduates each year, ensuring a consistent influx of talent.

The strength of India’s workforce underpins this growth. With 5.8 million professionals, India contributes 28% of the global STEM talent pool and 23% of the world’s software engineering professionals. Cloud adoption alone is expected to create 14 million jobs and add Rs. 33,01,060 crore (US$ 380 billion) to GDP by 2026. The job market remained resilient in Q4 FY25, with 82% of employers actively hiring and strong demand for roles in software development (29%), data analytics and science (26%), and sales (23%).

India is also a global leader in startups, ranking as the third-largest ecosystem with over 1.8 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups as of June 30, 2025. Of these, 34,000 are technology startups, including 3,600 deep-tech ventures driving innovation in AI, quantum computing, and frontier technologies. The ecosystem is further supported by initiatives such as the Rs. 1 lakh crore (US$ 12 billion) Innovation and Startup corpus announced in the Interim Budget 2024-25 and the Rs. 20,000 crore (US$ 2.33 billion) allocation in Union Budget 2025-26 to launch a Rs. 1,00,000 crore (US$ 11.82 billion) private sector-driven R&D and Innovation fund, alongside a Deep Tech Fund of Funds.

The space sector is also seeing renewed dynamism, with Rs. 211 crore (US$ 24.62 million) allocated under the Fund of Funds for Startups in August 2025. Upcoming milestones include the first private-built PSLV, a privately launched satellite, and a PPP-led Earth Observation Constellation, signalling India’s transition toward a vibrant commercial space economy. The Government has approved a Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 113.69 million) Venture Capital Fund for the space sector, anchored by IN-SPACe and managed by SIDBI Venture Capital, to furnish growth and early-stage capital to Indian space startups.

R&D expenditure has been on a steady rise, doubling from Rs. 60,196 crore (US$ 9.95 billion) in 2013-14 to Rs. 1,27,000 crore (US$ 15.34 billion) in FY24, backed by initiatives such as DISHA and ANRF across AI, biotech, space, and nuclear sectors. The India AI Mission alone has been allocated Rs. 2,000 crore (US$ 236.4 million) in 2025-26, a significant leap from Rs. 173 crore (US$ 8.6 million) in the previous year.

Innovation output has kept pace. Overall, intellectual property rights (IPR) filings clocked over 18% growth with healthy growth across all categories- patents, designs, trademarks, and geographical indications- reaching 7,49,946 in FY25 from 6,35,508 in FY24 as per the annual report for 2024-25. IP filings rose 44% in the last five years, climbing from 4,77,533 in 2020-21 to 6,89,991 in 2024-25. The sharpest growth was in Geographical Indications (380%), followed by Designs (266%), Patents (180%), Copyright (83%), Trademarks (28%), and Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Designs (20%).

India’s technology sector continues to expand its global footprint. The IT industry is projected to reach Rs. US$ 315 billion in FY26, surpassing US$ 283 billion in FY25. The Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem is also scaling, with over 1,800 centres employing 1.9 million professionals and projected to grow from Rs. 5,45,805 crore (US$ 64.6 billion) in 2024 to Rs. 9,46,330 crore (US$ 110 billion) by 2030. These GCCs are no longer cost-driven units but hubs of digital transformation and innovation for global giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and JPMorgan. India is leading the global capability centre (GCC) race and GCCs are expected to generate 10 lakh jobs in the country in next six years.

The Information Technology industry is undergoing transformative changes with automation and AI driving growth. IT contributes 12% to total services GVA and about 7% to India’s GDP, adding over US$ 280 billion to the economy. Hiring trends indicate a rebound with significant fresher recruitment.

India’s bioeconomy adds another layer of growth, valued at US$ 165.7 billion in 2024 and aiming to achieve US$ 300 billion by 2030. Together, these developments position the country’s technology sector as a critical driver of its ambition to become a Rs. 5,97,17,000 crore (US$ 7 trillion) economy by 2030, contributing around Rs. 85,31,000 crore (US$ 1 trillion) to GDP.

Global recognition of India’s progress is evident. India improves its ranking to 49th position (2024) from 79th position (2019) as per Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024 report. India is globally placed at 3rd rank in terms of the research publications. Research by Accenture suggests that AI alone could raise India’s annual growth rate by 1.3% by 2035. With sustained investment, policy support, and a robust talent pipeline, India’s science and technology ecosystem is evolving into one of the world’s most dynamic engines of innovation.

Developments/Investments

Some of the recent developments in the field of science and technology in India are as follows:

Tata Electronics Private Limited is setting up a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat with an investment of Rs. 91,526 crore (US$ 10.41 billion), supported by India’s Design Linked Incentive scheme for chip design startups and MSMEs.
Google announced US$ 15 billion investment over 2026-2030 for an AI Hub and data center in Visakhapatnam, marking its largest commitment in India to advance AI capabilities and services.
India aims to achieve an annual production target of 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. Hydrogen mobility pilot schemes have been initiated across 10 routes, incorporating 37 vehicles powered by fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines.
Adani announced a plan to invest US$ 100 billion in AI data centres over the next decade, linking data-center buildout with AI infrastructure and renewable energy.
CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited is establishing a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat, with an investment of Rs. 7,584 crore (US$ 862.21 million). The facility will be developed as a joint venture with Renesas Electronics America Inc. (USA) and STARS Microelectronic (Thailand).
As of December 2025, 136 projects with a total cost of Rs. 550 crore (US$ 57.82 million) have received funding, spanning emerging telecommunications technologies such as 5G/6G, AI, quantum communications, and others. Internet connections surpassed the 100 crore milestone in June 2025, reaching 100.29 crore, up from 25.15 crore in March 2014, representing a growth of 298.77%.
Under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, a total of 79 projects costing Rs. 334.02 crore (US$ 40.34 million) have been sanctioned to various industries for the development of defence technologies. Additionally, DRDO has established 15 Defence Innovation and Assessment (DIA) Centres of Excellence across the country. To date, 264 projects costing approximately Rs. 930 crore (US$ 112.32 million) have been approved under DRDO's Grants-in-Aid scheme.
Micron Technology has inaugurated India’s inaugural semiconductor ATMP facility, backed by a US$ 2.75 billion investment, to advance assembly, testing, and R&D for AI-enabling chips.
Ola Electric has announced a US$ 500 million investment to establish its state-of-the-art Battery Innovation Centre (BIC) in Bangalore. The BIC will recruit top global talent, including 500 PhDs and engineers, supported by an additional 1,000 researchers across India and various international centres.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% is permitted in the domain of Satellites-Establishment and Operations.
Under the IndiaAI Mission, startups like Sarvam AI, Soket AI, Gnani AI, and Gan AI are building open-source models, backed by affordable GPUs, datasets, and global programmes to drive AI solutions in key sectors.
India surpassed US$ 20 billion in cumulative and new investment commitments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), with significant contributions from major companies like Google, TCS, Reliance, AWS, and Microsoft. This marks a major milestone for India as an emerging global AI hub.
India is rapidly expanding its R&D tax incentives, customs benefits, and funding to become a global R&D powerhouse, especially targeting emerging and competitive areas like artificial intelligence, green technologies, biotech, and semiconductors. Policies include a Rs. 1 trillion (US$ 11.30 billion) innovation fund and aligned government support to attract global R&D investments.
Rs. 2,277 crore (US$ 257.2 million) scheme implemented by CSIR under DSIR focusing on capacity building and expanding high-quality human resources in the S&T sector. The scheme supports young researchers, senior scientists, academic collaborations, and promotes excellence in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical) disciplines.
A survey reported that over 40% of global firms plan to increase trade and investment in India, leveraging the fast-growing technology capabilities and the presence of about 1,760 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) working on advanced tech like AI, analytics, and product R&D.
South India continues to attract MNC investments in science and technology due to its skilled workforce, infrastructure, and pro-business governance, with firms leveraging the consumer base and policy incentives for sustainable expansion.
Indian pharma startups are emerging as key players in R&D innovation, integrating AI-led drug discovery and digital platforms. Investments in pharma startups reached around US$ 254 million in May 2025, reflecting growing investor confidence. These startups focus on diagnostics, biopharma ventures, and AI-powered screening technologies.
DPIIT’s partnerships with Roche India and YourStory Media leverage India’s robust science and technology ecosystem and skilled workforce to mentor startups, scale innovations, and promote inclusive entrepreneurship.
Under the Special Component Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), around 500 Science and Technology (S&T) projects have supported livelihoods and development of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, while 20 Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs (13 for SC, 7 for ST) promote targeted S&T interventions, social enterprises, and inclusive growth.
The Science and Technology for Upscaling of Natural Innovation for Livelihoods (SUNIL) programme boosts rural Economically Weaker Section (EWS) livelihoods through local Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) solutions, skill building, and social entrepreneurship with support from Knowledge Institutes (KIs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
India and Japan are deepening science and technology collaboration through the Japan-India Universities Forum 2024, fostering joint research, innovation, and academic exchanges to strengthen bilateral brain circulation.
On June 26, 2025, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) and Ohmium International have signed a MoU to co-develop green hydrogen power solutions, including hydrogen-driven microgrid prototypes, to support India’s energy needs and decarbonisation goals.
On April 25, 2025, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) signed MoUs with eight organisations to advance digital education, skilling, research, and innovation, strengthening India’s digital ecosystem and future-ready workforce.
As of August 2025, India’s National Supercomputing Mission has deployed 37 indigenously built supercomputers with 40 petaflops capacity, benefiting over 10,000 researchers, 1,700 PhD scholars, and 22,000 trained individuals, while the India Semiconductor Mission strengthens domestic chip production to boost HPC and AI capabilities.
In February 2025, India and UK have strengthened science and technology collaboration through new partnerships in next-generation telecommunications, AI, 6G innovation, and space technology, including a MoU between the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre (SONIC) Labs.
India plans to launch a constellation of 52 satellites over the next five years to enhance its space-based surveillance capabilities, according to the Chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka.
Daikin, the Japanese air-conditioning giant, has invested Rs. 500 crore (US$ 58.3 million) in a new R&D centre in Neemrana, Rajasthan, to develop products for export. This facility, employing over 500 people, will be Daikin's third R&D centre in India. It will focus on tailoring HVACR solutions to meet energy standards and technological advancements, enhancing synergy with the existing manufacturing plant.
Databricks, a leading data and artificial intelligence (AI) company, announced on April 24, 2025, a strategic investment of over Rs. 2,133 crore (US$ 250 million) in India over the next three years. This investment will focus on accelerating innovation in data and AI, with a significant emphasis on training, research and development (R&D), and go-to-market activities.
IISc researchers develop bacteria to repair bricks in space. A sample of the bacteria may now be sent to space as part of the Gaganyaan mission to study its behaviour in microgravity. With India planning future manned lunar missions, this development could play a crucial role in developing sustainable, self-repairing habitats on the moon.
In a key milestone for India’s semiconductor ecosystem, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and ISRO have jointly developed and successfully booted an indigenous semiconductor chip-the RISC–V Controller for Space Applications (IRIS)-signaling strong domestic R&D capabilities and new opportunities in space–tech hardware.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) on July 3, 2025, validating all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters and Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines, marking a major milestone for India’s human spaceflight mission.
In February 2025, U.S.-based chip toolmaker Lam Research announced plans to invest over US$ 1.2 billion in Karnataka to strengthen India's semiconductor ecosystem.
Hyundai to set up R&D investment in India under second phase growth strategy. Korean major plans to invest Rs. 32,000 crore (US$ 3.72 billion) over the next eight to 10 years.
Taiwan's Delta Electronics is set to nearly double its Indian workforce from 3,500 to 6,500 employees over the next five years. The company has opened its largest research centre in Bengaluru and plans a Rs. 4,300 crore (US$ 500 million) investment.
NXP Semiconductors to invest more than Rs. 8,459 crore (US$ 1 billion) in India as it boosts R&D efforts.
India is poised to establish itself as a global hub for drone technology, a development that is anticipated to significantly enhance the Indian economy. This initiative aligns with the government's Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs, as emphasized by Union Minister of Defence, Mr. Rajnath Singh.
India's space ambitions include plans to establish its own space station, the "Bharatiya Antariksh Station," by 2035, along with aspirations for an Indian lunar landing by 2040. This announcement was made by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.
Researchers have developed a novel technology for the precise detection of the HIV genome by targeting G-Quadruplex (GQ) structures, which are unique four-stranded DNA formations. Utilizing tailored fluorogenic tests, this diagnostic platform enhances reliability and significantly reduces false positives in HIV detection, improving overall diagnostic accuracy.
Union budget FY25 announces venture capital fund of US$ 119.5 million (Rs. 1,000 crore) will be established to expand the space economy by 5 times over the next decade.
The Union Cabinet cleared Rs. 99,771 crore (US$ 11.65 billion) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to boost deep-tech research through Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) funding, with industry leaders backing the move but seeking clearer governance and fund allocation, it will bridge public and private sectors, fostering collaboration between industry and academia.
On its 19th Foundation Day, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), launched advanced tools including the Bharat Forecast System Extended Range Prediction (BharatFS-ERP), rainfall and air quality forecasts, seabed charts, and six Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) desalination plants in Lakshadweep, enhancing climate preparedness, agriculture, fisheries, and potable water supply, enhancing India’s climate preparedness, meteorological infrastructure, disaster forecasting, and support for farmers, fishers, and water management.
Union Minister Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal oversaw an MoU between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Kongsberg Oslo to build India’s first Polar Research Vessel, boosting research, Make in India shipbuilding, and India-Norway maritime ties.
In May 2025, The Union Cabinet approved a sixth semiconductor unit by Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) and Foxconn near Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, with a Rs. 3,700 crore (US$ 432.9 million) investment to boost Bharat’s semiconductor ecosystem and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Toyota to launch its first R&D centre in Bengaluru, aiming for hiring 3,000 engineers by 2027, boosting India-Suzuki collaboration and Urban Cruiser EV development.
Siemens Healthineers and Philips are boosting India’s medical tech footprint, investing US$ 235 million in a Bengaluru R&D and manufacturing hub.
Healthcare innovation in India is valued at US$ 30 billion as of March 2024 and is projected to grow to around US$ 60 billion by FY28, according to Bain & Company.
Tata Electronics, with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC) Taiwan, will establish a Rs. 91,000 crore (US$ 11 billion) semiconductor unit in Gujarat, generating 20,000 skilled jobs. Additionally, Tata's TSAT, along with two large American conglomerates, will invest Rs. 27,000 crore (US$ 3.3 billion) in a semiconductor plant in Assam, creating 27,000 jobs. CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corporation, Japan, and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand, will set up a semiconductor unit in Gujarat with an investment of Rs. 7,600 crore (US$ 915 million).
As of March 2025, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), 25 Technology Innovation Hubs have been established to advance AI, Robotics, IoT, and related technologies, resulting in 389 technologies commercialised, over 208,000 skill development beneficiaries, 888 start-ups, and approximately 45,000 jobs created.
Around 8,573 researchers have been trained under Synergistic Training program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure (STUTI).
The National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) have joined hands and have launched the ‘NCGG – INSA Leadership Programme in Science & Technology (LEADS). Recognizing the critical role played by the scientific leadership in driving scientific progress, this joint initiative seeks to empower them with the tools and capabilities required to effectively lead and navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of science and technology.

Government Initiatives

Some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote science and technology in India are:

The Cabinet has approved extension of the Atal Innovation Mission until March 2028, with a budget allocation of Rs. 2,750 crore (US$ 318.03 million).
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) selected seven e-Nodes under MAHA-EV to support R&D in EV batteries/cells, PEMD, and charging infrastructure through industry-academia consortia.
India Semiconductor Mission announced an MoU between Cyient and WiSig Networks to enable volume production of Koala NB-IoT SoC, including chip design, fabrication, testing, and supply management
The Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), established by the Ministry of MSME and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs. 1 crore (US$ 113,690) to individual MSEs.
The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme, sponsored and administered by the Department of Science and Technology, aims to attract talented individuals to science. Its Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) component provides 12,000 scholarships annually to meritorious students aged 17–22 years.
Under NM-ICPS, 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (this) have been established in premier academic institutions across the country.
The Ministry of Defence reported Rs 3,540.46 crore (US$ 409.44 million) allocated for indigenous defence technology R&D and sanctioned two Kaveri engine projects worth Rs 472.42 crore (US$ 54.63 million) and Rs 251.17 crore (US$ 29.05) in 2025.
The DRDO Technology Development Fund (TDF) provides grant funding of up to Rs. 50 crore (US$ 6.04 million) per project to support industry-led defence research and development; to date, it has backed 79 projects with a total value of Rs. 334.02 crore (US$ 40.34 million).
For the fiscal year 2024-25, the Ministry of Science and Technology has received an allocation of Rs. 16,628 crore (US$ 2.01 billion). This breaks down as follows: (i) Rs. 8,029 crore (US$ 969.69 million) for the Department of Science and Technology (DST; 48% of the total), (ii) Rs. 6,323 crore (US$ 763.65 million) for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR; 38%), and (iii) Rs. 2,276 crore (US$ 274.88 million) for the Department of Biotechnology (DBT; 14%).
The unified 'Bio-RIDE' scheme, with an outlay of Rs. 9,197 crore (US$ 1.11 billion) offers significant grants for research into synthetic biology and sustainable bioenergy production.
The PRIP scheme features a total financial allocation of Rs. 5,000 crore (US$ 578.24 million), comprising Rs. 700 crore (US$ 80.95 million) for establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs) at seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), and Rs. 4,200 crore (US$ 485.72 million) to drive investments in the sector's R&D ecosystem.
In March 2024, the Government of India launched the IndiaAI Mission with an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore (US$ 1.25 billion) to foster the development of the nation's overall AI ecosystem. Within less than 24 months, the IndiaAI Mission has established a solid foundation for advancing the country's AI ecosystem.
India's ambitious vision towards 2047 in science and technology emphasizing self-reliance and innovation-led growth, underscoring ongoing positive momentum in policy support.
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2025), with a strong focus on AI-driven growth, research, patents, and public-private collaboration. He emphasized that AI innovation is central to India's tech future, with initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission expanding access to computing power, developing applications in healthcare, agriculture, and climate change, and increasing the skill base in AI fields through national centres of excellence.
India launched its first Quantum Diamond Microscope developed by the P-Quest Group at IIT Bombay as part of the National Quantum Mission. This breakthrough promises advancements in neuroscience, semiconductor analysis, and materials research using nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond for 3D magnetic field imaging.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will allocate a significant portion of the second Rs. 10,000 crore (US$ 1.16 billion) Fund of Funds Scheme (FFS) to support budding entrepreneurs, particularly in sectors like new-age technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine building, as per an official statement.
The Government of India has significantly increased funding for the Vigyan Dhara scheme, reinforcing its commitment to scientific research, innovation, and technological development. The budget allocation has risen from Rs. 330.75 crore (US$ 38.21 million) in FY25 to Rs. 1,425 crore (US$ 164.63 million) in FY26, with a total outlay of Rs. 10,579.84 crore (US$ 1.22 billion) for FY22 to FY26 under the 15th Finance Commission.
In the Interim Budget 2024-25, the government announced corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore (US$ 12 billion) to promote Innovation and StartUps coupled with a new scheme for Deep Tech StartUps in Defence.
In 2023, the National Quantum Mission (NQM) was launched with a budget of Rs. 6,003.65 crore (US$ 726 million) spanning from 2023-24 to 2030-31 aimed at fostering scientific and industrial R&D in Quantum Technology, propelling India's leadership in Quantum Technologies & Applications.
In October 2023, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched state-of-art latest National Survey Network; the nationwide "Continuously Operating Reference Stations" (CORS) Network that will be operated by the Survey of India. The Survey of India has set up more than 1,000 CORS stations across India.
Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches National Policy on Research and Development and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector in India and Scheme for promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) in September 2023.
The Indian Space Policy-2023: It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security on April 6, also permits non-government entities (NGEs) to offer national and international space-based communication services, through self-owned, procured or leased geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellite systems. NGSO is a reference to low earth orbit or medium earth orbits that are home to satellites providing broadband internet services from space.
The policy also encourages NGEs to establish and operate ground facilities for space object operations, such as telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) Earth Stations and Satellite Control Centres (SCCs).
In 2023, Strengthening, Upscaling & Nurturing Local Innovations for Livelihood (SUNIL) Programme
- Technology delivery & enterprise creation model for improving the efficiency of the livelihood system.
- Technology interventions for Addressing Societal Needs (TIASN)
- Capacity Building of Community-based organizations (CBOs), NGOs, Knowledge Institutions (KI) & Social Start-ups

The Road Ahead

India ranks third among the most innovative lower-middle-income economies in the world. Rising per capita income in India will bring a boom in R&D investment in the country with multiple foreign players shifting R&D bases to India. R&D investment and multiple government policies have helped Indian companies overcome tight competition with affordable products internationally.

India plans to move forward with developing its science and technology sector by collaborating with other countries. India has active bilateral science and technology (S&T) programs of cooperation with more than 45 countries, including dedicated programs for Africa, ASEAN, BRICS, EU and neighbouring countries. UK and India partnership invested USD 83.11 million in health and wellbeing, USD 35.80 million in innovation and adoption, USD 153.43 million in climate, energy and environment, USD 16.62 million in technology and skills, and USD 14.06 million in culture and societies. In 2021, India also collaborated with Denmark and agreed to a five-year plan to implement a green strategic partnership for enhancing partnerships in various areas, including science and technology. India is aggressively working towards establishing itself as a leader in industrialization and technological development. Significant developments in the nuclear energy sector are

likely as India looks to expand its nuclear capacity. Moreover, nanotechnology is expected to transform India’s pharmaceutical industry. The agriculture sector is also likely to undergo a major revamp with the government investing heavily in a technology-driven green revolution. The Government of India, through the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Policy-2013, among other things, aspires to position India among the world’s top five scientific powers.

References - Media Reports, Press Releases, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Union Budget 2022-23/ 2023-24/2024-25/2025-26/2026-27, News Articles

Science and R&D Industry Report

Feb, 2026

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Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Italian Prime Minister Ms. Giorgia Meloni Outline Roadmap for Stronger India-Italy Strategic Partnership...

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Ms. Giorgia Meloni outlined a roadmap for expanding India-Italy cooperation in trade, technology, clean energy, defence and connectivity under the strategic partnership framework.