Union Budget 2026-27 allocates ₹10,000 crore for Biopharma SHAKTI mission but core research funding gaps persist

Rs 1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund: Collateral-Free Loans at 2-4% Interest for Deep-Tech Firms via TDB, BIRAC

The government's Rs 1 lakh crore RDI Fund for deep-tech innovation has come under scrutiny as 15 of 22 funded companies have investment ties to selection committee members. The fund provides collateral-free loans at 2-4% interest over 15 years, administered through ANRF with TDB and BIRAC as fund managers.

India's R&D Spending, Patents Surge but Systemic Barriers Hinder Science Superpower Status: E-book

A Hindu e-book analyzes India's scientific trajectory, noting increased R&D spending and patent filings but flagging critical gaps: poor lab-to-market translation, bureaucratic hurdles, brain drain, and rising pseudoscience. For exams, this is a rich source of 'Challenges to India's Innovation Ecosystem' for GS3.

Private Industry Accounts for 51.8% of India's R&D Spending; ANRF Corpus ₹50,000 Cr

India's private sector has overtaken the government in R&D spending for the first time, accounting for 51.8% in 2023-24. However, part of the surge is due to better data capture. India's R&D intensity remains low at 0.84% of GDP. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (₹50,000 crore) aims to boost private sector research and deepen the research workforce.

ISRO Clarifies Pvt Sector Role: Targets $44B Space Economy, Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, Moon Mission by 2040

ISRO has addressed employee concerns, stating that private sector participation in space is not a threat but an expansion of the ecosystem. The agency will focus on advanced missions like Bharatiya Antariksh Station (2035) and crewed Moon mission (2040), while routine production shifts to industry. India aims to grow its space economy from $8.4B to $44B by 2033.

VBSA Bill Strips UGC of Grant-Giving; Teacher-Research Grants Collapse 83%, State Universities Neglected

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill removes UGC's grant-giving role, shifting funding to the Ministry of Education. UGC's individual teacher-research grants have collapsed (83% drop in Major Research Projects, Minor Research Projects down from 900 to 1 teacher), while state universities receive negligible development aid compared to central universities. This formalises a widening funding inequality that exam aspirants must know for education policy questions.

PM Modi Meets 20 Space Startups on National Space Day, Pledges Unwavering Support for Sector

PM Modi interacted with 20 space startups ahead of National Space Day, emphasizing India's emergence as a global space hub. He assured policy continuity and unwavering support as the sector sees a boom post-2020 liberalization, with Skyroot Aerospace becoming the first private Indian company to conduct an orbital launch.

PM Modi to 20+ Space Start-ups: India's Private Space Ecosystem Can Attract Global Talent Pool

PM Modi met over 20 space start-up founders ahead of National Space Day, lauding their courage and stating that India's private space ecosystem can become a global magnet for scientific talent. The government promised stable policy support, boosting the morale of India's rapidly expanding space start-up sector, which now has over 400 companies.

HPCL-led Consortium Sets Up MC2 Plus Incubator and AIF to Cut ₹1 Lakh Crore Refining Energy Bill

A consortium of PSU oil companies led by HPCL has formed MC2 Plus, a Section 8 company, as an incubator for deep-tech energy startups. The initiative targets the ₹1 lakh crore annual energy cost in India's refining sector, shifting PSU engagement from procurement to active innovation and investment. A proposed Alternative Investment Fund ('India Energy Fund') will back the startups.