What has the Budget offered scientists?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy –  Government Budgeting

Context

●The Union Budget 2025-26 allocates significant funds to science and technology, focusing on private-sector R&D, biotechnology, nuclear energy, and AI. ●However, concerns remain about reduced funding for basic research, rigid bureaucracy, and corporatisation of science.

 

Boost for Research and Innovation

• The Budget allocates ₹20,000 crore to the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and private sector research, including startups.
• The DST will oversee the fund, which is part of a ₹1 lakh crore corpus aimed at strengthening R&D, particularly in deeptech and sunrise sectors.
• The National Geospatial Mission receives ₹100 crore for geospatial infrastructure development, supporting the National Geospatial Policy 2022.
• Other initiatives include the Nuclear Energy Mission, clean tech programs, and Atal Tinkering Labs.

Biotechnology Advancements

• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) receives ₹3,446.64 crore, a 45% increase from the previous year.
• The recently approved ‘Bio-RIDE’ scheme aims to promote bio-entrepreneurship and biomanufacturing.
• The Budget’s support for private sector research will accelerate progress in gene-editing, personalized medicine, and sustainable agriculture.
• The National Mission on High Yielding Seeds will focus on developing pest-resistant and climate-resilient seeds.

Support for Scientific and Industrial Research

• The Budget prioritizes science, technology, and innovation (STI) for national progress.
• Public-private partnerships and industry collaborations will drive innovation in manufacturing, healthcare, and sustainability.
• Initiatives such as the Aroma and Floriculture Missions will boost agriculture, while the Millets Mission supports self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds.
• The Green Hydrogen Mission aligns with India’s clean energy goals.
• Programs for youth skilling, entrepreneurship, and sustainable farming receive emphasis.

Nuclear Power and Private Sector Participation

• The Budget supports India’s goal of increasing nuclear power capacity to 100 GWe by 2047.
• Private sector participation in nuclear energy introduces new challenges and opportunities.
• The success of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is vital for India’s energy transition.
• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) ensures nuclear safety through global collaborations.

Concerns Over Reduced Funding for Basic Science

• While science and technology funding increases, basic research receives limited attention.
• The Budget mainly supports mission-mode projects such as nuclear energy and AI.
• Amendments to the Nuclear Liability and Damage Act 2010 raise concerns.
• The deeptech startup ecosystem benefits from a ₹10,000 crore fund, but investment confidence remains low.
• Bureaucratic hurdles continue to affect research funding.

Education and Health Research

• Health research receives increased support, particularly in biomedical devices and nutrition.
• Central universities receive only a 4.3% budget increase, compared to an 8.4% rise for IITs, despite serving more students.
• A revision of research fellowships is needed to support young researchers adequately.
• AI research receives funding, but concerns remain about its real benefits for Indian society.
• The Budget lacks significant steps to address mental health and value-based learning in schools.

Challenges in Education and Scientific Development

• The National Education Policy (NEP-2020) recommended spending 6% of GDP on education, but the Budget allocates only 2.54%.
• Funding for institutions such as IISc and IISERs has been reduced.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) faced a major budget cut in the previous year, and although there is an increase this year, it remains below pre-2024 levels.
• There is a five-fold increase in funding for ‘Indian Knowledge Systems,’ indicating a shift in educational priorities.

Conclusion

• Overall, the Budget places a strong focus on applied research and industrial collaboration but raises concerns about the lack of support for basic research and education.

PYQ: Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2014)

Practice Question:  Critically analyze the impact of the Union Budget 2025-26 on India’s research ecosystem. How does it balance innovation-driven growth with fundamental scientific research? (250 Words /15 marks)

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