**Executive Summary**
The Indian Government has launched the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme on November 3, 2025, with a six-year outlay of ₹1 lakh crore to encourage private sector research and innovation in strategic technology sectors. The scheme aims to incentivise private participation in R&D through a competitive, proposal-based mechanism. Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs), TDB and BIRAC, have launched calls for project proposals on February 4 and 13, 2026, respectively.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **RDI Scheme Objectives and Scope:**
* Encourages private sector research and innovation in domains such as energy transition, deep-tech, AI, biotechnology, and mining.
* Aims to promote indigenisation of technologies crucial for strategic or economic security and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
* Targets strategic technology sectors including energy security, climate action, quantum computing, robotics, space, AI applications in agriculture, health, and education, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and the digital economy.
* **RDI Scheme Implementation:**
* Operates at the national level through a competitive, proposal-based mechanism.
* The Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are designated as Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs).
* SLFMs launched calls for project proposals on February 4, 2026, and February 13, 2026, respectively.
* Funding will be provided to eligible technology entities, including start-ups and companies, for R&D projects developing technologies at TRL 4 and above in strategic and sunrise sectors.
* **National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS):**
* Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) with a Union Cabinet outlay of ₹3,660 crore.
* Established 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) in academic institutions.
* TIHs support deep-tech start-ups and research in areas like AI & ML, robotics, IoT, cybersecurity, mining, quantum technologies, and fintech.
* DST also supports Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship through incubation, mentoring, and seed funding.
* **Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):**
* Launched several initiatives including 2D Innovation Hub, EV Mission, MedTech Mission, Artificial Intelligence for Science & Engineering, and CRM Research Programme under its Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA).
* Promotes industry-academia partnerships, incubation ecosystems, and multi-stage engagement models.
* Aims to accelerate development and commercialisation of research in sectors like energy transition, deep-tech, AI, and biotech.
* Mandatory participation of relevant industries, PSUs, and start-ups is required.
* ANRF is a national funding agency with nationally announced programmes open to eligible institutions and researchers across the country.
* **Support for Jharkhand's Innovation Ecosystem:**
* Details provided on projects approved, technologies developed, and financial assistance under ANRF, DST initiatives, NM-ICPS, R&D Infrastructure, NIDHI-iTBI, and Technology Development Programme.
* Includes specific projects and sanctioned amounts for institutions like Jharkhand Technical University, BIT Sindri, NIT Jamshedpur, CIMFR Dhanbad, ISM Dhanbad, PMRC Dhanbad, Central University of Jharkhand, and Jagannath Nagar College, Ranchi University.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Private Sector Companies and Start-ups:**
* **Impact:** Will have increased opportunities to receive funding and support for research and development in strategic technology sectors, fostering innovation and commercialisation.
* **Action Required:** Apply for project proposals through the competitive mechanism overseen by SLFMs (TDB and BIRAC) and participate in initiatives promoted by ANRF and DST.
* **Academic and Research Institutions:**
* **Impact:** Will benefit from funding for research facilities, interdisciplinary research, and support for technology development. They will also play a crucial role in establishing and operating Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) and incubators.
* **Action Required:** Actively participate in proposal calls, collaborate with industry, and contribute to the development of technologies at TRL 4 and above. Ensure their departments and researchers are eligible for national programmes.
* **Government Agencies (DST, TDB, BIRAC, ANRF):**
* **Impact:** Will be responsible for the implementation, management, and funding of various research and innovation schemes. They will oversee competitive processes and ensure the effective deployment of funds.
* **Action Required:** Conduct periodic assessments, manage fund disbursement, and facilitate collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
* **Industries and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs):**
* **Impact:** Will be encouraged to participate in R&D projects, fostering collaboration with academia and start-ups to drive innovation and achieve strategic national goals.
* **Action Required:** Engage in partnerships and mandatory participation in research and development initiatives as required by the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: A scheme launched by the Government to incentivize private sector participation in R&D.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A national funding agency with initiatives to strengthen the research and innovation ecosystem.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): The department implementing the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and other initiatives.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS): A mission under DST that has established Technology Innovation Hubs.
Technology Development Board (TDB): Designated as a Second-Level Fund Manager for the RDI Scheme.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ENCOURAGING
PRIVATE SECTOR RESEARCH
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has taken several initiatives to encourage private sector research and innovation in
various domains, including energy transition, deep-tech, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and
mining-related technologies. In this regard, the Government has launched the Research, Development and
Innovation (RDI) Scheme on 03 November 2025 with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over six years to
incentivise private sector participation in R&D.
The scheme targets strategic technology sectors, including energy security and energy transition and
climate action; deep technologies such as quantum computing, robotics and space; AI and its applications
in agriculture, health and education; biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, pharmaceuticals
and medical devices; and the digital economy, including digital agriculture. The scheme also supports
technologies whose indigenisation is important for strategic or economic security and for promoting
Atmanirbhar Bharat, as well as any other sector or technology considered necessary in the public interest.
The scheme operates at the national level and is implemented through a competitive, proposal-based
mechanism as per the approved guidelines. Under this framework, the Technology Development Board
(TDB) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have been designated as
Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs) and have launched calls for project proposals on 4 February 2026
and 13 February 2026, respectively. The SLFMs will provide funding to eligible technology entities,
including start-ups, companies and industry-led R&D projects, developing technologies at TRL 4 and
above in strategic and sunrise sectors.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing the National Mission on
Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), approved by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of
₹3,660 crore, under which 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) have been established in academic
institutions across the country. These hubs support deep-tech start-ups and research in areas such as AI &
ML, robotics, IoT, cybersecurity, mining, quantum technologies and fintech. One such hub, Technology
Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, focuses on mining technologies
from exploration to beneficiation of minerals. Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) supported by DST
also promote innovation and entrepreneurship by providing incubation support, mentoring and seed
funding to start-ups, including those working in deep-technology areas.
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched several initiatives, including the 2D
Innovation Hub, EV Mission, MedTech Mission, Artificial Intelligence for Science & Engineering, and
the CRM Research Programme under its Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA). These
initiatives promote industry-academia partnerships, incubation ecosystems and multi-stage engagement
models to accelerate the development and commercialisation of research in sectors like energy transition,
deep-tech, AI and biotech, with mandatory participation of relevant industries, PSUs and start-ups.The details of projects approved, technologies developed and financial assistance provided to support
technical institutions and the start-up ecosystem in Jharkhand under ANRF and DST initiatives, including
NM-ICPS, R&D Infrastructure, NIDHI-iTBI and the Technology Development Programme, are given
below:
i. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), being a national funding agency,
does not have any state-specific programmes. All its programmes are announced nationally
through open calls and are open to eligible institutions and researchers across the country,
including those in the State of Jharkhand. The programme-wise details of sanctioned projects
during the last three years are given below:
Program Name Total projects sanctioned
Core Research Grant 77
Empowerment and Equity Opportunities for Excellence in 7
Science
Inclusivity Research Grant 2
MATRICS 11
National Post-Doctoral Fellowship (N-PDF) 12
Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) 1
Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant 20
Ramanujan Fellowship 1
Scientific and Useful Profound Research Advancement 1
(SUPRA)
SERB-POWER Grant 7
Special Call for Proposals 2
Start-up Research Grant 35
State University Research Excellence (SERB SURE) 2
Teachers Associateship For Research Excellence (TARE) 3
ii. The details of projects approved, technologies developed and financial assistance provided by
the Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) under the National Mission on InterdisciplinaryCyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to support technical institutions and the start-up
ecosystem in Jharkhand are as follows:
Institute Name Details of the Project Amount (Rs)
Jharkhand Technical TEXMiN-JUT Center has been established for 50.0 Lakhs
University putting CPS technologies
BIT Sindri TEXMiN-BIT Sindri Center has been 50.0 Lakhs
established in Sindri Campus
NIT Jamshedpur Technology development project has been 20.95 Lakhs
provided for development of Hand held drone
compatible microwave scanner
CIMFR, Dhanbad Projects have been provided for development 70.0 Lakhs
of multispectral based coal
ISM Dhanbad Projects have been provided to ISM Dhanbad 3+ Crore
for various projects in CPS technologies,
particularly for mineral exploration and mining.
PMRC, Dhanbad Project for development of AI driven CPS 60.0 Lakhs
systems for treatment of water from Coal bed
methane well.
iii. The R&D Infrastructure Division implements schemes aimed at the establishment and
upgradation of research facilities in academic and technical institutions, with a view to
strengthening the national research ecosystem. These schemes are implemented through a
competitive mechanism across the country. The details of projects approved and financial
assistance provided in the State of Jharkhand are given below:
Programme Name Details Amount
(Rs)
The Fund for Improvement of S&T Over the last five years, 13 13.55 crore
Infrastructure in Universities and Higher STEM departments across 5
Educational Institutions (FIST) Jharkhand institutions (IIT-
Dhanbad, BITS-Mesra, Central
University of Jharkhand, NIT
Jamshedpur, and BIT Sindri)
received under FIST
The Promotion of University Research and The Central University of 5.26 crore
Scientific Excellence (PURSE) Jharkhand has been supported
under PURSE.iv. The details of projects approved and financial assistance provided under the NIDHI-Inclusive
Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-iTBI) programme in Jharkhand are given below:
S. Programme Name Name of Host City/State Sanctioned
No. Institution amount
1 NIDHI Inclusive National Jamshedpur, Rs. 3,30,64,600
Technology Business Institute of Jharkhand
Incubator (NIDHI- Technology
iTBI) Jamshedpur
v. The details of projects approved and financial assistance provided under the Technology
Development Programme in Jharkhand are given below:
S.No Programme Name Institute Name Sanctioned Cost
(In Rs.)
1 Advanced Manufacturing CSIR-NML 46,53,674
Technologies (AMT)
2 IIT (ISM) - Dhanbad 50,81,546
3 CSIR-NML 6,35,35,040
4 Waste Management Technologies CSIR-NML 65,81,692
(WMT)
5 Technology Development NIT-Jamshedpur 30,06,960
Programme (TDP)
6 NIT-Jamshedpur 12,98,450
7 Biomedical Device and Jagannath Nagar College, 14,00,764
Technology Development (BDTD) Ranchi University
8 NIDHI Inclusive Technology NIT-Jamshedpur 3,30,64,600
Business Incubator (NIDHI-iTBI)
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), recently operationalised, aims to strengthen the
national research and innovation ecosystem by promoting collaboration among academia, industry and
government, and by supporting high-impact research and innovation initiatives.
The initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) are assessed periodically through
third-party evaluations and national-level Expert Advisory Committees, and the recommendations arising
from such assessments are considered for improving and expanding the programmes, wherever required.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 written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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