Lok Sabha Question No. 651 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Gross Expenditure on Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 651 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2025

## GROSS EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## 651.  SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

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

- (a)     whether country's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has shown significant growth during the last decade;
- (b)     if so, the key sectors and institutions contributing to this increase and the share of the Government and private sectors in total R&D spending;
- (c)     whether the Government has taken specific steps to encourage innovation, research output and patent filings in recent years;
- (d)     if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)     the  manner  in  which  country's  rising  R&D  expenditure  and  increase  in Science and Engineering PhDs are contributing to its goal of becoming a global innovation hub?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes  Sir.  As  per  latest  Research  &  Development  Statistics,  the  Gross Expenditure  on  Research  and  Development  (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. 1,27,380.96 crore in 2020-21.
- (b)  The  key  sectors  and  institutions  contributing  to  this  increase  include: government R&D labs/institutions, public & private sector industries and higher education institutions. In the industrial R&D, the dominant sectors are Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Information Technology, Transportation, Defence Industries and Biotechnology. The share of government spending in total R&D is 63.6% and that of private sectors is 36.4%.
- (c) to (d): The  government  has implemented  several  measures  to  encourage innovation, research output and patent filing with the aim to strengthen overall research and innovation ecosystem of the country.  Some of the key measures/steps taken up by the government include:
-  Launch  of  ₹1.0  lakh  crore  Research,  Development  and  Innovation  (RDI) Fund  to  provide  financial  support  to  private  industries  for  research  and innovation in the critical areas that are vital for national development and global competitiveness such as: Energy security and transition, and climate

- action;  'Deep  Technologies'  including  quantum  computing,  robotics  and space;  Artificial  intelligence;  Biotechnology  and  medical  devices;  Digital economy including digital  agriculture;  etc.  This  scheme  aims  to  catalyze private sector investment in R&D.
-  Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to provide high-level strategic directions for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the diverse fields of sciences and engineering.
-  Creation  of  state-of-art  R&D  infrastructure  in  academic  and  research institutions  through  programmes  like:  Fund  for  Improvement  of  S&T Infrastructure  in  Universities  and  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (FIST); Promotion  of  University  Research  and  Scientific  Excellence  (PURSE); Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF);  Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI); etc.
-  Promotion of S&T based innovation and entrepreneurship in academic and research  institutions  through  programme  such  as:  National  Initiative  for Developing  and  Harnessing  innovations  (NIDHI);  Biotechnology  Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) programmes; Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX); Technology Development Fund (TDF); TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs); etc.
-  Implementation of mission mode programmes such as: National Quantum Missions (NQM); National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS); National Supercomputing Mission; Mission for Advancement  in  High-impact  Areas  (MAHA)-Electric  Vehicles;  etc.  for technology development in specific areas.
-  Creation of enabling mechanism for IP management and commercialization through  various  initiatives  such  as:  establishment  of  Patent  Facilitating Centre; Patent Information Centre to facilitate IPR related activities through State S&T Councils;  publishing Intellectual Property Guidelines to facilitate seamless transfer of IP at academic institutes towards commercialization of technologies/products; establishment of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to facilitate transfer of technologies from universities and research institutions to the industry; providing IP and technology management service through Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC); etc.
- (e) India's rising R&D investments and growth in science and engineering PhDs are directly contributing to its goal to become a global innovation hub and helped in strengthening research capacity, fueling innovation, boosting patent activity and  enhancing  global  competitiveness  which  is  reflected  in  India's  position  in global rankings i.e. significant jump in its Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking from 81 st   (2015) to 38 th   (2025); 3 rd  position in number of startups; 3 rd  position in science and engineering publications; 4 th  position in number of PhDs in science & engineering; and 6 th  position in patent filing activity.

*****