India's bio-economy has witnessed an extraordinary 16-fold surge over the past decade, growing from $10 billion in 2014 to an impressive $165.7 billion in 2024. Announcing these figures, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh released the "India Bioeconomy Report 2025" (IBER 2025) at the BIRAC Foundation Day ceremony at the National Media Centre today.
This exponential growth, he emphasized, underscores the government’s commitment to positioning biotechnology as a key driver of India’s economic expansion.
“Continuing its thrust on fostering India’s economy by exploring hitherto under-explored Biotechnology sector, Modi Govt 3.0 adopted #BIOE3 Policy ie Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, Environment—which aims to accelerate research, innovation and entrepreneurship in this… pic.twitter.com/Zu06MvHmoC
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) March 21, 2025
"In just a decade, India's bio-economy has grown from a modest $10 billion to $165.7 billion, exceeding our initial target of $150 billion by 2025," Dr. Singh stated, quoting IBER 2025. The report highlights the sector’s remarkable progress, noting that it now contributes 4.25% to India's GDP. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% over the past four years, India is emerging as a global biotechnology powerhouse.
The minister also launched BioSaarthi, a pioneering global mentorship initiative for biotech startups. Designed as a structured six-month cohort, BioSaarthi will foster mentor-mentee engagements, offering personalized guidance to emerging entrepreneurs in the biotech sector.
With the bio-economy playing an increasingly vital role in India’s growth story, the government is keen on leveraging innovation, research, and policy support to cement the country’s position as a global biotech leader in the years ahead.
The minister also highlighted that India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has more than doubled over the past decade, soaring from ₹60,196 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1,27,381 crore in 2024. This sharp rise reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation.
Singh said that India is witnessing the dawn of a bio-revolution—one poised to be as transformative for India as the IT revolution was for the West. "With sustained efforts, India is not merely keeping pace with the global biotechnology revolution—we are leading it," declared Dr. Jitendra Singh.
As BIRAC celebrates its 13th anniversary, the Minister urged industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to harness emerging opportunities and position biotechnology as a driving force behind India’s economic growth and global influence in the years ahead.
