Tue Feb 11 00:30:00 UTC 2025: ## India’s Budget 2025: Massive Boost for Science, Technology, and Innovation

**New Delhi, February 11, 2025** – The Indian Union Budget 2025 has unveiled a significant increase in funding for science, technology, and innovation (STI), with a particular emphasis on private sector involvement and mission-oriented programs. A massive ₹20,000 crore (approximately $2.4 billion USD) has been allocated to the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to boost research and development (R&D) in the private sector, including corporations and startups. This is part of a larger ₹1 lakh crore (approximately $12 billion USD) corpus fund announced in July 2024 aimed at fostering private sector R&D, especially in deeptech and sunrise sectors.

The budget also includes substantial funding for several key initiatives:

* **National Geospatial Mission:** ₹100 crore (approximately $12 million USD) allocated for developing foundational geospatial infrastructure and data, aiming to establish India as a global leader in the field.
* **Nuclear Energy Mission:** A significant investment in developing small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a broader plan to increase nuclear power generation to 100 GWe by 2047. This includes the allowance of private sector participation in the nuclear sector.
* **Biotechnology Sector:** The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) received a 51.45% increase in funding, totaling ₹3,446.64 crore (approximately $416 million USD), to support advancements in areas like gene editing, personalized medicine, and sustainable agriculture. The “Bio-RIDE” scheme will further foster innovation and bio-entrepreneurship.
* **Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):** The CSIR will see increased funding across multiple missions, including those focused on agriculture, rural development, clean energy (Green Hydrogen Mission), and skill development (Jigyasa Programme).
* **Startups:** The Small Industries Development Bank of India Fund for Startups will receive an additional ₹10,000 crore (approximately $1.2 billion USD) to support deeptech startups in AI, biotech, and space technology.

While the budget celebrates these advancements, concerns have been raised by some experts. Dr. C.P. Rajendran of the National Institute for Advanced Studies noted that funding for curiosity-driven research appears minimal, with a significant focus on mission-mode programs. Others criticized the relatively low allocation to central universities compared to IITs and expressed concerns about the potential impact of amending the Nuclear Liability and Damage Act 2010. Professor Soumitro Banerjee of IISER Kolkata highlighted the insufficient funding for basic science research and the shortfall in meeting the NEP-2020 recommended expenditure on education. Despite these concerns, the budget represents a significant investment in India’s scientific future, signaling a strong commitment to technological self-reliance and global competitiveness.

Read More