INDIA’S INNOVATION PERFORMANCE STRENGTHENS STEADILY, GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX RANK IMPROVES TO 38TH IN 2025 FROM 66TH IN 2019: ECONOMIC SURVEY 2025-26

• Economic Survey 2025-26 flags a structural rise in India's innovation ecosystem: Global Innovation Index (GII) rank 38 in 2025, up from 66 in 2019 (WIPO).
• Driven by PLI Scheme (14 sectors), Semicon India Programme, and Startup India — relevant for GS-III (Economy, S&T) and Prelims index-tracking.
• India is top performer among 37 lower-middle-income economies and leads Central & Southern Asia; an "innovation over-performer" for the 15th consecutive year.