Archive · 21 Nov 2025
India's ₹1 Lakh Crore R&D Fund: Fast-Tracking Appointments
India's government is quickly choosing managers for a ₹1 lakh crore fund to boost research and development in areas like AI and biotech.
They want to start using some of the money before the next budget.
The fund will give money to companies and organizations that do research, and the government wants to know more about how much industry spends on research to make better plans.
Department of Science & Technology (DST) to appoint Second Level Fund Managers (SLFMs) by March 2026 for ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF)
Fund aims to spur private sector investment in research and development, targeting sectors like AI, Quantum, Big Tech, Biotechnology, Energy Transition, and Climate
Appointments fast-tracked to make a part of the fund operational before the Budget
RDIF to fund entities including Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and Focused Research Organizations (FROs)
India's R&D spend has more than doubled in the past decade, but GERD to GDP ratio remains low
- Who
- Department of Science & Technology (DST)
- What
- Appointing Second Level Fund Managers for ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF)
- When
- By March 2026
- Where
- India
- Why
- To spur private sector investment in research and development
- Fund Name
- Research Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF)
- Fund Size
- ₹1 lakh crore
- Target Sectors
- AI, Quantum, Big Tech, Biotechnology, Energy Transition, Climate, Smart Technologies
- Entities to be Funded
- Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Focused Research Organizations (FROs)
- India's R&D Spend in 2021
- ₹1.27 lakh crore
- GERD to GDP Ratio in India
- 0.6–0.7 per cent