Aimed at strengthening India’s tech and industrial ecosystem, the new initiative will fund R&D and innovation across key sectors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ₹1 trillion Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday. The scheme aims to foster a private sector–driven R&D ecosystem and strengthen India’s innovation and technological capabilities.
Addressing scientists, innovators, and global delegates, Modi said the 21st century marks an era of exponential transformation, and India must lead through science and innovation. Highlighting the nation’s expanding research landscape, he announced reforms to enhance ease of doing research, promote high-impact projects, and accelerate the transition from lab to market.
The Prime Minister noted that India’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the past decade, patent filings have risen 17-fold, and the country is now the world’s third-largest startup hub. He emphasised India’s strides in key sectors such as quantum computing, green hydrogen, deep sea exploration, and critical minerals, while also underlining the success of the bio-economy, which has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $140 billion today.
Calling for inclusive innovation, Modi celebrated women’s increasing contributions to science, citing that women now constitute 43% of STEM enrolments. He announced plans to establish 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs, 10,000 new research fellowships, and to host the Global AI Summit in February 2026 as part of India’s India AI Mission worth ₹10,000 crore.
Reiterating his commitment to a future powered by innovation, Modi concluded with the call, “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” expressing confidence that India will become a global leader in ethical and human-centric technological advancement.
