**Summary:**
The Ministry of Science and Technology announced the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme on July 31, 2025, designed to bolster India's research and innovation ecosystem. Approved by the Union Cabinet on July 1, the scheme incentivizes private sector participation in R&D with a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over six years, including an allocation of ₹20,000 crore for FY 2025-26. The RDI Scheme targets technology sectors of strategic importance, including energy security, climate action, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and the digital economy, while also covering sectors critical for strategic and economic security. An Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) retains the flexibility to include additional sectors based on evolving national priorities.
The scheme aims to address funding gaps in private sector R&D by providing growth and risk capital to sunrise and strategic sectors, supporting innovation, technology adoption, and competitiveness. Projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 and above are eligible, with a focus on enabling the acquisition of strategically important technologies and promoting a DeepTech Fund of Funds. By aligning with the Make in India mission, the RDI Scheme seeks to promote the indigenous development of critical technologies, reduce import dependence, and strengthen domestic high-tech manufacturing. It also supports the Startup India mission by providing equity and long-term financing to deep-tech startups, fostering innovation, and enabling commercialization through specialized implementing agencies. The information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Release ID: 2150818.
Key Entities Referenced
Research, Development, and Innovation RDI Scheme: A scheme approved by the Union Cabinet to incentivize private sector participation in research and development (RD) with an outlay of 1 lakh crore over 6 years.
Union Cabinet: The decision-making body of the Government of India that approved the RDI Scheme.
Empowered Group of Secretaries EGoS: A group responsible for approving the inclusion of additional sectors under the RDI Scheme.
DeepTech Fund of Funds: A fund promoted by the RDI Scheme to provide equity and long-term financing to deeptech startups.
Make in India: A national mission aimed at promoting indigenous development of critical technologies and reducing import dependence.
Startup India: A national mission supporting deeptech startups by providing equity and long-term financing.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where a written reply regarding the RDI Scheme was presented.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STEPS TO BOLSTER
INDIA’S RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
ECOSYSTEM
Posted On: 31 JUL 2025 5:08PM by PIB Delhi
On July 1, the Union Cabinet approved the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme to
incentivize private sector participation in research and development (R&D).
The scheme has a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over 6 years, with ₹20,000 crore allocated for FY 2025–26.
Technology sectors of strategic importance have been identified under the RDI Scheme. These include energy
security, climate action, and deep technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence,
biotechnology, and the digital economy. The scheme also covers sectors critical for strategic and economic
security, with the flexibility to include additional sectors based on approval from the Empowered Group of
Secretaries (EGoS).
The RDI Scheme aims to catalyze private sector participation in high-impact R&D and innovation across
sunrise sectors and those critical to economic security, self-reliance, and strategic interests. The RDI Scheme
aims to address funding gaps in private sector R&D by providing growth and risk capital to sunrise and
strategic sectors. It supports innovation, technology adoption, and competitiveness, with sector selection
guided by India’s economic priorities, strategic needs, and potential for global value chain integration.
It supports transformative projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 and above, enables acquisition of
strategically important technologies, and promotes the creation of a Deep-Tech Fund of Funds.
The RDI Scheme has identified key strategic and sunrise sectors such as energy security, climate action,
quantum technologies, AI, biotechnology, semiconductors, and the digital economy, with flexibility to include
others based on national priorities. It aligns with the ‘Make in India’ mission by promoting indigenous
development of critical technologies and reducing import dependence, thereby strengthening domestic high-
tech manufacturing. It supports the ‘Startup India’ mission by providing equity and long-term financing to
deep-tech startups, fostering innovation, and enabling commercialization through a dedicated Deep-Tech
Fund of Funds and specialized implementing agencies.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2150818)