Achievements of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: PIB
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released its Year-Ender 2025, showcasing major milestones that strengthened biotechnology as a key pillar of India’s economic, health, agricultural and scientific growth.
• With the bio-economy crossing billion and new initiatives in genomics, biomanufacturing, health and agriculture, 2025 marked a decisive expansion.
About Achievements of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in 2025:
What is DBT
• The Department of Biotechnology, under the Ministry of Science & Technology, is the nodal body for policy, funding, regulation and ecosystem-building in biotechnology, spanning health, agriculture, industry, environment and frontier sciences, aligned with missions like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Viksit Bharat.
Key achievements in 2025:
• Bio-economy expansion:
• India’s bio-economy grew 16-fold in a decade, from billion (2014) to billion (2024), with a clear pathway to billion by 2030.
• India ranks 12th globally in biotech, 3rd in Asia-Pacific, and hosts the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing capacity.
• National Biofoundry Network & BioE3 Policy:
• India’s first National Biofoundry Network launched with six biofoundries and a high-performance biomanufacturing platform.
• Implemented under the BioE3 Policy, focusing on APIs, smart proteins, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and space-marine biotechnology.
• GenomeIndia Project milestone:
• Launch of the Indian Genomic Data Set with 10,000 whole genome sequences made globally accessible.
• Operationalisation of FeED and Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) portals strengthened data-driven research and global collaboration.
• Strengthening biomedical research talent:
• Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) Phase-III approved with an outlay of ₹1,500 crore, ensuring long-term fellowships and grants.
• Reinforced India’s pipeline of high-quality biomedical researchers and clinician-scientists.
• Breakthroughs in space biotechnology:
• India’s first human muscle stem-cell experiment on the ISS (Axiom-4) conducted.
• Validation of microalgae and cyanobacteria growth in microgravity, supporting future long-duration space missions and closed-loop life-support systems.
• Health and biopharma innovations:
• National Biopharma Mission delivered ZyCoV-D and Corbevax vaccines, indigenous MRI scanner, biosimilars, diagnostics, ventilators and bioreactors.
• Advanced AI-enabled TB drug-resistance mapping, with 18,000 MTB isolates sequenced, strengthening the TB-Mukt Bharat mission.
• Agricultural biotechnology advances:
• Gene-edited rice with 20% higher yield (DEP1 gene).
• Drought-resistant rice ‘Arun’, climate-resilient chickpea cultivars and transgene-free CRISPR-edited mustard with high glucoraphanin content.
• Strengthened food security under climate stress.
• Startup, innovation and IP ecosystem:
• Expansion to 75 BioNEST Centres and 19 E-YUVA Centres.
• Support to 3,000+ startups, 1,300+ IP filings, and 800+ products nearing commercialisation, spreading biotech innovation beyond metros.
• World-class research infrastructure:
• Commissioning of Animal BSL-3 Facility for Non-Human Primates, advanced Cryo-EM, stem-cell and imaging facilities.
• Nationwide access enabled through DBT-SAHAJ shared research platforms.
Major initiatives taken in 2025:
• Launch of D.E.S.I.G.N for BioE3 Challenge to empower youth innovators.
• DBT–IndiaAI MoU to integrate biotechnology with artificial intelligence.
• Regulatory reforms including Guidelines on Genetically Engineered Plants (Stacked Events), 2025.
• Centre-State partnerships through BioE3 Cells to align local strengths with national biomanufacturing goals.
Significance:
• Positions biotechnology as a strategic growth engine for India’s economy, health security and climate resilience.
• Strengthens technological sovereignty through indigenous vaccines, genomics, biomanufacturing and agri-biotech.
• Enhances India’s global leadership in affordable innovation, South-South cooperation and frontier science.
Conclusion:
The year 2025 marked a turning point for India’s biotechnology ecosystem, with DBT driving scale, depth and global relevance. From genomics to space biotech and from startups to sovereign health technologies, DBT anchored innovation to national priorities. Together, these achievements firmly position biotechnology as a pillar of India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Q. How can biotechnology contribute to economic development in India? Discuss in light of the recently launched BioE3 policy. (150 words)