Mon Nov 03 06:48:55 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Modi Launches ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund to Boost Private Sector Research
New Delhi, November 3, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a ₹1 lakh crore (approximately $12 billion USD) Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, aimed at stimulating private sector investment in scientific research and development. The launch took place at the inaugural Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event brought together policymakers, innovators, and global visionaries to support the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
In addition to the RDI Fund, Mr. Modi also unveiled a coffee table book highlighting India’s scientific achievements and a comprehensive vision document for the future of science and technology in the country.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will oversee the RDI Fund, which will operate through a two-tiered funding structure. A Special Purpose Fund (SPF) will be established within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to manage the ₹1 lakh crore corpus.
The SPF will not directly invest in industries or start-ups. Instead, it will channel capital to second-level fund managers, including Alternative Investment Funds (AIF), Development Finance Institutions (DFI), and Non-banking Finance Companies (NBFCs). These second-level fund managers, guided by expert investment committees from finance, business, and technical sectors operating independently from the government, will make recommendations for support.
The RDI Fund is a significant step towards fostering a robust research and development ecosystem in India, encouraging private sector participation, and driving innovation to achieve the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
First Piper 