Lok Sabha Question No. 4412 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Increase in R&D  Expenditure to Gross Domestic Product
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri E Tukaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4412 ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025

## INCREASE IN R&D EXPENDITURE TO GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

## 4412. SHRI E TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  set  any  target  to  increase Research and Development (R&D) expenditure to at least 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2029;
- (b) if so, the details of the roadmap or strategy proposed to achieve this target; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

- (a)  to  (c):   The  Government  has  not  specifically  set  any  target  to increase Research and Development (R&D) expenditure to at least 1.5% of the GDP by 2029. The Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the country has been consistently increasing over the years and has more  than  doubled  from  Rs.  60,196.75  crore  in  2010-11  to  Rs. 127,380.96 crore in 2020-21. The Government has long-standing and evolving  objectives  to  enhance  R&D  investment,  supported  by structural and  institutional  reforms.  The  approach  focuses  on building  a  robust  and  sustainable  innovation  ecosystem  in  the country.  To  this  end,  the  Government  has  undertaken  several strategic initiatives to strengthen the R&D and innovation landscape. Some  of  the  key  policy  measures  and  institutional  interventions include:
-  Progressive increase in budget allocations for scientific departments and research-oriented programmes.
-  Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) through the ANRF Act, 2023 to provide high level strategic direction for research, innovation and

entrepreneurship  in  the  fields  of  science  &  technology.  A budgetary provision of Rs. 14,000 crore has been made from the Central Government and the additional funding is to be explored sources like industry,

- and sourced from non-governmental philanthropists, etc..
-  Launch of National Missions such as National Quantum Mission to make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (budget outlay: ₹6,003.65  crore);  National  Mission  on  Interdisciplinary  Cyber Physical Systems (budget outlay ₹3,660 crore); National Supercomputing  Mission; Electric Vehicle-Mission  program under  ANRF's  MAHA (Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas)  programme;  India  Semiconductor  Mission  (  ₹76,000 crore) for building up semiconductor ecosystem in India;  Deep Ocean  Mission  to  explore  and  sustainably  utilize  the  deep ocean's resources (budget outlay: ₹4077 crore); National  Green Hydrogen Mission aimed at promoting the production, usage, and export of green hydrogen, a clean energy source; and India AI Mission to strengthen AI capabilities (budget outlay: ₹10,372 crore).
-  Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and creation of Technology  Hubs  under  National  Mission  on  Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems and National Quantum Mission to foster collaborative technology development.
-  Launch  of  the  Research,  Development  and  Innovation  (RDI) Scheme, with a financial pool of ₹1 lakh crore over six years, to support  and  fund  research  and  innovation  in  private  sector, especially  in  sunrise  sectors,  thereby  driving  growth  and innovation.
-  Introduction of enabling policy frameworks such as the Geospatial Policy 2022, Space Policy 2023, and BioE3 (Biotechnology  for  Economy,  Environment  and  Employment) Policy 2024.

These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen India's R&D capabilities, enhance collaboration between academia, industry, and government,  and  create  the  conditions  for  sustained  increases  in national R&D expenditure over time.

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