India’s Status in R&D

• Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD): Consistently increased over the years and has more than doubled from Rs. 60,196.75 crore in 2010–11 to Rs. 127,380.96 crore in 2020–21.
• GERD is mainly driven by the Government sector:Central Government (43.7%), State Governments (6.7%), Higher Education (8.8%) & Public Sector Industry (4.4%). 
• Women participation: In extramural R&D projects has increased significantly to 25% in 2019–20 from 13% in 2000–01. 
• India’s Global Standing in Innovation and IP: India ranks 39th in Global Innovation Index 2024 and 6th position in global Intellectual Property (IP) filings, as per the WIPO report. 

Challenges

• India’s Low GERD as percentage of GDP: It remained at 0.64% (2020–21), whereas most of the developed countries spent more than 2% of their GDP on R&D.
• Low Private Sector Contribution: It contributed 36.4% (2020–21). In most of the developed & emerging economies, participation of Business Enterprises in GERD is generally more than 50%.
• Other: Brain Drain (Researchers moving abroad due to better opportunities), weak Industry-academia collaboration, lack of cutting-edge infrastructure etc.