Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme to boost India’s science and technology landscape for product development using local technology.
Underlining the exponential pace of global change, he emphasised India’s strategic focus on emerging domains, reinforcing the national vision with “Jai Vigyan” and “Jai Anusandhan” alongside “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.”
The Scheme was announced in the Budget FY26.
Modi announced the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to elevate research in universities and unveiled the RDI Scheme to fund high-risk, high-impact projects, marking the first time capital is being channelled to private-sector innovation.
“India is working to build a modern innovation ecosystem and is focusing on improving the ease of doing research,” he said, citing reforms in financial rules, procurement policies, regulations, and supply chains to accelerate lab-to-market transitions.
Highlighting tangible progress, the Prime Minister noted that R&D expenditure has doubled in a decade, patents have surged 17-fold, and India now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
Over 6,000 deep-tech startups are advancing clean energy and advanced materials, while the bio-economy has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $140 billion today. India’s semiconductor sector is gaining momentum, with strong strides in green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep sea research, and critical minerals.
Praising inclusive innovation, he said patent filings by women have increased from under 100 to over 5,000 annually, and STEM enrollment stands at 43%, surpassing global averages. To nurture young talent, 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs will be established, complementing 10,000 existing ones engaging one crore children. Additionally, 10,000 Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships will be awarded over five years, he said.
Modi underscored ethical AI development under the Rs 10,000 crore India AI Mission and announced the Global AI Summit in February 2026 to shape human-centric governance. Urging self-reliance in critical inputs, he called for biofortified crops, affordable clean energy storage, and genomic mapping to combat global challenges.
Concluding with “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan,” Modi expressed confidence that the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 will chart a collective roadmap for a developed, innovation-led India.