India is set to play a pivotal role in the global biotechnology revolution in 2025, driven by the country’s first-ever biotechnology policy introduced by the Modi government, known as BIO-E3, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday.
In an exclusive interview with Doordarshan News, Singh highlighted that the newly launched BIO-E3 policy—Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment—will significantly boost India’s economy, reshape its employment landscape, and promote environmental sustainability in the coming years.
The Minister highlighted India’s remarkable progress in biotechnology and emphasized that the country’s first biotechnology policy, BIO-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment), introduced by the Modi Government, has laid the foundation for this future leadership.
Singh underscored India’s significant strides in biotechnology, with the sector growing from a $10 billion industry in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, and projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.
“India is now at the centre of the global biotech boom, which will foster innovation, create jobs, and strengthen environmental commitments,” he said.
He also pointed out that India accounts for 60% of global vaccine production and has the second-largest number of USFDA-approved manufacturing plants outside the United States.
The Minister also lauded India’s vibrant biotechnology ecosystem, which spans sectors such as Bio-Pharma, Bio-Agri, Bio-Industrial, Bio-Energy, Bio-Services, and Med-Tech. Singh praised Indian start-ups for leveraging biotechnology to create ground-breaking solutions, including non-human milk and sustainable products.
Highlighting the country’s vast natural resources and biodiversity, he compared the ongoing “bio-revolution” in India to the IT revolution driven by the West.
Furthermore, Singh mentioned India’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the launch of indigenous DNA-based vaccines and the world’s largest vaccination drive.
He also pointed to significant breakthroughs in biotechnology, such as the development of the world’s first HPV vaccine, the creation of the antibiotic ‘Nafithromycin,’ and the successful gene therapy experiment for Haemophilia.
Singh emphasised India’s whole-of-government approach, with initiatives like the Deep Sea Mission and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), which aims to boost innovation through private sector contributions.
With the Indian government allocating ₹1000 crores to accelerate biotech innovations in 2024, India’s position as a global leader in biotechnology seems set to strengthen in the coming years.
The Minister also celebrated India’s leadership in other emerging technologies, including quantum technology and space exploration.
