Private sector key to India biotech growth: Dr Jitendra Singh
Synopsis
India's biotech funding engine is moving from blueprint to action. With 198 applications received under the BIRAC-RDIF — backed by a ₹1 lakh crore government fund — and eight technology entities already shortlisted, Dr Jitendra Singh's push for private sector co-investment signals that Viksit Bharat 2047's deep-tech ambitions are entering an execution phase.
Key Takeaways
Jitendra Singh chaired a meeting with BIRAC officials on 10 August to boost private sector participation in India's biotech sector.
The BIRAC-RDIF is part of the Centre's ₹1 lakh crore R&D and Innovation Fund under the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework.
The fund supports projects at Technology Readiness Levels 4–9 with grants of ₹5 crore to ₹200 crore , covering up to 50% of costs via collateral-free instruments.
A total of 198 applications have been received; 8 Eligible Technology Entities have been shortlisted and are undergoing due diligence.
India hosts over 1,700 Life Sciences GCCs employing around 1.9 million professionals , which BIRAC aims to integrate into the domestic biotech ecosystem.
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday, 10 August called for significantly enhancing private sector participation in India's biotechnology ecosystem, stressing the need to strengthen industry outreach and promote indigenous products and technologies. The remarks came during a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in New Delhi.
Key Agenda of the BIRAC Meeting
The meeting centred on expanding investment, broadening industry participation, and unlocking market opportunities for the biotechnology sector. Discussions covered the implementation of the BIRAC Research, Development and Innovation Fund (BIRAC-RDIF), integration of Life Sciences Global Capability Centres (GCCs) with the domestic ecosystem, leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for biotech initiatives, and building stronger investor linkages for startups and enterprises.
What Is the BIRAC-RDIF and How It Works
The BIRAC-RDIF is a central component of the Union government's ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund, designed to advance deep-tech innovations and indigenous manufacturing under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Acting as a Second Level Fund Manager, it supports projects at Technology Readiness Levels 4 to 9, offering assistance ranging from ₹5 crore to ₹200 crore and covering up to 50 per cent of project costs through collateral-free loans, equity, and hybrid instruments.
BIRAC has established a dedicated BIRAC-RDIF division to ensure ring-fenced implementation of the fund. The first National Call for Proposals was launched on 13 February 2026, alongside a dedicated website and an integrated e-portal for receiving applications from eligible startups and industry players.
Applications and Progress So Far
A total of 198 applications have been received and are currently being appraised in accordance with scheme guidelines. Screening and evaluation of the first 50 applications has been completed, with eight Eligible Technology Entities selected so far. These entities are presently undergoing detailed due diligence before entering into loan or equity agreements.
Tapping India's GCC Ecosystem for Biotech
The meeting also focused on deepening industry participation through India's Life Sciences GCC ecosystem. The country currently hosts over 1,700 GCCs employing approximately 1.9 million professionals. BIRAC will facilitate greater integration of existing and prospective GCCs with the domestic biotechnology ecosystem by mapping their requirements in infrastructure, pilot-scale manufacturing, and R&D, and connecting them with India's BioE3 bio-foundries, bio-incubators, and startups, according to the ministry.
What Comes Next
With eight technology entities already shortlisted and due diligence under way, the BIRAC-RDIF is moving from policy design to active deployment. The pace at which loan and equity agreements are finalised will be an early indicator of whether the fund can meet the scale its ₹1 lakh crore parent programme demands.
Point of View
But the real signal is in the numbers: 198 applications and only 8 entities shortlisted points to a rigorous — perhaps slow — pipeline. India's biotech ambitions under Viksit Bharat 2047 hinge on whether deep-tech startups can navigate the due diligence gauntlet fast enough to stay solvent. The GCC integration angle is underreported: connecting 1,700 global R&D centres to domestic bio-foundries could be a structural multiplier, but only if BIRAC moves beyond mapping exercises to binding partnerships.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BIRAC-RDIF and what does it fund?
The BIRAC Research, Development and Innovation Fund (BIRAC-RDIF) is a government-backed fund that supports deep-tech biotech projects at Technology Readiness Levels 4 to 9, offering ₹5 crore to ₹200 crore per project and covering up to 50% of costs through collateral-free loans, equity, and hybrid instruments. It is part of the Centre's broader ₹1 lakh crore R&D and Innovation Fund under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
How many applications has BIRAC-RDIF received so far?
As of the meeting on 10 August, BIRAC-RDIF has received 198 applications since the first National Call for Proposals was launched on 13 February 2026. Of these, the first 50 have been screened, and 8 Eligible Technology Entities have been selected for detailed due diligence.
Why is private sector participation important for India's biotech sector?
Private investment is critical to scaling India's biotechnology ecosystem beyond government-funded research, enabling commercialisation of indigenous products and technologies. Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed that without stronger industry participation and investor linkages, deep-tech startups risk stalling at the development stage.
What role do Life Sciences GCCs play in India's biotech strategy?
India's over 1,700 Life Sciences Global Capability Centres, employing around 1.9 million professionals, represent a large pool of R&D capacity. BIRAC plans to integrate these GCCs with domestic bio-foundries, bio-incubators, and startups by mapping their infrastructure and manufacturing needs — a move intended to deepen industry participation in the national biotech ecosystem.
What is Viksit Bharat 2047 and how does biotech fit into it?
Viksit Bharat 2047 is the Union government's long-term development vision targeting a fully developed India by the centenary of independence. The ₹1 lakh crore R&D and Innovation Fund, of which BIRAC-RDIF is a key component, is designed to advance deep-tech innovations and indigenous manufacturing as part of this broader national goal.
