Union Cabinet Approves Continuation of Bio‑RIDE Scheme
The Union Cabinet meeting on 18‑09‑2024 endorsed the continuation of the Bio‑RIDE programme, merging earlier DBT schemes on research, industrial development and a new biomanufacturing component. The move aligns with the Government’s ambition to achieve a **US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030**.
Key Developments under Bio‑RIDE (2024‑2026)
- First human gene‑therapy trial for Severe Hemophilia A using a lentiviral vector, achieving zero bleeding in all five subjects.
- Launch of FeED and the Indian Biological Data Centre, providing access to 10,000 whole‑genome samples.
- Scientific completion and launch of India’s indigenous antibiotic **Nafithromycin** to combat drug‑resistant infections.
- Completion of the “Dare2eraD TB” programme – sequencing of 20,000 TB genomes and enrollment of 12,000 pregnant women in the Garbh‑Ini cohort.
- National BioPharma Mission (NBM) delivered two COVID‑19 vaccines, biosimilar Liraglutide, pegylated interferon‑α2b, an indigenous MRI scanner, single‑use bioreactors, 9 diagnostic kits, ventilators and reagents.
- Identification of a dengue‑virus inhibitor (compound 7D) by BRIC‑THSTI and RCB researchers.
- Release of drought‑tolerant chickpea varieties **ADVIKA** and **SAATVIK**, now covering >30% of breeder‑seed indent.
- Commercialisation of the 90K‑pan‑genome rice SNP array **IndRA** and launch of anti‑pesticide suit **Kisan‑Kavach**.
- Release of multiple climate‑resilient rice varieties (Patkai, ADT 39‑Sub1, Arun) and a engineered glucoamylase‑secreting yeast for 1G ethanol.
Support Ecosystem for Biotechnology Start‑ups
The BIRAC drives the start‑up ecosystem through schemes such as:
- BIG: >1,000 start‑ups supported.
- E‑YUVA: 94 centres across 25 states, supporting 3,000+ start‑ups.
- SEED Fund (equity up to ₹30 lakh) and LEAP Fund (equity up to ₹100 lakh) for scale‑up and commercialization.
- SPARSH programme for socially relevant biotech products, offering fellowships and seed grants.
Important Facts & Figures
- India’s bioeconomy grew from **US$10 bn (2014)** to **US$195 bn (2025)**.
- Over **11,800 biotech start‑ups** are operational, contributing ~5% to GDP.
- 75 BioNEST centres and 19 E‑YUVA centres together offer >9,00,000 sq ft of incubation space.
- Rs 1,500 crore allocated for the Biomedical Research Career Programme (Phase‑III) till 2037‑38.
- MoUs signed with ISRO (Space Biotechnology), IndiaAI (AI‑Biotech convergence), and international partners (EU, BRICS, G20, Gates Foundation).
Exam Relevance
Understanding the bioeconomy is crucial for GS‑III (Science & Technology) and GS‑II (Economy) questions on emerging sectors, public‑private partnerships, and innovation policy. The integration of space biotechnology (MoU with ISRO) and AI (IndiaAI) illustrates interdisciplinary approaches, a recurring theme in UPSC essays. The scale of funding, start‑up support, and international collaborations provide case‑studies for questions on “government initiatives for self‑reliance” and “role of science diplomacy”.
Way Forward
To sustain momentum, the government should:
- Strengthen regulatory pathways for rapid approval of biotech products while ensuring safety.
- Expand public‑private partnerships to bridge the gap between research institutions and industry.
- Enhance skill‑development programmes to meet the talent demand of a $300 bn bioeconomy.
- Leverage international collaborations for technology transfer and market access.
Effective implementation of Bio‑RIDE will be pivotal in positioning India as a global leader in biotechnology and in achieving the targeted bio‑economic growth.