India has a strong network of science and technology institutions and trained manpower. It has the third-largest scientific and technical manpower in the world. As of August 2020, there were ~950 universities in the country. India’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) has been consistently increasing over the years. India’s GERD as a percentage of GDP stood at 0.86% in 2020. India’s medical technology (MedTech) sector is forecast to reach US$ 7.8 billion in 2020 and US$ 9.6 billion in 2022.
India is among the top-ranking countries in the field of basic research. India stood third in the number of science and engineering publications in the world.
India’s gross expenditure in R&D was forecast to reach US$ 96.50 billion in 2020. India moved up to the fifth rank in Global R&D Funding Forecast 2020. By 2022, R&D expenditure is targeted to reach at least two per cent of the country’s GDP. In the Union Budget for FY20, the Government announced the setting up of the National Research Foundation for R&D.
In total 1,494 Indians were listed among the top 2% of scientists in the world.
India stands among the top 50 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2020. It ranked 48th moving up four places since 2019.
In September 2020, Remedial Action, Knowledge Skimming, and Holistic Analysis of COVID-19 (RAKSHAK) became a part of the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in IIT, Jodhpur. The various projects under RAKSHAK include developing a technology platform based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mitigate situations arising amid/due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On September 22, 2020, Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to provide knowledge in the field of Information Technology to offer solutions to challenges faced by the country.
In Union Budget 2020-21, the Government has announced the allocation of Rs 6,302 crore (US$ 901.70 million) to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Rs 2,787 crore (US$ 398.77 million) to the Department of Biotechnology, and Rs 5,385 crore (US$ 770.50 million) to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
In October 2020, in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat to achieve complete self-reliance, C-DAC signed an MoU with National Supercomputing Mission Host Institutes to establish supercomputing infrastructure in various premier institutions across India and accelerate the pace of research and innovation using computational science techniques.
In October 2020, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and IBM India announced collaborations to scale two DST initiatives—Vigyan Jyoti and Engage with Science (Vigyan Prasar)—that are aimed to increase the number of women working in technology fields.
CA Sharmila Kumari is a Finance Director and Global Head of Finance at Routeget Technologies, a large Information Technology company in the USA. Her focus is on Internet, digital media, and software companies. She was also a corporate and M&A partner at the accounting firm Finkarts, with experience in startups, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital.
Sharmila (“CA Sharmila“) entered college on a scholarship. Later, she transferred to Ranchi University in Jharkhand, India where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. This was followed by a Masters in Commerce from Kolhan University, and Chartered Accountancy from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
CA Sharmila has a love for media – particularly television. In addition to her love for television, Sharmila has a passion to bring an common people service programme, through which she provides free legal and financial service to poor.
CA Sharmila Kumari is a Finance Director and Global Head of Finance at Routeget Technologies, a large Information Technology company in the USA. Her focus is on Internet, digital media, and software companies. She was also a corporate and M&A partner at the accounting firm Finkarts, with experience in startups, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital.
Sharmila (“CA Sharmila“) entered college on a scholarship. Later, she transferred to Ranchi University in Jharkhand, India where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. This was followed by a Masters in Commerce from Kolhan University, and Chartered Accountancy from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
CA Sharmila has a love for media – particularly television. In addition to her love for television, Sharmila has a passion to bring an common people service programme, through which she provides free legal and financial service to poor.
