PM Modi Hails Women’s World Cup Triumph, Satellite Launch as India Opens ESTIC 2025; Unveils ₹1 Lakh Crore R&D Scheme

By PNI Admin On Nov 3, 2025

PM in a group photograph during the inauguration of the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on November 03, 2025.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, celebrating twin national milestones while announcing a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Scheme to propel India’s innovation ecosystem.

Addressing scientists, innovators, academics and global guests, the Prime Minister began by congratulating the Indian women’s cricket team on its historic first ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory. “The entire nation is elated. This triumph will inspire millions of young Indians,” he said.

A day earlier, Indian scientists successfully launched the country’s heaviest communication satellite, earning praise for ISRO. “Yesterday marked a giant leap in space technology; today we chart the future of emerging sciences,” Shri Modi declared, hailing ESTIC as the realisation of a vision for global collaboration in the 21st century.

Innovation Ecosystem Gains Momentum Outlining exponential global change, the Prime Minister said India is adding “Jai Vigyan” and “Jai Anusandhan” to the familiar “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. Key highlights included:

Establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
Launch of ₹1 lakh crore R&D scheme with capital for high-risk, high-impact projects.
Reforms in financial rules, procurement and supply chains to accelerate lab-to-market transition.

Results are visible: R&D expenditure doubled in a decade; patents rose 17-fold; India now hosts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with over 6,000 deep-tech ventures. The bio-economy has surged from $10 billion in 2014 to $140 billion, while sunrise sectors—green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep-sea research and critical minerals—gain ground.

From COVID Vaccines to Digital Public Infrastructure Shri Modi credited India’s Digital Public Infrastructure—connecting over 200,000 gram panchayats with optical fibre—for enabling the world’s largest vaccination drive and indigenous COVID-19 vaccines. Space applications now aid farmers and fishermen, while missions to the Moon and Mars inspire the next generation.

Women Lead the Charge Highlighting inclusive innovation, the Prime Minister noted women file over 5,000 patents annually (up from under 100 a decade ago) and comprise 43% of STEM enrolments—above global average. Indian women scientists are globally recognised in space missions.

Nurturing Young Minds Nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs engage one crore children; 25,000 more will be established. Seven new IITs, sixteen IIITs and local-language STEM courses under the New Education Policy broaden access. The PM’s Research Fellowship will award 10,000 fellowships over five years.

Ethical AI and Global Leadership With AI permeating daily life, India is investing ₹10,000 crore under the India AI Mission and shaping a human-centric global framework. The country will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026.

Call to Action Urging focus on nutrition security, biofortified crops, soil health, genomic mapping and clean-energy storage, Shri Modi sought self-reliance in critical inputs. “Scale science, democratise innovation, drive ethical transformation,” he said, expressing confidence that ESTIC will craft a roadmap for Viksit Bharat.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Nobel Laureate Sir Andre Geim and other dignitaries attended the conclave.