PM Modi Launches Rs. 1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme at Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025.
“India is now a pioneer of transformation through technology,” says Prime Minister.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where he launched the ambitious Rs. 1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme to boost India’s research ecosystem and strengthen its position as a global innovation leader.
Welcoming scientists, innovators, academics, and global experts, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s recent achievements in science, technology, and sports — including the historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory and the successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite by ISRO. He congratulated the women’s cricket team and Indian scientists for making the nation proud on both fronts.
“Ease of Doing Research” – Building a Modern Innovation Ecosystem
Emphasizing that “Ease of Doing Research” is as important as ease of doing business, the Prime Minister said India is building a modern innovation ecosystem through reforms in financial rules, procurement policies, and R&D regulations. These reforms, he said, are helping prototypes move faster from “lab to market.”
He announced that for the first time, capital will be made available for high-risk, high-impact research projects, especially in the private sector, under the new RDI Scheme.
India’s R&D Growth and Startup Revolution
Highlighting India’s progress in science and technology, PM Modi shared that the nation’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the past decade, while the number of registered patents has risen 17-fold. India has also emerged as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 6,000 deep-tech startups in fields such as clean energy, advanced materials, and artificial intelligence.
The Prime Minister noted that India’s bio-economy has grown exponentially — from $10 billion in 2014 to around $140 billion today, reflecting the strength of Indian innovation.
“India Is Now a Technology Pioneer”
Reiterating that India is no longer merely a consumer of technology, PM Modi declared, “When science meets scale, innovation becomes inclusive, and technology drives transformation — the foundation for great achievements is laid.”
He recalled India’s rapid development of indigenous vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and the successful execution of the world’s largest vaccination drive, as examples of how science and technology can transform lives at scale.
The Prime Minister credited India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as the key enabler of this success, connecting over two lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre and democratizing access to affordable mobile data.
Encouraging Women and Youth in Science
PM Modi celebrated the growing participation of women in science and technology, noting that over 5,000 patents are now filed annually by women in India — a remarkable jump from fewer than 100 a decade ago. Women also represent 43% of STEM students in India, surpassing the global average.
He also praised India’s young innovators, mentioning that 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs are nurturing over one crore students. Encouraged by their success, he announced the creation of 25,000 new labs to expand scientific curiosity and innovation among school students.
The Prime Minister said that under the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, 10,000 new fellowships will be awarded over the next five years to promote advanced research.
India Leading Ethical AI and Emerging Technologies
PM Modi emphasized that India is shaping the global framework for ethical and human-centric Artificial Intelligence. Under the India AI Mission, investments exceeding Rs. 10,000 crore are being made to ensure AI benefits all sections of society.
He announced that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026, which will focus on promoting inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI innovations.
Vision for a Developed and Self-Reliant India
Encouraging scientists to explore solutions for nutrition security, biofortified crops, soil health, clean energy storage, and personalized medicine, the Prime Minister called for achieving self-reliance in critical technologies where India remains dependent on global supply chains.
He concluded his address by reaffirming the government’s full commitment to supporting scientific research and innovation. “We must harness the power of science and technology to transform lives and drive inclusive growth,” he said, invoking the spirit of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan.”
About ESTIC 2025
The Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025 (ESTIC 2025) is being held from November 3 to 5, 2025, bringing together over 3,000 participants from academia, research institutions, industries, startups, and government. Nobel Laureates, eminent scientists, and policymakers will deliberate on 11 thematic areas, including advanced materials, AI, bio-manufacturing, space technologies, and climate solutions.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, and Nobel Laureate Sir Andre Geim were present at the inaugural session.
