What happened: DST Lok Sabha disclosure on India’s R&D spending

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) disclosed newly available government data on research and development (R&D) spending in response to a Lok Sabha question. DST reports these indicators using DST’s National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS). The disclosure brings three exam-relevant outcomes together: (1) India’s R&D intensity rose above the 0.8% mark, (2) the internal funding balance within national R&D spending moved towards private industry, and (3) gross expenditure on R&D shows a visible rise after 2020-21.

Key disclosed numbers and thresholds include:

• India’s R&D intensity (R&D spending as a share of GDP) rose to 0.83% in 2021-22. • The disclosed time series shows this was the first crossing of 0.8% since 2009-10. • Private industry’s share of national R&D spending increased from 45.5% (2021-22) to 51.8% (2023-24). • DST’s disclosed breakdown indicates that private businesses contribute more than all levels of government combined within the disclosed timeline.

Background and earlier position: India’s R&D intensity before 2021-22

The DST-disclosed indicators reflect a longer downward-to-recovery pattern in R&D intensity. India’s R&D intensity is reported as falling steadily to a low of 0.64% in 2020-21, before rising to 0.83% in 2021-22. For global context, the discussion in science-policy comparisons often notes that many countries spend a higher share of GDP on R&D than India has historically done.

Related current affairs