NITI Aayog releases reports on “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India”

Current Context: On April 9, 2026, NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) released twin reports — Ease of Doing Research & Development in India and Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India.

• Released in New Delhi by Vice Chairman Suman Bery and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
• Based on a nine‑month study, covering 400+ institutional leaders and 850+ scientists.
• Reports highlight India’s GERD (Gross Expenditure on Research & Development) stagnation at 0.64% of GDP, far below US (~3.4%) and South Korea (~4.9%).
• Stress the funding imbalance — India’s public sector contributes ~60% of R&D, while in developed nations ~70% comes from the private sector.
• Recommend reforms for simplified compliance, flexible funding, and stronger industry‑academia collaboration.
• Aim to position India as a global innovation hub under Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self‑Reliant India) initiative.

Question:

Q.1 As per the reports “Ease of Doing Research & Development (R&D) in India” and “Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India”, what percentage of India’s R&D funding comes from the public sector?
a) 30%
b) 40%
c) 60%
d) 70%

Answer: c) Around 60% of R&D funding in India is contributed by the public sector.