India's biotechnology sector is rapidly emerging as a critical driver of economic and technological growth, holding approximately 4% of the global biotech market with notable strengths in vaccines, bio-pharmaceuticals, and agricultural biotechnology. The sector, divided into bio-pharma, bio-services, bio-agri, bio-industrial, and bio-informatics, is led by bio-pharma, with India supplying around 60% of the global demand for DPT, BCG, and measles vaccines.
Strategic government initiatives such as the National Biotechnology Development Strategy (NBDS) 2021-2025 support this growth by fostering a conducive environment for research, investment, and innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted India's biotech capabilities in vaccine development and manufacturing, emphasizing the sector's crucial role in public health. Biotechnology also addresses significant challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, with innovations like genetically modified crops, biopesticides, and biofertilizers enhancing food security and sustainable farming practices.
A strong network of research institutions, universities, and industry players, alongside public-private collaborations, drives the sector's success by translating scientific discoveries into commercial products. The establishment of biotech parks and incubators further supports startups with necessary infrastructure.
Biotechnology is pivotal to India's future growth, with strategic government support and a thriving research ecosystem positioning the country to harness the sector's full potential and offer innovative solutions to global challenges, improving quality of life worldwide.