Union Budget 2026-27: 'Provisions can strengthen India's deep tech portfolio while keeping science anchored to public value'

3 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 1, 2026 06:45 pm IST

The science, technology and innovation community is delighted that the technology is mentioned 16 times in the Union Budget 2026-27 Which, according to Dr Shekhar Mande, former director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, is a “clear signal of intent”.

According to Dr. KM Paknikar, ANRF Prime Minister Professor, COEP University of Technology, Punehe budget indicates continuity in India’s science and technology priorities, with a clear inclination towards the development of industry-linked and mission-mode capabilities.

According to experts, three ads clearly stood out. The budget proposes to biopharmaceutical firm SHAKTI, a Rs 10,000-crore five-year drive to build an ecosystem for manufacturing biologics and biosimilars, expand clinical trial capacity and strengthen scientific review capabilities in drug regulation, an Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 targeting equipment and materials, “complete” Indian intellectual property, and industry-led research and training centers on new technologies, especially AI, as force multipliers and links of the national drive to the AI Mission, National. Quantum Mission, Anusandhan National Research Fund (ANRF) and Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDI).

According to Dr. Paknikar, the ISM is a welcome framework because semiconductors are not mere factories, they are learning systems. “The outlay for the Electronic Components Manufacturing Scheme is proposed to increase to Rs 40,000 crore, reflecting the government’s intention to maintain momentum in domestic value chains,” he said.

Dr Mande also said the creation of three National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research is a positive step. “However, strong support for innovation in the pharmaceutical sector is needed, including policy interventions so that India not only leads the generic markets in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical space but also starts discovering new medicines,” Dr Mande said.

About assignments that directly influence research capacity

The Science and Technology department has an estimated budget of Rs 28,049.32 crore for 2026-2027, with a notable provision of Rs 20,000 crore under ‘Loans for Other Scientific Research’, a sign that the funding architecture is evolving beyond classical grants towards larger financial instruments that can catalyze translation at scale. The biotechnology department amounts to Rs 3,446 crore. (India Budget) For research ecosystem in universities, higher education department is estimated at Rs 78,496.22 crore.

According to Dr. Paknikar, the implications for research institutions and universities are clear: align proposals with mission outcomes and national capability gaps, create credible pathways from the laboratory to deployment, including industrial consortia and testbeds, and invest in skilled workforces, because manufacturing-driven science and technology strategies only succeed when research, skills, standards and regulation go together.

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“If implemented with speed, transparency and competitive selection, these provisions can strengthen India’s deep technology portfolio while keeping science anchored in public value,” Dr Paknikar said, while Dr Mande also agreed that the emphasis on technology-driven development across sectors, including good governance, was a welcome aspect of the budget.

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a senior editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, he is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism on health, science, environment and research developments. She also has a keen interest in covering women’s issues. Professional Background Education: Gold Medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and Masters in Literature. Author: She is the author of the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the WHO. Key Focus: Combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human interest narratives. Awards and Recognitions Anuradha has won several awards including Press Council of India National Award for Excellence in Journalism in Gender Based Reporting Category in 2019 and Laadli Media Award (Gender Sensitivity -2024). She received the Lokmat Journalism Award (Gender Category-2022) and was also shortlisted for the RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism-2021. Her first book, At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the inaugural Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, was also nominated in the People’s Choice category of the JK Paper AUTHER Awards. She has also held competitive fellowships including Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious India 2025 cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Featured Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer and Specialty Healthcare “Tata Memorial finds a way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells” (November 26, 2025): Report on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, Diet and Purpose; How a 97-Year-Old Professor Challenges Aging” (November 15, 2025) Report on Professor Gururaj Mutalik, the first head of department at Pune’s BJ Government Medical College, who at 97 attributes his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose 2. Environmental health (“Breathless” series. Pune”) Prolonged exposure to even “moderate” air causes chronic heart, lung and kidney problems” (November 26, 2025) – Part of a research series highlighting that even “safe” pollution levels are harmful to vital organs. “For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was a 6-8% increase in medicine sales” (November 23, 2025) – Using commercial data to demonstrate the direct link between air quality and respiratory diseases in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News “They Didn’t Let Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Disease Stop Them From Traveling” (December 22, 2025) – A collaborative article featuring survivors sharing practical tips for traveling with chronic illnesses. At age 17, his blood pressure shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study points out why hypertension in children and adolescents doubled between 2000 and 2020” (November 12, 2025) – a report that focuses on a 17-year-old’s hypertensive crisis and reflects the growing global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Infrastructure and Recognition To promote science and communication and gender diversity: IUCAA professor featured in Nature” (November 25, 2025): Covers global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe” (December 3, 2025): A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe had only 1.5 billion years. , one of the first to be seen so far Signature Beat: Health, Science and Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her reporting on COVID-19, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed information on the trials of Covishield and Covaxin. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, and often profiles women researchers who are breaking the “leaky pipeline” in STEM fields. health experts from the institutions.
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