Biotechnology applies biological systems and organisms to develop products and processes beneficial to society. It spans multiple domains:
- Medical biotechnology for vaccines, diagnostics, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine
- Agricultural biotechnology for pest resistance, nutritional enhancement, and climate resilience
- Industrial biotechnology for biofuels, bioplastics, and sustainable manufacturing
- Environmental biotechnology for waste treatment, bioremediation, and pollution control
Status of Biotechnology in India
India has emerged as a global biotechnology hub, supported by strong scientific capacity and policy backing.
Key trends include:
- Rapid growth in biotech startups and innovation clusters
- Expansion of India’s bioeconomy from a low base to over USD 130 billion
- Dominance in biopharmaceuticals and vaccines
- Strategic advantage from biodiversity, coastline, and marine resources
Government initiatives such as the National Biotechnology Development Strategy, Genome India Project, BIRAC, and One Health Consortium have reinforced sectoral growth.
Recent Achievements
India has recorded notable progress in applied biotechnology:
- Development of indigenous vaccines including DNA and mRNA platforms
- Advances in gene therapy clinical trials
- Crop innovation through speed breeding and drought-resistant varieties
- Innovations in medical devices and diagnostics
- Strengthening of biotech clusters such as Hyderabad’s Genome Valley
Key Challenges
Despite progress, several structural issues persist:
- Absence of a long-term strategic roadmap for competitive biotechnology domains
- Complex and fragmented regulatory approval mechanisms, especially for GMOs
- Shortage of specialised human resources in advanced biotech fields
- Limited private risk capital for high-end research
- Weak integration of IT, data standards, and bioinformatics infrastructure
Way Forward
For biotechnology to become a transformational sector, India must:
- Accelerate regulatory reforms with clear timelines
- Expand advanced training and industry-linked skill programmes
- Strengthen public-private research partnerships
- Promote venture capital and global collaborations
- Align biotech growth with sustainability, ethics, and public trust
