Modi Says ₹24,000 Crore Committed to Research as India Opens Science Conclave

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on October 27, 2026, that public and private investors had together committed ₹24,000 crore to research and development over the past year, as he opened a three-day national science and innovation gathering in New Delhi.

Speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave at Bharat Mandapam, Modi said the government had committed ₹12,000 crore to technologies moving from laboratories toward commercial use and that private investors had matched that amount. These are figures presented by the prime minister for commitments made over the preceding year, not an announcement that all ₹24,000 crore has already been spent or a newly approved allocation on Tuesday.

The gathering brings together researchers, businesses, policymakers and startups to discuss priorities across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare and other fields. Organisers have planned sessions on 12 themes and opportunities for research institutions and companies to build partnerships.

Modi used his address to urge scientists to connect research with practical applications in health, agriculture, education and disaster resilience. He asked participants to identify concrete outcomes they could pursue over the next three years, rather than treating the meeting solely as a venue for speeches and discussion.

The prime minister also highlighted recent Indian work in nuclear energy, space and semiconductors. He referred to progress on the country's prototype fast breeder reactor and satellite docking, presenting them as examples of efforts to develop domestic technological capabilities. His comments were a description of existing programmes and claimed progress, not an announcement that a new reactor or spacecraft had been launched on Tuesday.

On artificial intelligence, Modi cautioned that quick answers from automated systems still need to be tested by researchers. That distinction reflects a broader challenge for scientific institutions: applying new tools while maintaining independent verification and reliable experimental results.

The reported investment commitments may signal greater participation by private capital in Indian research, but their eventual effect will depend on funding actually being deployed and on whether projects produce useful technologies. The conclave is scheduled to continue through October 29.