- Why in news
- On 23 July 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply how the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund under ANRF is progressing. TDB and BIRAC have been sanctioned ₹1,000 crore each as Second Level Fund Managers.
- Size and launch
- Cabinet approved the ₹1 lakh crore Fund on 1 July 2025. The Prime Minister launched it on 3 November 2025.
- Fund managers
- TDB and BIRAC were approved as Second Level Fund Managers under the Focused Research Organisation category. Each has been sanctioned ₹1,000 crore.
- Eligibility threshold
- SLFMs support projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 or above.
- Funding cap
- RDIF assistance is capped at 50% of the assessed project cost. For equity it is 50% of each funding round. The rest is raised by the proponent.
Don’t confuse with RDI Fund vs ANRF: ANRF is the apex body for research funding created by the ANRF Act, 2023. The RDI Fund is one ₹1 lakh crore financing scheme under it.
Don’t confuse with TDB vs BIRAC: TDB funds commercialisation of indigenous technology. BIRAC is a public sector enterprise under DBT that supports biotech start-ups. Both are now SLFMs.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Gives long-term, low-cost capital to private research, where India's R&D spending is low.
- Targets strategic sectors like quantum, AI, space and biotech, supporting self-reliance.
Problems
- Only two SLFMs are sanctioned so far; about 200 applications are still pending.
- Private firms must raise the other 50%, which may deter risky deep-tech projects.
Way forward
- Onboard more SLFMs, AIFs and FROs quickly and widen outreach beyond big cities.
- Use blended finance to bring in private capital, and track outcomes of funded projects.
Put in your answer
TDB project pipeline: TDB has approved 22 projects with a total cost of ₹4,744 crore, including RDIF support of ₹2,192 crore.
Sectors covered: The Scheme covers energy security, deep tech, AI, biotechnology and the digital economy.
- 2015Mains GS3 · Q12Areas where robots can manage labour; initiatives to propel research in premier institutes.
- 2016Mains ESSAY · Q4Essay: innovation as the key determinant of economic growth and welfare.
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q12How startups promote innovation and employment; challenges and measures to overcome them.
- 2019Prelims Q19Under which body is the Atal Innovation Mission set up?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund:
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The RDI Fund was approved by the Union Cabinet on 1 July 2025 with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore.
True. Cabinet approved a ₹1 lakh crore fund on 1 July 2025.
2.The Technology Development Board and BIRAC have been approved as Second Level Fund Managers under the RDI Fund.
True. TDB and BIRAC are SLFMs under the FRO category.
3.Projects at Technology Readiness Level 4 or above are eligible for support from Second Level Fund Managers.
True. The threshold is TRL 4 or above.
4.For equity or equity-linked instruments, RDIF support is limited to 50% of the total value of the company.
False. It is limited to 50% of the value of each funding round.
5.The RDI Fund is implemented under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
True. The Fund sits under ANRF.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.