New Delhi, February 2. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the latest budget for its strategic emphasis on long-term development, particularly highlighting how affordable drugs and homegrown biomanufacturing will ease the burden on middle and lower-income families.
Speaking to the media post-budget presentation, Dr. Singh noted that while the full implications may take time to unfold, the fiscal plan showcases a clear roadmap. Structural reforms are powered by cutting-edge technology, increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, setting the stage for sustained economic progress.
Addressing concerns about middle-class benefits, the minister clarified that the budget prioritizes reducing escalating healthcare and living costs over short-term tax relief. Massive investments in biopharma, diagnostics, vaccines, and gene-based therapies promise to slash financial strains for families battling chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders.
Dr. Singh pointed out alarming health statistics: over 110-120 million diabetics and nearly 140 million pre-diabetics in India, with cancer cases surging and projected to hit 2 million annually by 2030. The Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Power Initiative will bolster India’s position as a global biomanufacturing hub, expanding capabilities in biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, medical devices, and gene technologies.
He likened biotechnology to the IT revolution of past decades, predicting a ‘bio-revolution’ ahead. This new industrial wave will embrace recycling, regeneration, circular economies, and advanced life sciences innovations. The budget also tackles non-communicable diseases and mental health—long-neglected areas—with new super-specialty institutions in North India for mental health education and diagnostics, ensuring equitable access to care.
Further, establishing institutes for Ayurveda and pharmaceutical education will integrate traditional systems with modern research and delivery, fortifying India’s healthcare ecosystem for the future.