NITI Aayog roadmap targets USD 691 bn bioeconomy by 2035; Jitendra Singh says India ready to lead biotech revolution
New Delhi, July 16
India's bioeconomy can expand to USD 691 billion by 2035, create over 30 million high-value jobs and position the country among the world's top three biotechnology powers, according to a roadmap unveiled by NITI Aayog on Thursday, as Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said India is ready to take a leadership role in the next wave of biotechnology-driven growth.
Launching the Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035, Singh said the "fourth industrial revolution is being driven by biotechnology" and noted that the global bioeconomy market is currently valued at USD 1.4-1.8 trillion, while India already has more than 11,000 biotechnology startups.
"We are among the very few countries that have come out with a dedicated biotechnology policy," the minister said.
Highlighting India's ambitions in the sector, Singh added, "We are no longer waiting for others to experiment. We are ready to take risks and take risks with a certain amount of confidence."
The roadmap projects India's bioeconomy to grow further to USD 2.6 trillion by 2047, contributing 8-10 per cent of GDP, through a mission-driven strategy focused on biomanufacturing, AI-enabled biotechnology, regulatory reforms and stronger industry participation. It states that with decisive execution, India can emerge as one of the world's leading biotechnology hubs.
To support this transformation, the roadmap proposes six National BioMissions covering gene and cell therapies, climate-resilient agriculture, synthetic biology, disease surveillance, marine biotechnology and next-generation biopharmaceuticals. It also recommends creating a Rs 50,000-crore BioEconomy Growth Fund for 2026-2035 to help bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale manufacturing, alongside PLI-style incentives, faster regulatory approvals and stronger intellectual property protection.
Stressing the importance of developing domestic capabilities, Singh said talent development would be critical for building a sovereign biotechnology ecosystem.
"We are introducing a course in engineering biology, which will be the first of its kind in India... which could be the key to bioeconomy," he said.
The roadmap notes that India's bioeconomy has already grown 16-fold, from USD 10 billion in 2014 to USD 195.3 billion in 2025, contributing 4.8 per cent to GDP.
Summing up the broader vision, Singh said, "Once we have a thriving bioeconomy, we will be addressing more than one national goal... there will be health security, food security, Vocal for Local and also global, there will be high-skill jobs in millions and above all the geopolitical stature of India."
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the ambition, but we must ensure this doesn't remain just another government roadmap. The real challenge is implementation - regulatory bottlenecks, IP protection, and bridging academia-industry gaps. Let's hope NITI Aayog has a concrete execution plan, not just targets.
The course in engineering biology sounds exciting! As a student, I hope this creates real opportunities for young researchers. India has brilliant minds in biotech but many go abroad for better labs and funding. This roadmap could change that if executed properly. 🤞
Climate-resilient agriculture and disease surveillance are the most important missions here. Indian farmers suffer from unpredictable weather and we need better healthcare surveillance after COVID. If biotech can solve these ground-level problems, the GDP growth will follow naturally.
As someone working in biotech R&D in India, I'm cautiously optimistic. The 16-fold growth from 2014 is impressive, but we need to see more in basic research funding. The PLI-style incentives are good, but don't forget the fundamental science that drives innovation. Good to see India taking this seriously though.
"Vocal for Local and also global" - that's the spirit! India should not just be a manufacturing hub for others but develop our own IP and biotech products. The 30 million high-value jobs target is ambitious but achievable if we focus on biomanufacturing and AI-enabled biotech. Let's make Atmanirbhar Bharat a reality in bioeconomy. 💪
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