U.S. tariffs are not what is holding back Indian research
The article argues that U.S. tariffs are not the primary impediment to India's research and innovation. Instead, India's low overall R&D spending, its concentration in a few sectors (pharmaceuticals, automobiles), and the lack of research investment in older manufacturing industries are the real challenges. It highlights the government's new ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation scheme, which targets frontier technologies, but suggests a need to link trade relief and incentives to research efforts in exposed sectors and improve R&D data measurement.
The article argues that U.S. tariffs are not the primary impediment to India's research and innovation. Instead, India's low overall R&D spending, its concentration in a few sectors (pharmaceuticals, automobiles), and the lack of research investment in older manufacturing industries are the real challenges. It highlights the government's new ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation scheme, which targets frontier technologies, but suggests a need to link trade relief and incentives to research efforts in exposed sectors and improve R&D data measurement.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Indian Economy come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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