Government Approves Inclusion of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under RDI Scheme
The Government of India has approved the inclusion of Advanced Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Material Technologies as an additional technology area eligible for funding under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. This decision took effect from October 8, 2026, following a proposal by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and was implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The RDI Scheme was launched in November 2025 with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore aimed at catalyzing private-sector investment in research, development and innovation. The scheme provides long-term financing and refinancing on favorable terms for transformative projects, accelerates adoption of advanced technologies, strengthens India's industrial competitiveness, and fosters self-reliance in critical and emerging technology areas.
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers & Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda welcomed the inclusion, describing it as an important development for the chemicals and petrochemicals industry. The decision is expected to provide impetus to research and innovation, supporting development of advanced, efficient and cost-effective technologies for manufacturing chemicals, petrochemical products, polymers and their derivatives in India.
The inclusion aligns with broader objectives of strengthening India's domestic manufacturing ecosystem, promoting technology-led industrial growth, and reducing dependence on imported technologies and high-value materials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously emphasized India's focus on building a vibrant ecosystem for research and development and creating a modern innovation ecosystem through the RDI Scheme.