Conclave of innovation: PM Modi’s ₹1 lakh crore RDI scheme to transform research in India

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. He began his address by congratulating the Indian women’s cricket team for their historic victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, calling it a moment of national pride that would inspire young girls across the country. He also hailed the scientists behind the successful launch of the country’s heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil, praising ISRO’s achievement as another milestone in India’s scientific progress.

Speaking to scientists, innovators, and global experts, the Prime Minister launched the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, aimed at building a strong, private-sector-driven R&D ecosystem in India. The scheme supports work that leads to new technologies or products with the potential to disrupt existing systems, for example, quantum computing, new battery chemistry, or affordable green hydrogen solutions.

He said the initiative would provide capital support for high-risk, high-impact research , projects capable of delivering major technological, scientific, or economic breakthroughs. Such high-impact R&D focuses on transformative ideas that can disrupt industries, strengthen national self-reliance, and open new markets, covering areas like AI, semiconductors, clean energy, biotechnology, and quantum technology.

The Prime Minister emphasized that India is now focusing on “Ease of Doing Research” , ensuring that innovation can move seamlessly from laboratories to markets. He said that for the first time, capital is being made available for private enterprises and startups undertaking ambitious, future-oriented projects.

Under the RDI Scheme , funding will be channelled through selected Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs) such as Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and research parks, under the supervision of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) . Eligible applicants, including startups, industries, and innovation-focused enterprises, can apply through these fund managers once official calls are announced. Projects will be evaluated on technological merit, innovation potential, scalability, and national relevance..

At the Innovation Conclave, the Prime Minister highlighted that India’s R&D spending has doubled in the last decade, patents have risen 17-fold, and the country now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup hub. While factually correct, the larger picture tells a different story, India’s R&D expenditure remains just 0.64% of GDP , far below China’s 2.6% and the US’s 3.4% . Despite the ₹1 lakh crore scheme, experts believe the funding is still too limited to bridge the gap and drive breakthrough innovation at a global scale.

Shri Modi also emphasized the need for ethical and human-centric AI , announcing that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026 . He expressed confidence that the collective efforts of scientists, startups, and industry leaders will elevate India’s innovation journey to new heights, invoking the spirit of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan.”