Government R&D Expenditure Trends 2019-20 to 2023-24
The latest Research and Development Statistics 2025-26 report from the Department of Science and Technology reveals the Indian government's expenditure on research and development over the last five years. The data shows consistent growth in absolute R&D spending, increasing from ₹87,813.47 crore in 2019-20 to ₹117,861.21 crore in 2023-24. However, when measured as a percentage of GDP, the expenditure remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 0.41% and 0.45% during this period.
The government R&D expenditure encompasses spending by Central Government Ministries/Department Institutions, State Government S&T institutions/State Agricultural Universities, Public Sector/joint sector Industries, and Public Higher Education Institutes. This comprehensive approach captures the full scope of public investment in research and development across various governmental and educational entities.
Institutional Framework for R&D
The Ministry of Science and Technology operates through a network of 71 research institutions distributed across three key departments. The Department of Science and Technology oversees 18 institutions including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, National Innovation Foundation, Agharkar Research Institute, and specialized centers for nano science, biomedical research, and advanced scientific studies. The Department of Biotechnology manages 16 institutions focused on biological sciences, including the National Institute of Immunology, National Centre for Cell Science, and various specialized research centers for genomics, stem cell research, and agricultural biotechnology.
The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research/Council of Scientific and Industrial Research operates the largest network with 37 institutions covering diverse fields such as materials research, drug discovery, food technology, environmental engineering, aerospace, and oceanography. These include CSIR–Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Central Drug Research Institute, National Aerospace Laboratories, and National Institute of Oceanography among others.
The document includes annexures providing detailed information on fund allocation, expenditure patterns, and patents received by these R&D institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology, though the specific numerical data from these tables is not provided in the text.