In a bid to make India a global powerhouse of cutting-edge science and technology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday unveiled a Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme.
The scheme was unveiled during the inauguration of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The Narendra Modi-led central government has shifted its focus on deepening private sector participation and building a sustainable innovation policy.
The RDI scheme focuses on attracting investments in several key and emerging sectors such as quantum technologies, semiconductors, AI, biotechnology, and deep-tech.
According to government data, India’s R&D expenditure has more than doubled from Rs 60,196 crore in 2010–11 to Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2020–21.
The scheme is set to further increase that as it addresses the long-standing issue of limited funding for private research.
Below are the key objectives of RDI Scheme
Encouraging private sector participation, financing transformative projects with high technology readiness, and facilitating a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds to support start-ups and innovation-driven enterprises are among the core objectives of the Rs 1 lakh crore RDI scheme.
Encourage private sector participation: To scale up research, development, and innovation in sunrise domains and other sectors vital for economic security, strategic purpose, and self-reliance.
Finance transformative projects: To support projects at higher levels of technology readiness for faster translation from concept to market.
Support acquisition of critical technologies: To enable access to technologies of high strategic importance.
Facilitate Deep-Tech Fund of Funds: To strengthen the financing ecosystem for deep technology start-ups and innovation-driven enterprises.
These measures will help bridge the gap between research and market application, strengthening India’s technological competitiveness globally.