Addressing the concluding session of the Post-Budget Webinar 2025 on “Investing in Innovation,” the Minister stated that ₹20,000 crore has been allocated in the Union Budget 2025–26 exclusively for Research, Development, and Innovation. He emphasized that this substantial investment is designed to accelerate cutting-edge research and foster technological breakthroughs, particularly in deep-tech domains.
Dr. Singh highlighted India’s rising global stature in the startup ecosystem, noting that the country has secured the third position globally in startups over the last decade. He further underlined India’s remarkable progress in innovation indicators, stating that patent grants have increased 17-fold since 2014. He also pointed out that India’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index has improved significantly, rising from 81st position to 39th among 133 economies.
The Minister also drew attention to India’s advancements in agricultural and genetic research infrastructure. He noted that the National Gene Bank of India is the second-largest of its kind in the world, preserving more than 470,000 accessions representing approximately 2,147 species, thereby strengthening the country’s long-term agricultural security and biodiversity conservation framework.
Dr. Singh stressed that these combined initiatives are expected to significantly reinforce India’s innovation ecosystem. He added that they will further encourage private sector participation and investment in strategic and emerging sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, fifth-generation telecommunications, and quantum computing, positioning India for long-term technological leadership.
The government’s coordinated focus on funding, research infrastructure, and innovation-driven policy marks a significant step toward establishing India as a leading global center for advanced science and technology development.
About The Author
Comment List