India is making rapid strides in the fields of science and technology, marked by strategic policy initiatives and notable research breakthroughs over the past 24 hours. The nation's commitment to becoming a global leader in innovation is evident across various sectors, from artificial intelligence and biotechnology to advanced space technologies.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the G20 Summit, called for a fundamental shift towards promoting critical technologies based on human needs rather than financial considerations. He emphasized that AI should be human-centric, global, and rooted in open-source models. India has integrated this vision into its technological ecosystem, leading to significant benefits in areas such as space applications, AI, and digital payments, where the country is a global leader. The Prime Minister highlighted India's AI Mission, which aims to develop accessible high-performance computing capacity to ensure AI benefits reach every citizen. India is set to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, themed 'Sarvajanam Hitaya, Sarvajanam Sukhaya' (Well-being for all, Happiness for all), inviting all G20 countries to participate. Additionally, PM Modi proposed an 'IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance' at the IBSA Leaders' Meeting to facilitate the sharing of Digital Public Infrastructure among member countries.
In a move to strengthen the research and development ecosystem, PM Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 and launched a ā¹1 Lakh Crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund. This fund aims to promote a private sector-driven R&D environment in the country. The Prime Minister noted that India's R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade, registered patents have increased 17 times, and the country now boasts the world's third-largest startup ecosystem.
Biotechnology and Healthcare Innovations
The biotechnology sector in India also saw significant developments. The executive chairperson of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, proposed a dual-agency model to fast-track drug approvals. Under this model, the Indian Council of Medical Research would handle scientific reviews for new drugs and devices, with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation granting final regulatory approval, aiming to boost research and innovation. Indian scientists at ICAR-CRRI have developed a patented gene-editing tool using TnpB proteins, offering an indigenous alternative to the globally patented CRISPR-Cas systems. Furthermore, India launched its first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, 'BIRSA 101', for Sickle Cell Disease.
An Andhra University research team announced a discovery of a new mechanism by which the coronavirus evades COVID-19 vaccines, explaining that the viral spike protein exhibits a transition between solid and liquid states to confuse antibodies. In a major infrastructure push, the state government is likely to announce the 'Genome City' project in Thiruvananthapuram, an integrated life-sciences cluster with a projected investment of ā¹3,500 crore, aiming to establish Kerala as a biomanufacturing hub. The government is also considering floating global tenders for over 65 patented and proprietary drugs to address supply gaps in central healthcare institutions.
Advancements in Space and Defence Technology
India's space and defence capabilities continue to expand with notable achievements. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) made significant progress on its Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM) project, successfully finalizing the design of an active-cooled scramjet engine and conducting a critical 60-second sub-scale combustor test. This scramjet engine is designed to enable sustained hypersonic flight at speeds around Mach 8.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully demonstrated a boot-strap mode start of the CE20 cryogenic engine, a crucial step for enhancing restart capability and mission flexibility for future LVM3 flights. India's space policy reforms from 2023 and 2024 are facilitating cheaper access to orbit and promoting private sector involvement, moving India towards building in-orbit infrastructure, including the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station. ISRO also announced ambitious plans to triple spacecraft production over the next three years, with seven launches slated for the current year, and Chandrayaan-4 targeted for 2028 as India's first lunar sample-return mission. An Indian Space Station is also planned to have its first module launched by 2028 and completed by 2035. International collaboration in space is also on the rise, with India and Italy appreciating a recent visit of an Italian Space delegation to India to augment cooperation.
These developments underscore India's multi-faceted approach to scientific and technological advancement, aiming for self-reliance, global leadership, and human-centric innovation.