Budget gives science missions big numbers but core funding gaps persist - The Hindu

The Union Budget 2026-27 presented science as an instrument of growth, with large numbers on biopharma, semiconductors, carbon capture, and research-linked industrial finance on paper. However, expert reactions to this budget point to a more fragile reality.As the state attempts to move from adopting technologies to creating them, by building mission-linked platforms in biopharma, semiconductors, critical materials, and climate, it seems that the limiting factor isn't the ambition of schemes but what the government actually delivers — including reliable and timely funds, autonomy for research institutions, and the transparency and performance of large finance vehicles for innovation.In 2023-24, allocation for the Department of Biotechnology was revised down from 2,683.86 crore (BE) to 1,607.32 crore (RE), and actual spending fell further to 1,467.34 crore. Likewise for the Department of Science and Technology, from 7,931.05 crore (BE) to 4,891.78 crore (RE) and actuals of 4,002.67 crore.