TLDR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s leading role in establishing a global framework for ethical and human-centric Artificial Intelligence at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025. He highlighted a ₹10,000 crore investment in the India AI Mission and revealed plans to host the Global AI Summit in February 2026. Additionally, a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund was launched to boost private sector R&D, underscoring India’s commitment to fostering a modern, inclusive, and safe innovation ecosystem.
New Delhi, November 3, 2025 – Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, emphasizing India’s pivotal role in shaping the global landscape for ethical and human-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Prime Minister declared that India is actively contributing to the development of a global framework for AI governance, which will prioritize both innovation and safety.
During his address, PM Modi announced a significant investment of over ₹10,000 crore under the India AI Mission, aimed at making AI beneficial and accessible to all segments of society. A major highlight was the announcement that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026, an event expected to significantly accelerate efforts towards inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI worldwide.
Further bolstering the nation’s research and development capabilities, the Prime Minister launched the ₹1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund. This initiative is designed to promote a private sector-driven R&D ecosystem, marking a first-time allocation of capital for high-risk, high-impact projects. Modi underscored the government’s commitment to fostering a modern innovation ecosystem by focusing on ‘Ease of Doing Research,’ implementing reforms in financial rules, procurement policies, regulations, incentives, and supply chains to facilitate the swift transition of prototypes from lab to market.
Reflecting on India’s progress, PM Modi shared impressive statistics: the nation’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade, registered patents have increased 17-fold, and India now stands as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He noted the presence of over 6,000 deep-tech startups engaged in critical areas such as clean energy and advanced materials. The Prime Minister also highlighted the robust growth of India’s bio-economy, which has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to approximately $140 billion today, alongside significant strides in sunrise domains like green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep sea research, and critical minerals.
Modi stressed the importance of inclusive innovation, citing the remarkable contributions of Indian women in science and technology. He pointed out that women now account for approximately 43 percent of STEM education enrolments, surpassing the global average, and their annual patent filings have surged from fewer than 100 a decade ago to over 5,000 today. To nurture young talent, 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established, with plans to set up an additional 25,000. Furthermore, 10,000 Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships will be awarded over the next five years to strengthen R&D.
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The ESTIC 2025, held from November 3-5, 2025, brings together over 3,000 participants, including Nobel Laureates, scientists, innovators, and policymakers. The conclave features deliberations across 11 key thematic areas, including Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Bio-Manufacturing, Blue Economy, Digital Communications, Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing, Emerging Agriculture Technologies, Energy, Environment & Climate, Health & Medical Technologies, Quantum Science & Technology, and Space Technologies. The Prime Minister concluded by expressing confidence that the conclave would propel India’s innovation journey to new heights, reiterating the government’s full support for scientific endeavors under the spirit of ‘Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan.’
