India Unveils Ambitious $120 Billion RDI Scheme to Power the Next Tech Revolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the $120 billion RDI Scheme to boost India’s research and innovation ecosystem, marking a major push for homegrown technology. The initiative funds high-impact projects, supports private-sector R&D, and establishes the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. Highlighting India’s rise as a global innovation hub, Modi emphasized ethical AI, women’s participation in STEM, and youth engagement through new tinkering labs and research fellowships.

In a landmark step to accelerate India’s scientific and technological advancement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week unveiled the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, valued at $120 billion (₹1 lakh crore). The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem and drive indigenous product development, positioning India at the forefront of global innovation.

Describing science and technology as cornerstones of a modern economy, Modi highlighted the need for speed, adaptability, and vision in a rapidly transforming world. Echoing his call to national progress, he expanded India’s development mantra from “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” to now include “Jai Vigyan” (Hail Science) and “Jai Anusandhan” (Hail Research).

Announced during the FY26 Budget, the RDI Scheme introduces a new era of state-backed innovation funding—especially directed toward private-sector research for the first time. The scheme also supports the newly launched Anusandhan National Research Foundation, aimed at promoting high-quality research in universities and institutions across the country.

“India is building a forward-looking innovation ecosystem and reforming the way research is conducted,” Modi said, noting ongoing changes in regulatory frameworks, procurement systems, and financial rules designed to streamline the journey from laboratories to live markets.

India’s R&D landscape is already showing strong momentum. Over the past decade, national research spending has doubled, patent filings have expanded 17-fold, and the nation now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup hub. Emerging breakthroughs in clean energy, advanced materials, and biotechnology are transforming industries, while the bio-economy has grown dramatically—from 140 billion today.

India’s 6,000 deep-tech startups are pioneering work in semiconductors, green hydrogen, quantum computing, and critical mineral exploration. Modi noted that inclusive innovation is also taking root—women’s patent filings have surged from under 100 to over 5,000 annually, and women now form 43% of STEM students, a figure that surpasses the global average.

To encourage next-generation innovators, the government will set up 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs, supplementing 10,000 existing labs already engaging 10 million students. Additionally, 10,000 Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships will be offered over the next five years to foster advanced scientific talent.

The Prime Minister also underscored India’s ethical approach to artificial intelligence, announcing the $12 billion (₹10,000 crore) India AI Mission, which will steer development toward human-centered governance. He revealed plans for a Global AI Summit in February 2026, positioning India as a key voice in shaping responsible AI.

Reiterating the call for self-reliance, Modi urged innovation in biofortified crops, clean energy storage, and genomic mapping—key sectors in addressing global challenges such as food security and climate resilience.

Concluding his address with an optimistic “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan!,” the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 will solidify India’s transition into a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy.