India’s R&D expenditure suged to 0.84% in 2023-24

According to the “Research & Development Statistics 2025-26” report of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has shown an increasing trend.

• India’s R&D expenditure increased to 0.83% of GDP in 2021-22, marking the first time the country crossed the 0.8% threshold since 2009-10. The R&D expenditure further surged to 0.84% in 2023-24.
• The data also indicate a significant structural shift in India’s innovation ecosystem, with the private sector playing an increasingly important role in R&D.
• Private industry accounted for 45.5% of India’s total R&D expenditure in 2021-22.
• This share increased further to 51.8% in 2023-24, marking the first time businesses contributed more to national R&D spending than the government sector.

Composition of R&D Expenditure

• The Government Sector includes R&D expenditure by:
  • Central Government ministries, departments and institutions
  • State Government science and technology institutions
  • State Agricultural Universities
  • Public-sector and joint-sector industries
  • Public higher education institutions
• The Private Sector includes R&D expenditure by:
  • Private-sector industries
  • Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (SIROs)
  • Private higher education institutions

Government Initiatives to Promote R&D

• The Government has launched a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund to support private-sector-led, high-risk and strategic research.
• The RDI Fund aims to catalyse greater private-sector participation and investment in high-impact research and development.
• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established with a budgetary provision of ₹14,000 crore from the Central Government, while also seeking to mobilise additional funding from non-governmental sources.
• The Government has launched several National Missions to strengthen India’s technological capabilities, including:
  • National Quantum Mission – budget outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore
  • National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems – ₹3,660 crore
  • India Semiconductor Mission – ₹76,000 crore
  • National Supercomputing Mission
• Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) are being promoted to encourage collaborative research and technology development.
• Technology Hubs have been established under initiatives such as the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and the National Quantum Mission.
• The Government is implementing technology-led innovation programmes to strengthen India’s innovation-to-manufacturing pipeline, including:
  • National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)
  • Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) programmes
  • Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
  • TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs).

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