At the Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ₹1 lakh crore (₹100,000 crore) Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) fund targeted at private-sector investment in critical tech areas like AI, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
The government’s aim is to mobilise private-capital alongside public investments into early-stage deep tech, helping bridge the innovation-funding gap. The fund also signals that the state sees long-term value in home-grown R&D rather than purely import/supply dependence.
Why it matters: For Indian researchers, startups and industry, this means more funding opportunities and policy push. For the tech ecosystem, it suggests India is gearing up for indigenous breakthroughs rather than just consumption of global tech.
