India launches a ₹1 lakh crore RDI scheme to shift from tech imports to domestic innovation, prioritising long-term advancements in AI, semiconductors, space, and biotech, with early funding supporting 44 projects across the country.
India is widening its push into high-risk research with the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation scheme, a government-backed effort designed to move the country from importing technology to building and commercialising it at home. According to the Department of Science and Technology, the plan is meant to deepen private-sector participation in research while backing projects that need long timelines and can deliver strategic gains in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, space technology, robotics and advanced materials.
The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and later unveiled at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave in New Delhi on November 3, 2025. The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal ministry, while the Anusandhan National Research Foundation is handling the implementation structure. Government material says the programme is aligned with the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 development agenda and is intended to help close long-standing gaps in domestic capability across critical technologies.
Early funding has already begun to move through the system. In May 2026, the Technology Development Board started disbursing money under the initiative and backed 22 projects across deep-tech sectors including drones, space technology, advanced batteries and biotechnology, with 14 startups, five MSMEs and three listed companies among the recipients, according to reports from Dealroom and YourStory. In July 2026, the government approved another 22 projects worth ₹4,744 crore, with ₹2,192 crore in support, while the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council shortlisted eight additional proposals for further backing, according to NationPress.
Officials and industry observers see the fund as a test of whether India can create a more patient capital model for deep-tech research, where commercial returns often arrive years after the initial investment. The framework also aims to tighten links between startups, research institutions and larger companies, which could help move laboratory work into usable products more quickly and strengthen India’s position in global technology supply chains.
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