PM Modi Says ₹24,000 Crore Committed to India Research and Development in One Year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India research and development had received around ₹24,000 crore in new commitments over the past year, combining public funding with an equal contribution from the private sector.

Speaking in Delhi, Modi said approximately ₹12,000 crore had been committed to technologies ready to move from laboratories to the market, while private investors had contributed another ₹12,000 crore.

National Research Foundation Gets New Momentum

Modi said efforts were being accelerated through the National Research Foundation, with greater focus on taking scientific ideas beyond laboratories and into commercial and practical applications.

He said private investment was becoming an important part of this process, helping to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem.

Patent Applications See Sharp Rise

The Prime Minister also pointed to what he described as a significant increase in patent applications in India.

He said the trend reflected growing research activity and innovation across the country, with greater emphasis on converting scientific work into intellectual property and market-ready technologies.

Modi Raises Question of Scientific Judgment in AI Era

A major part of Modi’s remarks focused on the growing use of artificial intelligence in scientific research.

He said AI could perform many routine tasks quickly and improve research productivity, but scientists must retain responsibility for independent thinking and judgment.

According to Modi, AI should support and enrich scientific thought rather than restrict it.

‘Scientists Must Verify AI Answers’

Modi said AI could provide answers rapidly, but the responsibility for checking the accuracy of those answers must remain with scientists.

He argued that the time saved by using AI should be redirected towards solving more difficult problems, conducting new experiments and testing fresh ideas.

The Prime Minister stressed that scientific judgment would become increasingly important as AI takes on a larger role in research.

Focus on Semiconductors, Quantum and Biotechnology

Modi identified several technology sectors that he said would shape the future.

These include semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, advanced materials, robotics, space, clean energy and next-generation communications.

He said India was building a stronger scientific foundation in these areas through various national missions.

India Wants Breakthroughs to Emerge at Home

The Prime Minister said the government’s aim was not only to participate in emerging technologies but also to ensure major breakthroughs originated in India.

He said national missions were being designed to strengthen research capacity and create conditions in which Indian scientists, institutions and companies could lead innovation.

AI Seen as Tool, Not Substitute for Scientific Thinking

The broader message of Modi’s remarks was that artificial intelligence should be used as a productivity tool while human scientific judgment remains central.

He said the future of India research and development would depend on combining advanced technologies with independent thinking, experimentation and rigorous verification.