Major R&D and Innovation Schemes in India

India’s major R&D and innovation schemes are designed to strengthen scientific capability, support deep-tech development, and build domestic technology ecosystems in strategic sectors. For Prelims revision, the focus is on the nodal institutions, budgetary outlays, mission periods, and the type of support each scheme provides.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation and RDI Scheme

• Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): Established under the ANRF Act, 2023, it replaced and subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
• Governance: The Prime Minister of India serves as the President of its Governing Board.
• Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme: Approved on July 1, 2025, and managed through a Special Purpose Fund within ANRF.
• Outlay: The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹1 lakh crore over six years.
• Funding model: It provides long-term, low-cost financing through loans or equity, and explicitly excludes grants.
• Eligibility: The scheme supports deep-tech R&D projects at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above.
• Support level: Funding can cover up to 50% of the project cost.
• Implementation: By mid-2026, ₹1,000 crore each had been sanctioned to the Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC); ₹500 crore had been disbursed to TDB in March 2026.
• Private sector mobilisation: ANRF signed Letters of Intent to secure ₹450 crore from the Gates Foundation, ₹100 crore from the Wadhwani Foundation, and ₹90 crore from Qualcomm.

National Quantum Mission

• Mission period: The National Quantum Mission (NQM) runs from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
• Budget: It has a total outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.
• Leadership: The mission functions under the chairmanship of Ajai Chowdhry.
• Thematic hubs (T-Hubs): There are four designated hubs for different quantum verticals.
• Quantum Computing: IISc Bengaluru.
• Quantum Communication: IIT Madras and C-DOT.
• Quantum Sensing & Metrology: IIT Bombay.
• Quantum Materials & Devices: IIT Delhi.
• Key goals: The mission aims to develop quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits, secure quantum communications over ground and satellite networks, and high-sensitivity quantum magnetometers.
• Recent institutional step: In September 2026, IISc Bengaluru established the Foundation for Quantum Computing Innovation (FQCI) as a Section 8 company to act as the NQM Quantum Computing T-Hub.

BioE3 Policy and Bio-RIDE Scheme

• BioE3 Policy: Approved in August 2024, it stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment.
• Focus: The policy promotes sustainable biomanufacturing across six thematic verticals.
• Bio-RIDE scheme: The Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme is an integrated Department of Biotechnology programme.
• Outlay: It has an outlay of ₹9,197 crore for the 15th Finance Commission period (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• Integration: Bio-RIDE merges existing R&D and industrial entrepreneurship schemes.
• New component: It also includes a Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry component aligned with the BioE3 Policy.
• Bio-AI hubs: 15 Moolankur Bio-AI Hubs have been recommended for support in partnership with MeitY.
• Biofoundries: 17 facilities have been funded under the first call for Biofoundries and Biomanufacturing Hubs.

India Semiconductor Mission and Deep Ocean Mission

• Semicon 2.0: The India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 has an expanded fiscal outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore.
• Focus areas: It targets semiconductor equipment, materials, end-to-end IP development, and R&D centres.
• Industry development: Under the mission framework, Tata Electronics and ASML signed a pact on May 16, 2026, to set up India’s first front-end semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat.
• Deep Ocean Mission (DOM): A ₹4,077 crore project spanning 2021-2028.
• Ministry: It is spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Lead minister: The mission is led by Dr. Jitendra Singh.
• Samudrayaan: The sub-project conducted wet harbor trials for the MATSYA-6000 manned submersible in early 2025.
• Target depth: The mission plans manned descents to 500 meters in 2026 and 6,000 meters in 2027.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• ANRF: Created under the ANRF Act, 2023, and replaced SERB.
• RDI Scheme: A ₹1 lakh crore fund under ANRF for long-term, low-cost financing of deep-tech R&D.
• RDI funding mode: Uses loans or equity; grants are not included.
• Quantum Mission: Runs from 2023-24 to 2030-31 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore.
• Quantum hubs: Four T-Hubs are located at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras/C-DOT, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi.
• Bio-RIDE: A ₹9,197 crore integrated DBT scheme linked to the BioE3 Policy.
• Deep Ocean Mission: Includes MATSYA-6000 and targets deep-sea exploration up to 6,000 metres.