PIB Summaries 28 March 2025

Content :

1. INSPIRE SCHEME
2. The Rise of India’s Bioeconomy From $10bn to $165.75bn in a Decade

INSPIRE SCHEME

Introduction

The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scheme, implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to attract and nurture young scientific talent in India. By providing structured financial and academic support across different stages of education and research, INSPIRE seeks to strengthen the country’s Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem.

Relevance : GS 3(Research , Development)

Key Features of INSPIRE

The scheme operates at a pan-India level with four major components:

1. INSPIRE Internship
   1. Targets the top 1% of Class X students.
   1. Provides exposure through science camps with Nobel laureates and top scientists.
   1. Encourages early engagement with scientific research.

• INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
  • Supports students opting for basic and natural sciences at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels.
  • 12,000 scholarships annually, each worth ₹80,000 per year.
  • Eligibility based on top 1% performance in central and state boards (ages 17-22).

• INSPIRE Fellowship
  • Supports M.Sc. 1st Rank holders and INSPIRE Scholars pursuing Ph.D..
  • Provides ₹37,000/month (JRF) and ₹42,000/month (SRF), along with HRA and contingency grants.
  • 1,000 fellowships per year.

• INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship
  • Encourages post-doctoral research in basic and applied sciences.
  • Provides ₹1,25,000 per month, increasing annually, plus ₹7 lakh per annum as a research grant.
  • 150 fellowships per year.

State-wise Performance in 2024-2025 (till March 21, 2025)

• Uttar Pradesh leads in total INSPIRE-SHE selections (5,374).
• Rajasthan (2,879), Madhya Pradesh (573), and Chhattisgarh (421) also show high numbers in SHE component.
• Tamil Nadu (975), Punjab (550), and Andhra Pradesh (530) excel in INSPIRE Internship participation.
• Delhi (53), Karnataka (46), and Maharashtra (34) have high INSPIRE Fellowship beneficiaries.
• Karnataka (16), Maharashtra (8), and Delhi (8) dominate in INSPIRE Faculty Fellowships.

Significance & Impact

• STEM Promotion: Enhances India’s scientific workforce in engineering, medicine, agriculture, and basic sciences.
• Equitable Access: Covers students from diverse socio-economic and regional backgrounds.
• R&D Growth: Strengthens India’s innovation ecosystem by supporting Ph.D. and post-doctoral researchers.
• Quality of Research: Encourages early-career researchers to contribute to India’s scientific and technological advancement.

Challenges & Way Forward

• Regional Disparities: States like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Nagaland have minimal beneficiaries.
• Outreach & Awareness: More targeted promotion in rural and tribal areas is required.
• Industry Collaboration: Stronger linkages with private R&D labs and industries can enhance practical applications.

Conclusion

The INSPIRE scheme is a vital step towards fostering a scientific temperament in India. By expanding its reach and strengthening mentorship and research opportunities, it can further elevate India’s standing in the global scientific community.

The Rise of India’s Bioeconomy From $10bn to $165.75bn in a Decade

Introduction: Understanding the Bioeconomy Boom

• India’s bioeconomy has expanded 16-fold in the past decade, rising from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024.
• Contributes 4.25% to GDP with a CAGR of 17.9% (last four years).
• Target set at $300 billion by 2030, positioning India as a global biotech hub.
• Driven by innovation, sustainability, and a circular bioeconomy, leveraging regenerative biomanufacturing and AI-based biotech applications.
• Aligned with India’s net-zero targets, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) initiatives.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Key Government Initiatives Fueling Growth

(a) BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment)

• Approved in August 2024, it aims at:
  • Strengthening high-performance biomanufacturing.
  • Reducing reliance on chemical industries through bio-based models.
  • Promoting sustainability, employment, and innovation.
  • Boosting India’s role in global bio-manufacturing and biopharma production.

• Establishment of:
  • Bio-foundry clusters for scaling biotech production.
  • Bio-AI hubs for computational biology and data-driven innovation.
  • Advanced bio-manufacturing facilities for industrial-scale production.

(b) National Biopharma Mission (NBM-Innovate in India)

• $250 million initiative, 50% co-funded by the World Bank.
• Supports 101 projects across 150+ organizations and 30 MSMEs.
• Establishes testing and validation infrastructure:
  • GCLP labs for vaccine testing.
  • GLP labs for biosimilar analysis.
  • cGMP facilities for bio-manufacturing.
• India has transitioned from generic drugs to biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biosimilars.

(c) Biotech-KISAN (Farmer-Scientist Partnership)

• Focus: Empowering farmers via biotech solutions.
• Key outcomes:
  • Climate-resilient crops, genome-edited rice, and high-yield chickpea.
  • Eco-friendly pest control methods to reduce pesticide dependence.
  • State-wise impact:
    • Chhattisgarh: 40–50% income rise for rice farmers.
    • Jharkhand: 69–100% increase in silk cocoon and compost production.
    • West Bengal: 37,552 farmers (incl. 28,756 women) trained in scientific farming.

Key Drivers of Growth in India’s Bioeconomy

(a) Biopharmaceutical Industry

• India ranks 3rd globally in pharma production (by volume) and 14th (by value).
• Developed world’s first DNA vaccine for COVID-19.
• Produces 65% of global vaccines, benefiting low-income nations.
• Indigenous HPV vaccine developed to combat cervical cancer.
• Every third tablet consumed globally is made in India.

(b) Bio-agriculture and Agri-biotech

• Genetic advancements in rice, chickpea, and millet varieties.
• Genotyping arrays for precise DNA fingerprinting in crops.
• Nano-formulations for pest control, reducing chemical pesticide use.
• Kisan-Kavach suits introduced to protect farmers from pesticide exposure.

(c) Bioenergy and Circular Economy

• Ethanol blending policy:
  • Increased from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024.
  • Target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025.
• Benefits achieved:
  • Reduced crudeoil imports by 173 lakh metric tons.
  • Saved ₹99,014 crores in foreign exchange.
  • Cut 519 lakh metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
• Expansion of biofuel feedstocks: maize, sugarcane waste, bamboo, and agricultural residue.
• Second-generation ethanol plants converting crop residue (Parali) into fuel, mitigating air pollution.

(d) BIRAC and India’s Biotech Startup Ecosystem

• Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) supports over 5,000 startups.
• 95+ bio-incubators across India provide funding and mentorship.
• Bridging lab-to-market gap for biotech innovations.
• Focus on industrial-scale biomanufacturing and biopharma R&D.

Challenges and Way Forward

Challenges

• Regulatory barriers: Streamlining approval processes for biotech innovations.
• Biomanufacturing scale-up: Need for more infrastructure and funding support.
• Skilled workforce: Expanding biotech training programs.
• Ethical and biosafety concerns: Ensuring adherence to global standards.
• Climate resilience: Mitigating risks of bioresource dependence.

The Way Forward

• Strengthening biotech R&D: Increasing public-private partnerships.
• Scaling up ethanol and bioenergy projects: Expanding second-gen biofuel plants.
• Enhancing bio-pharma exports: Leveraging India’s low-cost vaccine and drug production.
• Promoting sustainable bio-manufacturing: Aligning with net-zero carbon goals.
• Boosting digital-biotech integration: AI-driven biotech innovations.