**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses a question raised in Lok Sabha regarding increasing Research and Development (RD) expenditure to 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2029. While no specific target has been set, the government aims to enhance RD investment through structural and institutional reforms, focusing on building a robust innovation ecosystem. This is supported by strategic initiatives and policy measures to strengthen the RD and innovation landscape.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **RD Expenditure Targets:**
* No specific target has been set to increase RD expenditure to 1.5% of GDP by 2029.
* Gross expenditure on RD (GERD) has more than doubled from Rs. 60,196.75 crore in 2010-11 to Rs. 127,380.96 crore in 2020-21.
* **Government Objectives and Approach:**
* Objectives to enhance RD investment through structural and institutional reforms.
* Focus on building a robust and sustainable innovation ecosystem.
* **Key Policy Measures and Institutional Interventions:**
* Progressive increase in budget allocations for scientific departments and research-oriented programs.
* Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act, 2023 with a budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore from the Central Government. Additional funding to be sourced from non-governmental sources.
* Launch of National Missions:
* National Quantum Mission (budget outlay: 6,003.65 crore).
* National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (budget outlay: 3,660 crore).
* National Supercomputing Mission.
* Electric Vehicle Mission program under ANRF's MAHA Mission.
* India Semiconductor Mission (76,000 crore).
* Deep Ocean Mission (budget outlay: 4077 crore).
* National Green Hydrogen Mission.
* India AI Mission (budget outlay: 10,372 crore).
* Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and creation of Technology Hubs.
* Launch of the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme (financial pool of 1 lakh crore over six years).
* Introduction of enabling policy frameworks: Geospatial Policy 2022, Space Policy 2023, and BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy 2024.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Scientific Departments and Research Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Increased budget allocations and opportunities for research funding.
* *Action Required:* Align research programs with national missions and policy frameworks to leverage available funding.
* **Private Sector (Especially Sunrise Sectors):**
* *Impact:* Access to the RDI Scheme with a financial pool of 1 lakh crore to support research and innovation.
* *Action Required:* Develop research proposals and projects aligned with national priorities to apply for RDI funding.
* **Industry, Philanthropists, and Non-Governmental Sources:**
* *Impact:* Opportunity to contribute to and collaborate with government research initiatives through ANRF.
* *Action Required:* Explore partnerships with government research institutions and contribute funding to ANRF.
* **Academia:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced collaboration opportunities with industry and government.
* *Action Required:* Engage in collaborative technology development through PPPs and Technology Hubs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science and Technology: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for science and technology policy and administration.
Department of Science and Technology: A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Gross Domestic Product: A monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold in a specific time period by countries.
Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): A proposed foundation in India to provide strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in science and technology.
ANRF Act, 2023: The act of 2023, establishing the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
National Quantum Mission: A national mission to make India a leading nation in the development of Quantum Technologies and Applications.
National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems: A national mission focused on interdisciplinary cyber-physical systems.
India Semiconductor Mission: A mission focused on building up the semiconductor ecosystem in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4412
ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025
INCREASE IN R&D EXPENDITURE TO GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
4412. SHRI E TUKARAM:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has set any target to increase
Research and Development (R&D) expenditure to at least 1.5% of the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2029;
(b) if so, the details of the roadmap or strategy proposed to achieve
this target; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मत्रं ालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) to (c): The Government has not specifically set any target to
increase Research and Development (R&D) expenditure to at least
1.5% of the GDP by 2029. The Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in
the country has been consistently increasing over the years and has
more than doubled from Rs. 60,196.75 crore in 2010-11 to Rs.
127,380.96 crore in 2020-21. The Government has long-standing and
evolving objectives to enhance R&D investment, supported by
structural and institutional reforms. The approach focuses on
building a robust and sustainable innovation ecosystem in the
country. To this end, the Government has undertaken several
strategic initiatives to strengthen the R&D and innovation landscape.
Some of the key policy measures and institutional interventions
include:
Progressive increase in budget allocations for scientific
departments and research-oriented programmes.
Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research
Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act, 2023 to provide high
level strategic direction for research, innovation and
Page 1 of 2entrepreneurship in the fields of science & technology. A
budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore has been made from the
Central Government and the additional funding is to be explored
and sourced from non-governmental sources like industry,
philanthropists, etc..
Launch of National Missions such as National Quantum Mission
to make India one of the leading nations in the development of
Quantum Technologies & Applications (budget outlay:
₹6,003.65 crore); National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber
Physical Systems (budget outlay ₹3,660 crore); National
Supercomputing Mission; Electric Vehicle-Mission program
under ANRF’s MAHA (Mission for Advancement in High-impact
Areas) programme; India Semiconductor Mission ( ₹76,000
crore) for building up semiconductor ecosystem in India; Deep
Ocean Mission to explore and sustainably utilize the deep
ocean's resources (budget outlay: ₹4077 crore); National Green
Hydrogen Mission aimed at promoting the production, usage,
and export of green hydrogen, a clean energy source; and India
AI Mission to strengthen AI capabilities (budget outlay: ₹10,372
crore).
Promotion of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and creation of
Technology Hubs under National Mission on Interdisciplinary
Cyber Physical Systems and National Quantum Mission to foster
collaborative technology development.
Launch of the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI)
Scheme, with a financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over six years, to
support and fund research and innovation in private sector,
especially in sunrise sectors, thereby driving growth and
innovation.
Introduction of enabling policy frameworks such as the
Geospatial Policy 2022, Space Policy 2023, and BioE3
(Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment)
Policy 2024.
These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen India’s R&D
capabilities, enhance collaboration between academia, industry, and
government, and create the conditions for sustained increases in
national R&D expenditure over time.
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