PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION SCHEME

• RDI Scheme is a ₹1 lakh crore Union initiative to provide long-tenor, low/nil-interest loans (and equity) to catalyse private-sector R&D in strategic and sunrise sectors.
• Operationalised through a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) via a two-tier funding architecture.
• Nodal department: Department of Science & Technology (DST); flagship instrument to push India's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) beyond the current ~0.7% of GDP.