**Executive Summary**
The report outlines the government's efforts to strengthen India's research and development (R&D) ecosystem following the draft of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – 2020. It highlights key initiatives and schemes like the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the National Quantum Mission (NQM). It also presents data indicating India's improved global standing in science and innovation as of January 29th 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Policy and Initiatives:**
* The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – 2020 remained a draft and no budget allocation was made.
* The government introduced initiatives to strengthen the R&D ecosystem.
* Initiatives include the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over six years.
* Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) with a budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore.
* Implementation of the National Quantum Mission with a budget outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.
* **R&D Institutions and Innovation:**
* There are 622 national laboratories & research institutions across diverse sectors.
* These institutions are evolving into active contributors to innovation-led economic growth.
* Mechanisms for commercialization of innovations have been strengthened through TTOs, incubation centers, and public-private partnerships.
* Research from national labs contributes to sectors like healthcare, agriculture, energy, and transport.
* Public R&D labs lead national missions like the Deep Ocean Exploration Mission and AI and Quantum Missions.
* **Patents and Technology Transfer:**
* 1622 patents were filed from 233 institutes during 2021-22 to 2022-23.
* 1356 patents were granted to 232 institutes during the same period.
* 1839 technologies were transferred, 1014 new products & 1746 new services were introduced over the two years.
* **Global Standing:**
* India ranks 3rd in total research publications and startups.
* India ranks 4th in the number of PhD degrees awarded.
* India ranks 6th in patent filing activity.
* India's Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking improved from 81st in 2015 to 38th in 2025.
* **Strategic Alignment:**
* R&D activities are being aligned with national priorities to foster indigenous technological development.
* Implemented programmes include the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
**Impact Analysis**
**National Laboratories and Research Institutions**
* **Impact:** Expected to contribute actively to innovation-led economic growth, commercialize innovations, and align research with national priorities.
* **Action Required:** Enhance technology transfer mechanisms, participate in national missions, and focus on research aligned with national needs.
**Government (Ministry of Science & Technology)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the overall direction, funding, and implementation of the science and technology initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and monitor the R&D ecosystem, foster international collaborations, and align R&D with national priorities.
**Citizens of India**
* **Impact:** Benefit from technological prowess, technological solutions, indigenization, livelihood, and employment opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from innovation-led economic growth.
**Academic and Research Institutions**
* **Impact:** Expected to increase science- and technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship
* **Action Required:** Apply for and avail of government programmes such as NIDHI, BIRAC etc.
Key Entities Referenced
National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – 2020: A draft policy document for science, technology, and innovation in India, though no budget allocation or expenditure was made under it.
Ministry of Science & Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for science and technology-related policies and initiatives.
Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: A scheme with a financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over six years aimed at strengthening India's research and development ecosystem.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): An organization to be established with a budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore to boost research.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): An Indian government department that brought out the Directory of R&D Institutions, 2025
Ministry of Science & Technology
IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION POLICY-2020
प्रव तथ: 29 JAN 2026 5:00PM by PIB Delhi
The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy – 2020 was only a draft document, therefore, no
budget allocation or expenditure was made under it. Subsequent to this draft, however, the government has
introduced several new initiatives, schemes and missions to strengthen country’s research and
development ecosystem. These include: Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, with a
financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over six years; establishment of the Anusandhan National Research
Foundation (ANRF) with a budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore from Central Government and
additional funding to be explored and sourced from non-governmental sources; National Quantum
Mission (budget outlay: ₹6,003.65 crore); etc.
As per the Directory of R&D Institutions, 2025 brought out by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), there are 622 national laboratories & research institutions across diverse sectors such as science,
technology, agriculture, medicine, defence, space, etc. India’s national laboratories and research institutes
are steadily evolving from being purely knowledge generators to active contributors in innovation-led
economic growth. Over the years, the mechanisms for commercialization of innovations from national
laboratories and research institutes has been actively strengthened through the Technology Transfer
Offices (TTOs), incubation centers, public–private partnerships, and structured licensing models. As per a
recent report on Evaluation of Innovation Excellence Indicators brought out by Office of the Principal
Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India, some of the notable achievements in this area are:
The research from the national labs/institutes contributes to various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture,
energy and environment, transport and infrastructure, livestock and industries like food processing,
textiles etc
Public R&D labs/institutes are leading national missions such as the Deep Ocean Exploration Mission, AI
(Artificial Intelligence) Mission, National Quantum Mission etc.
There have been 1622 patents filed from 233 institutes during 2021-22 to 2022-23, while 1356 granted to
232 institutes. On the other hand, 1839 technologies were transferred, 1014 new products & 1746 new
services were introduced over the two years period.
The efforts made by the government, including international collaborations such as exchange of
information, generation of new knowledge, sharing of expertise, optimal utilization of resources, etc. have
helped in significantly improving India’s position in global scientific standings. India now ranks 3rd in
terms of total number of research publications; 3rd in terms of the total number of startups; 4th in number
of PhD degrees awarded; 6th in patent filing activity; a significant jump in its Global Innovation Index
(GII) ranking from 81st in the year 2015 to 38th in 2025 among 139 economies of the world; etc.
As part of the strategy for encouraging indigenous technological development and innovation for a self-
reliant India, the government has been orienting its R&D activities in line with national priorities through
its new initiatives, missions and programmes like: launch of ₹1.0 lakh crore Research, Development andInnovation (RDI) Fund; establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF);
National Quantum Missions (NQM); National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-
ICPS); National Supercomputing Mission; etc. In addition, programmes have been implemented to foster
science- and technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship in academic and research institutions,
such as the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), Biotechnology
Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) programmes, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX),
Technology Development Fund (TDF), and TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of
Entrepreneurs). All these initiatives are aligned with various national priorities to generate technological
prowess, technological solutions, indigenization, livelihood & employment for its citizens and position
India at competitive levels vis-à-vis global peers.
This information was given by THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES DR. JITENDRA SINGH IN A
WRITEN REPLY IN THE RAJYA SABHA TODAY.
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NKR/AK/NM
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