India has emerged from the margins to the centre of global scientific innovation over the past eleven years, according to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh. Speaking at a joint press conference of all science ministries in New Delhi, Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “science-led governance” for this transformation, adding that technology is now the driving force behind India’s ₹38 lakh-crore ($455 billion) tech economy contributing over 9 percent to the national GDP.
From Observer to Global Leader
“India no longer just participates in global science it helps shape its direction,” said Singh, pointing to sweeping reforms since 2014 that eased regulations, encouraged startup collaboration with government R&D labs, and linked research funding with practical outcomes. India now ranks third globally in peer-reviewed STEM publications and has soared from 81st to 40th on the Global Innovation Index.
Biotech Breakthroughs: Building a $166 Billion Bioeconomy
India’s biotechnology sector is booming under the BioE3 policy, focused on the economy, environment, and employment. Key achievements include seven domestically developed vaccines, over 1,750 patents in a decade, and pioneering gene therapy trials for rare diseases. Farmer-friendly innovations like the Kisan BiokkAvch protective suit are already in use across nine states.
An Indian lab-on-chip diagnostic will also be tested aboard the private Axiom-4 space mission marking the first time a homegrown biotech payload reaches space.
Space and Nuclear Sectors Unlocked
Private sector access to ISRO facilities has led to the rise of 180+ space-tech startups and a halving of launch costs. Major milestones include the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing and Aditya-L1, Asia’s first solar observatory. The nuclear sector is also advancing with small modular reactors and a growing export market for medical isotopes used in cancer diagnostics.
Earth Sciences: Regional Climate Leadership
India now provides real-time weather alerts including for cyclones, floods, and heatwaves to eight neighbouring countries. Forecasting accuracy for Delhi’s severe weather has jumped from 60 percent in 2014 to 92 percent in 2025.
India’s upcoming Samudrayaan mission will deploy the Matsya 6000 submersible for deep-sea mining, unlocking battery metal resources. Meanwhile, Maitri-II, the third Antarctic research base, will showcase renewable-powered operations.
Rural Tech for Empowerment
Drones, GNSS, and blockchain have been integrated into rural development programs. The new Soil Health Card 2.0 delivers QR-coded fertiliser guidance to 110 million farmers, while the SVAMITVA scheme is using drones to issue secure land titles across nearly 340,000 villages. AI-based apps like FloodWatch and AgroCast provide customised weather and farming advice in 12 languages.
CSIR’s Aroma Revolution and Startup Growth
CSIR has powered niche agri-startups, sparking the “Purple Revolution” of lavender farming that tripled farmer incomes in Jammu’s Doda district and spread across nine Himalayan states. Its tech transfer efforts have spawned 450 startups, creating 70,000 jobs.
Affordable Innovation with Global Reach
India’s cost-effective innovations, such as ₹150 RT-PCR kits and ₹12,000 portable dialysis units, are now exported to 34 countries, reinforcing its global image as a provider of frugal, scalable technology.
Challenges Remain
Despite progress, R&D investment remains at 0.82 percent of GDP—below the global average of 2 percent. Initiatives like the ₹50,000 crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation aim to boost private sector participation and attract global scientific talent.
India’s “science-led Gati Shakti” plan envisions technology contributing 15 percent to GDP and creating 25 million skilled jobs by 2030. “Today our farmer decides his future, and our scientist dreams without limits,” Singh concluded, calling this decade India’s ‘techade’ a time to lead the world in science-driven progress.