Wed Feb 11 13:09:23 UTC 2026: # Budget 2026: Ambitious Science Funding Faces Scrutiny Over Implementation
The Story:
India’s Union Budget 2026-27 has presented science and technology as crucial drivers of growth, allocating significant funds to areas like biopharma, semiconductors, and carbon capture. However, expert reactions reveal concerns about the budget’s actual impact, citing past discrepancies between allocated and disbursed funds, administrative disruptions, and a potential bias towards downstream manufacturing at the expense of foundational research. While the budget includes new initiatives like the ‘Biopharma SHAKTI’ program, concerns remain about ensuring timely and transparent fund flow, fostering autonomy for research institutions, and maintaining a balanced approach between applied and basic research.
Key Points:
* The Union Budget 2026-27 emphasizes science and technology for growth.
* ‘Biopharma SHAKTI’ receives a large allocation of ₹10,000 crore over five years.
* Past budgets (2023-24, 2024-25) saw substantial reductions in actual spending compared to budgeted amounts for the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Science and Technology.
* Experts like L.S. Shashidhara and C.P. Rajendran express concerns about funding shortfalls, administrative disruptions, and the potential neglect of basic research in favor of applied sectors.
* The budget proposes upgrading four astronomy facilities at ₹3,500 crore, while support for the Indian Institute of Astrophysics has stagnated.
* India’s gross expenditure on R&D has hovered around 0.64-0.7% of GDP for years, indicating real-term cuts when adjusted for inflation.
Critical Analysis:
The continued pattern of reduced actual spending compared to initial budget allocations for science and technology raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to its stated goals. The focus on mission-mode initiatives, while potentially beneficial, seems to perpetuate a cycle where long-term financing for foundational research is deferred. The emphasis on applied sectors like space applications and semiconductors, while globally fashionable, risks neglecting crucial basic research, hindering long-term scientific progress.
Key Takeaways:
* The Budget 2026-27 reveals a potential gap between ambition and execution in science funding.
* Timely and transparent fund disbursement remains a critical challenge for India’s research ecosystem.
* A balanced approach between applied and basic research is essential for sustained scientific advancement.
* The over-reliance on mission-mode projects may not provide the stable, long-term financial support needed for foundational research.
* Engaging the broader life sciences community and addressing fund flow issues is crucial for the success of initiatives like ‘Biopharma SHAKTI’.
Impact Analysis:
If the concerns raised by experts are not addressed, India risks hindering its scientific progress and limiting its ability to achieve long-term self-reliance in technology. The continued underfunding of basic research could stifle innovation and limit the country’s capacity to develop groundbreaking technologies in the future. The reliance on downstream manufacturing at the expense of upstream research may create dependencies on foreign technologies and limit India’s ability to become a true global leader in science and technology. The success of initiatives like ‘Biopharma SHAKTI’ and the ‘India Semiconductor Mission 2.0’ will depend on addressing these systemic issues and ensuring stable, long-term support for the entire research ecosystem.
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