NITI Aayog Unveils Roadmap to Build a $691 Billion Indian Bioeconomy by 2035

Major structural transformations are on the horizon for India’s biotechnology sector, a critical industry responsible for developing new drugs, improved seeds, biofuels, and advanced industrial products. NITI Aayog has released a strategic roadmap designed to transform India into a global powerhouse in the business and industrial bioeconomy.

The strategy proposes steering the Indian biotech sector in an entirely new direction. It suggests replacing the current fragmented schemes with six target-driven national missions. The primary objectives are to rapidly transition laboratory research into commercial markets, heavily boost domestic manufacturing capabilities, and cultivate world-class biotech companies within the country. According to this newly released roadmap, NITI Aayog projects that India’s bioeconomy will build a massive financial capacity of $691 billion (₹66.53 lakh crore) by 2035.

₹50,000 Crore Growth Fund to Bridge the Lab-to-Market Gap
The core focus of this roadmap is to bridge the significant gap between scientific innovations occurring in laboratories and their successful commercial market entry. To achieve this, NITI Aayog has proposed the establishment of a massive ₹50,000 crore Bioeconomy Growth Fund for the upcoming 2026-2035 decade.

In addition to financial capital, the think tank called for the introduction of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI)-style subsidies to encourage domestic manufacturing. It also recommended setting up a fast-track ecosystem to accelerate intellectual property (IP) approvals and the creation of a dedicated National Biodata Council.

NITI Aayog observed that while there are currently numerous initiatives across health, agriculture, industrial biotechnology, and disease management, they operate in silos without a unified national objective. Therefore, it has recommended a decisive shift from a sector-wise approach to a results-oriented ‘mission mode’.

Six Targeted National Missions
To streamline operations and achieve specific outcomes, the roadmap outlines the following six national missions:

Gene India: Focused on delivering affordable gene and cell therapies, along with precision diagnostics, to the general public.
AgriBio 2.0: Dedicated to developing climate-resilient crop varieties and high-quality bio-inputs for sustainable agriculture.
BioEx Foundry: Aimed at directly translating synthetic biology research from laboratories into commercially viable products.
One Health Grid: Designed to strengthen AI-driven disease surveillance systems and enhance the country’s capacity to detect pandemics early.
Marine Biotechnology Mission: Focused on seaweed cultivation, developing products based on marine biological resources, and advancing the blue economy.
BioPharma Next: Formulated to establish India as a premier global hub for next-generation biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, and AI-driven drug discovery.

New Institutions for Seamless Implementation
To effectively monitor and execute these ambitious missions, NITI Aayog has recommended the establishment of four key institutional frameworks. These include an Empowered Committee on National Biomissions, a National Biodata Council, a Bioeconomy Investment and Policy Platform, and a dedicated Fast-Track System for Intellectual Property Approvals. These bodies are expected to significantly enhance inter-departmental coordination, streamline biotech data management, attract investments, and accelerate the commercialization of new innovations.

A Vision for Massive Economic Growth and Employment
Highlighting the sector’s historical momentum, the NITI Aayog roadmap noted that India’s bioeconomy has expanded 16-fold over the past decade, reaching a valuation of $195.3 billion (₹18.80 lakh crore) and currently accounting for 4.8% of the national GDP. If this new strategic roadmap is successfully executed, NITI Aayog estimates the sector will skyrocket to ₹66.53 lakh crore by 2035. Furthermore, this expansive growth is projected to create over 3 crore (30 million) new jobs and pave the way for the emergence of at least 15 globally competitive Indian biotechnology corporations.