India ranks 12th globally in biotechnology and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region, and has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem while being the largest vaccine manufacturer globally. The country also ranks second in global cotton production, estimated at 294.25 lakh bales (5.00 million metric tonnes) in 2024-25, accounting for around 20% of global output. The Union Budget 2026-27 proposed the Biopharma SHAKTI initiative with an outlay of US$ 1.20 billion (Rs. 10,000 crore) over five years to strengthen the biologics and biosimilars ecosystem and enable India to capture 5% of the global biopharmaceutical market. The biotechnology sector in India is broadly segmented into bio-industrial, biopharmaceuticals, bio-services and bio-agriculture.
India’s BioEconomy has expanded significantly, growing from US$ 10 billion in 2014 to US$ 195.30 billion (Rs. 16,20,000 crore) by 2025, with a target of reaching US$ 300 billion by 2030. India’s private vaccine market grew by 12% to reach US$ 266.00 million (Rs. 2,217 crore) in the 12-month period ending October 2025, driven by rising demand for immunoglobulin therapies and increased adoption of preventive, adult and travel vaccines. The segment is also witnessing greater participation from emerging players, indicating a shift towards a more competitive and diversified market landscape, supported by growing healthcare awareness and higher spending on preventive care. India plays a pivotal role in global immunisation, supplying 55–60% of UNICEF’s vaccine requirements and meeting 99% of World Health Organization (WHO) demand for DPT vaccines. This leadership is supported by major manufacturers such as Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Biological E, which strengthen both domestic and global vaccine supply chains.
India’s biotechnology sector continued to grow in 2025, with registered biotech start-ups rising to 11,855 from 10,075 in 2024, reflecting strong innovation across key segments. India’s biotechnology market size was valued at approximately US$ 37.1 billion in 2025 with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.09% during 2026-34, potentially reaching US$ 112.2 billion by 2034. Growth drivers include rising demand for personalized medicine, chronic disease treatments, and integration of IT with biotech for precision medicine.
The country also has a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing base, with over 10,000 facilities, more than 3,000 companies and 650 US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)-compliant plants, the highest outside the US. As India transitions from a global generics leader to an emerging biopharmaceutical innovation hub, it supplies nearly 20% of global generic medicines and meets around 70% of worldwide vaccine demand, highlighting its strong manufacturing capabilities. Biofoundries and biotech clusters are further strengthening the ecosystem, enabling startups to translate ideas into impactful ventures with sustained government and industry support.
India’s cost-effective research environment, strong biotech talent pool, and public-private partnerships as key drivers for the country’s emergence as a trusted global leader in affordable precision healthcare and biotech innovation.
India’s pharmaceutical exports are also driving global leadership. Exports grew 9.67% in FY24 to US$ 27.9 billion and further rose to US$ 30.5 billion in FY25, marking a 9.3% year-on-year increase. The United States remains the largest market, accounting for over 31% of exports, followed by the UK and the Netherlands. Looking ahead, pharma exports are projected to nearly double to US$ 65 billion by 2030.
India’s cell and gene therapy market is projected to reach US$ 1.65 billion by 2027, growing robustly. Bharat Biotech, Syngene, Laurus Labs, and Aragen are entering next-gen medicine manufacturing, including approvals for two indigenous CAR-T therapies, expected to make advanced cancer and genetic treatments more accessible and affordable.
India is also making progress in emerging areas such as stem cell therapy, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% between 2022 and 2027, supported by government investment, private sector participation, and robust academic and research infrastructure.
In January 2026, the Government of Telangana unveiled its Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy (2026–2030), targeting investments of US$ 25 billion to strengthen the state’s position as a global life sciences hub. The policy is expected to significantly benefit the biotechnology sector by accelerating innovation in advanced therapies, expanding R&D infrastructure, enhancing biomanufacturing capabilities. Whereas, in June 2025, the Government of Odisha launched a five-year “Development of Biotechnology” umbrella scheme (2025-26 to 2029-30) with an outlay of US$ 0.13 billion (Rs. 1,113.50 crore) to position the state as a biotechnology hub, comprising 17 sub-schemes focused on infrastructure development, research advancement and start-up incubation.
In the Union Budget 2026-27, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was allocated Rs. 3,446 crore (US$ 0.41 billion), with a significant focus on strengthening research, innovation and entrepreneurship through key programmes such as Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE), which received Rs. 2,300 crore (US$ 0.28 billion). The allocation emphasises continued government support for biomanufacturing, biofoundry development, human resource capacity building and industry–academia collaboration, aimed at accelerating innovation and scaling India’s biotechnology ecosystem.
In January 2026, the Union Cabinet approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) with a total outlay of US$ 0.18 billion (Rs. 1,500 crore), aimed at strengthening India’s long-term biomedical research talent pipeline.
In February 2026, BIRAC launched the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, aimed at supporting technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL-4 to TRL-9) to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing.
In November 2025, Bharat Biotech expanded into cell and gene therapy (CGT) through its subsidiary Nucelion Therapeutics, strengthening India’s capabilities in advanced therapies and CRDMO services.
In October 2025, Hyderabad-based PrecisionRNA Biotech launched CANTEL, a microRNA-based blood test for breast cancer screening, improving early detection capabilities and expanding molecular diagnostics innovation in India.
In June 2025, Hyderabad-based Utopia Therapeutics secured US$ 1.50 million (approximately Rs. 12.75 crore) in seed funding from Whale Tank to advance the development of its lead immunotherapeutic candidate, UT009, a novel vaccine targeting obesity and metabolic disorders. The funding will support preclinical development, regulatory studies and progression towards Phase I clinical trials.
In March 2025, Syngene International acquired a biologics manufacturing facility in the Maryland, United States, from Emergent BioSolutions for US$ 36.50 million, enhancing global biomanufacturing capacity and strengthening India’s presence in contract research and manufacturing.
The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, under its Biodesign programme, has developed three innovative prototypes: Septicheck, an HPLC-based multiplex drug monitoring kit; Clevercup, a midstream urine collection device; and OncoAlert, a screening device for oral cancer, aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy and early disease detection.
Shoolini University highlighted its contribution with infrastructure supporting 104+ advanced laboratories and 11 Centres of Excellence in biotech-related fields, supported by government grants to boost innovation and research facility quality.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU with Thermo Fisher Scientific to support over 500 biotech startups in the next three years through advisory, technology access, mentorship, and investor connect.
The government envisions creating biofoundries, Bio AI centres, and thematic hubs focused on bio-based chemicals, smart proteins, and carbon capture as part of policy support to foster biomanufacturing and innovation.
In January 2025, Unicorn India Ventures invested Rs. 3 crore (US$ 351,000) in Bhubaneswar-based biotech startup Exsure to advance its non-clinical study and global exfclpansion plans.
Biotechnology parks and incubators are established across the country by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, to translate research into products and services by providing necessary infrastructure support. These biotechnology parks offer facilities to scientists, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for technology incubation, technology demonstration and pilot plant studies to accelerate the commercial development of biotechnology. The government, at present, supports nine biotechnology parks in various states, with the bulk being in the southern region. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has supported 11 Biotechnology Parks in various States. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, is driving a transformative shift in North East India (NER) by integrating biotechnology with biodiversity conservation and economic growth. Since 2010, DBT has allocated 10% of its annual budget to specialized programs in NER, fostering research, education, and entrepreneurship.
The success of the Indian biotechnology industry will be shaped by the rise of start-ups and the strengthening of research, supported by a growing network of incubators. With its multidisciplinary approach, the sector is well-positioned to deliver transformative solutions across healthcare, agriculture, environment, energy, and industry, reinforcing its role as a key driver of innovation and sustainable growth.
