The Union Government has reiterated its commitment to achieving the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047 through transformative efforts in science, technology, and innovation. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, outlined these initiatives in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Dr. Singh emphasized that key interventions in science and technology are central to this vision. Among the flagship programs are the National Quantum Mission and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, which aim to develop critical technologies, reduce import dependency, and establish India as a global leader in emerging fields.
Government has launched several programmes to catalyzestartup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
Several strategic policy measures have been introduced by the Government including the Geospatial Policy 2022, the Space Policy 2023 and BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy 2024.
The Government has established the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act 2023 towards strengthening our technological leadership, marking a paradigm shift in our R&D ecosystem. The ANRF aims to drive a multi-phased roadmap for scientific breakthroughs and cross-sectoral collaboration, providing competitive, peer-reviewed grants to optimize resource allocation for high-impact research. ANRF aims to position India as a global leader in innovative, sustainable technological progress. The Foundation has outlined multifaceted strategic interventions to enhance India’s research ecosystem, aligning with national scientific and geopolitical priorities.
In order to make India Viksit Bharat by 2047, Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) on Technology has held detailed discussions and many of the interventions are a result of these discussions. Some other actions emphasize strengthening research and innovation in the areas of Quantum Technologies, Cyber Physical Systems, Bio Manufacturing etc. These efforts focus on technological self-reliance, sustainability, and economic growth, with a strong emphasis on R&D, skilled workforce development, and global leadership in emerging technologies. Through coordinated efforts across various sectors, the endeavour is to transform India into a scientifically advanced and innovation-driven economy, laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The efforts made by the Government through various programmes and policy measures have helped the nation in improving its position in the Science and Technology at global level which is visible through its global position in scientific publications, number of Ph.Ds, number of start-ups, resident patent filing, Global Innovation Index, number of start-ups, etc. Some of the key highlights include:
- India ranks 3rdin terms of number of research publications (2,07,390) as per Science & Engineering Indicators 2024 published by National Science Foundation (NSF), USA.
- India ranked 3rdin terms of the total number of startups (more than 1,40,000) in 2024 as per DPIIT.
- India ranks 4thin number of PhD degrees awarded (16,968) in Science and Engineering as per Science & Engineering Indicators 2024 published by National Science Foundation (NSF), USA.
- India is ranked at 6th position both in terms of resident (38551) and non-resident (38517) patent filing activity from respective country as per WIPO Report, 2023.
- India has witnessed a significant jump in its Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking from 81stin the year 2015 to 39th in 2024 among 133 economies of the world.
- The Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the country has been consistently increasing over the years and has more than doubled from Rs. 53041.30 crore in 2009-10 to Rs. 127380.96 crore in 2020-21. As per DST R&D Statistics 2022-23, India occupies 7th position in terms of GERD (in billion current PPP$) ahead of United Kingdom, Russia, Brazil, Italy, Canada, Spain, Australia, etc
- Gender participation in R&D has increased to 18.6% (2021) from 14.3 % (2009) as per DST R&D Statistics, 2022-23.
- Number of researchers per million population has increased to 262 in 2020 as compared to 164 in 2009 as per DST R&D Statistics, 2022-23.
The minister reiterated that these efforts are not just enhancing India’s global standing in science and technology but also driving the nation closer to its ambitious goal of becoming a fully developed country by 2047.
With these mission-driven initiatives, the government is laying the foundation for a technologically advanced and self-reliant India, poised to lead in multiple sectors on the global stage.
