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23h ago

Modi Launches ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund at ESTIC 2025 to Catalyse Private R&D

The two-tier design routes money through independent fund managers with long-tenor, low-cost financing for high-risk research.

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Countries around the world have found ways to give domestic technologies preferential access to their markets, allowing their companies to hone their products to perfection before taking on the world (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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Overview

  • The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal ministry, with a Special Purpose Fund housed in the Anusandhan National Research Foundation as custodian of the corpus.
  • Capital will not be deployed directly into companies but via AIFs, DFIs and NBFCs, guided by independent investment committees operating at arm’s length from government.
  • The scheme totals ₹1 lakh crore over six years with ₹20,000 crore in FY 2025–26 from the Consolidated Fund of India, offering long-term low or zero-interest loans and equity while excluding grants and short-term loans.
  • ESTIC 2025 opened in New Delhi for November 3–5, convening over 3,000 participants including Nobel laureates across 11 focus areas such as AI, semiconductors, quantum technologies, health and space.
  • Modi said the initiative targets high-risk, high-impact projects and advances an ‘ease of doing research’ agenda to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem.