Dr Jitendra Singh Hails ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme as a Game-Changer for Innovation

The Science & Technology Minister calls for delivering on a “whole-of-government, whole-of-nation” roadmap toward Mission 2047 at the valedictory session of the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.

Marking a milestone in the scientific enterprise of India, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Minister of Cooperation, joined the inauguration of ESTIC 2025 and congratulated Narendra Modi for launching the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme. The mobilisation of this fund, Dr Singh said during his valedictory address, was a “transformative milestone in India’s journey toward a global innovation hub,” with young researchers and deep-tech startups playing an important role.

Context:
This RDI Scheme was announced by the Prime Minister at the inauguration of ESTIC 2025 at Bharat Mandapam on 3rd November 2025 — a private-sector-driven research framework supported by concessional capital, equity instruments and high-risk, high-impact project financing.

Meanwhile, the recently held ESTIC 2025 saw the coming together of more than 3,000 participants from 13 ministries, academia, industry and global experts debating 11 thematic frontiers ranging from AI and quantum science to bio-manufacturing and the blue economy.

Dr Singh termed the Conclave “a true temple of innovation” where ideas met inspiration and discovery met determination. He added that the event essentially brought in the “spirit of New India’s innovation” through active participation by young researchers and deep-tech start-ups.

Technical Details:
The total corpus of the RDI Scheme stands at ₹1 lakh crore (≈ US$12 billion) and aims to promote participation of the private sector in R&D, technology commercialisation and venture-style financing of frontier science.

Governance involves two-tier funding wherein the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, acts as a custodian for a Special Purpose Fund, which disburses resources to professional fund managers such as NBFCs, AIFs and DFIs in priority sectors.

The priority areas identified include emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotech, semiconductors, green hydrogen, the blue economy and critical minerals — domains in which India currently has strategic dependencies.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade, patent filings have jumped 17 times, and India hosts the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, which includes more than 6,000 deep-tech start-ups.

Programme Info:
ESTIC 2025 is conceptualised as a flagship platform that catalyses collaboration between academia, industry and government, leading to convergence across 11 key technological frontiers.

Under the aegis of ANRF, the RDI Scheme, implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), aims at the institutionalisation of long-term patient capital for research and innovation, which, in fact, is different from the previous short-term grant-based model.

Dr Singh also referred to the role of the VAIBHAV Fellowship programme that enables Indian-origin scientists abroad to meaningfully engage with Indian research ecosystems. He said:
“The Fellows’ enthusiasm went beyond academic collaboration; it reflected emotional and intellectual commitment to the nation. We must find structured ways to engage them further.”

About Organisations:

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):
As the institutional backbone for India’s research, innovation and industry convergence, ANRF fosters long-term collaboration between academia, the private sector and the government. Chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, its Governing Board oversees flagship initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund Scheme, materialising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by driving sustained R&D investments.

Department of Science & Technology (DST):
DST, as the nodal ministry for implementing the RDI Scheme, has a crucial role in developing policy frameworks, selecting fund managers and setting national research priorities. DST works to foster cross-sectoral partnerships, ensuring that scientific innovation translates into tangible solutions for industry, the environment and society, thus strengthening India’s position as a global innovation hub.