Context:

• On January 3, 2019, at the Indian Science Congress, the Indian Prime Minister articulated the vision of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan”.
• This emphasises the role of research and innovation in economic growth, national security, industrial development, entrepreneurship and citizen-centric governance - central to achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.
• Over the past decade, India has sought to strengthen its scientific institutions, increase research funding, promote private-sector participation and develop indigenous capabilities in emerging technologies.

India’s Progress:

• In research and innovation:
  • Global Innovation Index (GII): India improved from 81st position in 2015 to 38th in 2025.
  • Scientific publications: India ranks 3rd globally in the volume of scientific and engineering publications.
  • Research expenditure: Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) increased from ₹79,355.89 crore in 2013–14 to ₹2,44,767.81 crore in 2023–24, reaching approximately 0.84% of GDP.
  • Private-sector participation: The private sector’s share of GERD rose from 32.2% to 45.2% over the same period.
• What more needs to be done: Despite this progress, raising R&D expenditure as a proportion of GDP remains essential for strengthening India’s global competitiveness.

Strengthening the Institutional Framework:

• Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):
  • The ANRF supports research across universities, colleges and research laboratories while promoting collaboration among academia, industry and government.
  • It seeks to broaden India’s research base beyond established institutions.
• Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund:
  • The ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund aims to mobilise private investment in high-impact research and emerging technologies.
  • It addresses the “valley of death”—the funding gap between laboratory research and commercialisation, when technologies require pilot-scale testing, demonstration and product development.
• Together, these initiatives seek to improve research capacity and bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and market-ready innovations.

Promoting Women in Science:

• Initiatives such as WISE-KIRAN, Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) and Vigyan Jyoti seek to expand women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
• Greater gender inclusion can widen India’s scientific talent pool, improve diversity in research and promote equitable access to opportunities in the knowledge economy.

Developing Mission-Mode Capabilities in Emerging Technologies:

• National Quantum Mission: Supports the development of quantum computing, communication, sensing, metrology, materials and devices, alongside research groups and start-up spin-offs.
• IndiaAI Mission: Develops AI infrastructure, datasets, skills and foundational models while promoting responsible AI.
• India Semiconductor Mission:
  • Ten approved projects across six States—comprising two semiconductor fabrication facilities and eight packaging units—aim to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
  • The next phase, Semicon 2.0, emphasises equipment, materials, indigenous intellectual property, industry-led R&D and talent development.
• Biotechnology:
  • The BioE3 Policy promotes high-performance biomanufacturing, including bio-based chemicals, enzymes, precision biotherapeutics and space biotechnology.
  • India’s bioeconomy grew from approximately $10 billion in 2014 to $195.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.
• Deep Ocean Mission and Mission Mausam: Extend scientific capabilities to ocean-resource exploration, climate understanding, weather forecasting and environmental security.
• These initiatives reflect a shift towards integrated, mission-oriented research that links scientific excellence with strategic and economic priorities.

Opening Strategic Sectors to Private Participation:

• Space:
  • The Indian Space Policy 2023, and IN-SPACe have expanded private-sector opportunities in launch services, satellite manufacturing and downstream applications.
  • The ecosystem now includes more than 400 space start-ups, according to the article.
• Nuclear energy:
  • The Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act provides a legal framework for greater private-sector participation, subject to applicable licensing, safety and regulatory requirements.
• These reforms seek to encourage investment, innovation and indigenous technological capabilities in strategically important sectors.

Science for Citizen-Centric Governance:

• India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), built around the JAM trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and mobile connectivity, has expanded through platforms such as UPI, DigiLocker, Account Aggregator and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
• In agriculture, satellites, drones, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) support crop monitoring, precision farming, yield estimation and farmer advisories.
• Such applications demonstrate how scientific and digital innovations can improve public-service delivery, financial inclusion and agricultural productivity.

Strengthening the Start-up Ecosystem:

• Launched in 2016, Startup India placed entrepreneurship at the centre of India’s development strategy.
• India has emerged as the world’s 3rd-largest start-up ecosystem, with more than two lakh registered start-ups and over 130 unicorns, as cited in the article.
• Key supporting initiatives include:
  • Seed Fund Scheme and Fund of Funds: Improve access to early-stage and growth capital.
  • Credit Guarantee Scheme: Facilitates access to debt finance.
  • Atal Innovation Mission and NIDHI: Promote innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship.
  • BioNEST: Supports biotechnology incubation.
  • iDEX: Encourages defence innovation and indigenous technology development.
• The emerging focus is on translating research into commercially viable products, developing deep-tech enterprises and reducing dependence on imported technologies.

Conclusion:

• As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, the vision of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan” must translate scientific progress into strategic autonomy, economic competitiveness and tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
• For this, sustained investment in R&D, stronger industry–academia collaboration, improved commercialisation, skilled human capital and inclusive access to technology remain essential.