The Ministry of Science & Technology has approved implementation guidelines for the RDI Scheme. The guidelines, vetted with the Department of Economic Affairs and the Department of Expenditure, were cleared by the Executive Council of the ANRF. The scheme seeks to address India’s low Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) and stimulate private‑sector participation.
Key Developments
- Two agencies – the TDB and the BIRAC – have been designated as SLFMs.
- Calls for project proposals were launched on 4 February 2026 (TDB) and 13 February 2026 (BIRAC).
- A separate invitation for additional eligible entities, including Fund‑of‑Funds, closed on 31 January 2026; selection is underway.
- The scheme targets technology entities – startups, companies and industry‑led R&D – developing technologies at TRL 4 and above in strategic and sunrise sectors.
Important Facts
- India’s GERD stands at 0.64 % of GDP, with the public sector contributing ~60 % and the private sector ~35‑36 %.
- In leading innovation‑driven economies, private R&D spending exceeds 70 % of total GERD, highlighting a significant funding gap in India.
- The RDI corpus of ₹1 lakh crore is earmarked to provide “patient capital” for high‑risk, deep‑technology research, encouraging private investors to co‑invest.
- The scheme was announced by Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology &am