Overall Budget Trends
- ₹20,000 crore dedicated fund for private sector R&D, part of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus from the July 2024 Budget.
- Focus on strategic autonomy in deeptech and sunrise sectors.
- Increased funding for biotechnology and applied sciences, while basic science funding stagnates.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance) , GS 3(Science)
Sector-Wise Analysis
- Department of Science & Technology (DST):
- ₹20,000 crore allocated to boost innovation through public-private partnerships.
- ₹100 crore for National Geospatial Mission to enhance geospatial infrastructure.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT):
- ₹3,446.64 crore allocation (51.45% increase).
- ‘Bio-RIDE’ scheme launched to promote biomanufacturing and bio-entrepreneurship.
- Focus on gene-editing, personalised medicine, and sustainable agriculture.
- New missions on high-yielding seeds, minor oil seeds, and genetic resource characterisation.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
- Supports Agri-Districts Initiative, Millets Mission, and Cotton Mission for self-reliance.
- Focus on Green Hydrogen Mission and Indigenous Manufacturing.
- Jigyasa Programme for STEM education and Seaweed Mission for women entrepreneurs.
Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):
- Aim to increase nuclear power capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.
- Private sector participation introduced in nuclear energy.
- Concerns over Nuclear Liability and Damage Act 2010 amendments.
Challenges & Criticism
- Basic Science Funding Declining: IISc and IISERs saw funding cuts, while education spending remains at only 2.54% of GDP (far below the NEP-2020 target of 6%).
- Curiosity-Driven Science Overlooked: Focus is on mission-mode projects like AI and nuclear energy, leaving fundamental research underfunded.
- Rigid Bureaucracy in Research Grants: Hinders efficient fund allocation and scientific progress.
