Prime Minister Narendra Modi Addresses Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025; Launches ₹1 Lakh Crore R&D Scheme
New Delhi, November 3, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025 (ESTIC) held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Welcoming participants including scientists from India and abroad, innovators, academicians, and distinguished guests, the Prime Minister outlined India’s remarkable progress in science, technology, and innovation and unveiled a landmark ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation scheme.
Celebrating National Achievements
PM Modi opened his address by congratulating the Indian women’s cricket team for their historic victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, marking India’s first win in the tournament. He applauded the team for their achievement and expressed confidence that it would inspire millions of young Indians nationwide.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s recent scientific accomplishment—the successful launch of the country’s heaviest communication satellite by Indian scientists and ISRO. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to all involved in the mission, marking the day as a significant milestone for Indian science and technology.
The Conclave’s Vision for the 21st Century
Emphasizing the 21st century as a period of extraordinary transformation with an exponential pace of change, PM Modi explained that the need for global experts to collectively deliberate on emerging science, technology, and innovation led to the vision and realization of the ESTIC 2025. He expressed happiness over the active participation of multiple government ministries, the private sector, startups, and students, and welcomed a Nobel Laureate among the attendees.
Focus on Research and Innovation Ecosystem
Recalling the famous Indian national slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” the Prime Minister added new dimensions with “Jai Vigyan” (Hail Science) and “Jai Anusandhan” (Hail Research), underscoring the government’s renewed commitment to scientific research. He announced the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, aimed at scaling up research and innovation in Indian universities.
As part of this initiative, PM Modi launched the ambitious Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with an allocation of ₹1 lakh crore. This scheme is designed to foster innovation by making capital available for high-risk, high-impact projects, especially encouraging the private sector to participate actively in research and development.
The Prime Minister detailed reforms introduced to enhance the ease of conducting research in India, highlighting changes in financial rules, procurement policies, regulations, and incentives. These reforms are intended to facilitate rapid prototyping and smooth transition of innovations from laboratories to the market.
India’s Rising Innovation Metrics
PM Modi proudly shared key statistics demonstrating India’s emergence as a global innovation hub:
- India’s Research & Development expenditure has doubled over the past decade.
- Registered patents have increased 17-fold.
- India is now the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
- Over 6,000 deep-tech startups are operating in sectors such as clean energy and advanced materials.
- The country’s semiconductor industry is gaining momentum.
- The bio-economy has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to around $140 billion today.
The Prime Minister also cited India’s progress in cutting-edge fields including green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep-sea research, and critical minerals, emphasizing the country’s growing footprint across emerging technologies.
Inclusive Innovation and Digital Infrastructure
Highlighting the transformative journey India has undergone in the last decade, PM Modi stated that India is no longer just a consumer of technology, but a pioneer of transformation through technology. He referenced India’s indigenous development of a COVID-19 vaccine and execution of the largest vaccination campaign globally as examples of this capability.
He credited India’s robust Digital Public Infrastructure as a key enabler for delivering policies and programmes on a massive scale. Over 200,000 gram panchayats are now connected via optical fibre, and mobile data accessibility has been democratised nationwide.
Recognizing the impact of space science on everyday lives, the Prime Minister mentioned that India’s space programme now benefits farmers and fishermen in addition to achieving lunar and Martian milestones.
Empowering Women and Youth in Science
PM Modi underscored the importance of inclusive innovation, citing the rapid rise of women in science and technology in India as a standout example. The number of patents filed by women has soared from under 100 per year a decade ago to over 5,000 annually today. Women now comprise approximately 43% of STEM enrollments in India, surpassing the global average.
Citing inspirational moments such as the Chandrayaan mission’s enthusiastic reception by young Indians and recent space station missions, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of nurturing curiosity among children. He noted that over one crore children are currently engaged in scientific experiments at nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs across India. Building on this success, PM Modi announced the establishment of an additional 25,000 Atal Tinkering Labs nationwide.
Furthermore, he highlighted the addition of hundreds of new universities, including seven IITs and sixteen IIITs, and emphasized that the New Education Policy ensures STEM subjects are available in local languages to make education more accessible.
Supporting Young Researchers and Ethical Technology
The Prime Minister praised the success of the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, which provides significant financial support to young researchers, and announced that over the next five years, 10,000 fellowships would be awarded to advance India’s research capabilities.
PM Modi also expressed the need for Indian science and technology to be ethical and inclusive, citing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a technology with vast applications—from retail and logistics to education—and noted India’s active role in shaping global frameworks for ethical AI development.
Concluding Remarks
The Prime Minister’s address at ESTIC 2025 delineated a vision of India as a global leader in science, technology, and innovation—powered by an ecosystem that nurtures research, supports inclusive growth, and drives technological transformation for the nation’s progress.
For further details and updates, visit the official Prime Minister of India website.
