India is rapidly cementing its position as a global powerhouse in science and technology, with recent reports and announcements highlighting significant strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and biotechnology. These advancements are not only pushing the boundaries of scientific research but also attracting substantial investments and shaping national policy.
India Rises as a Global Leader in Machine Learning-Enabled Scientific Research
According to the recently released ML Global Impact Report 2025 by Marktechpost, India has emerged as one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly advancing centers for machine learning-enabled scientific research. The report positions India as the third-largest contributor worldwide for ML-enabled research published across the Nature family of journals, behind only China and the United States. This study analyzed over 5,000 ML-relevant scientific articles published between January 1 and September 30, 2025, underscoring India's expanding network of universities, medical institutions, national laboratories, deep-tech startups, and AI research centers.
Indian researchers have demonstrated extensive adoption of widely used ML frameworks across high-impact scientific fields, including medical imaging, diagnostics, cancer screening, genomics, climate science, monsoon prediction, environmental modeling, agriculture, crop-yield forecasting, materials science, chemistry, nanotechnology, Earth-observation, remote sensing, and disaster preparedness. This broad application spectrum reflects India's focus on practical, scalable, and socially relevant ML research, particularly aligning with national priorities in health, agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Generative AI to Revolutionize Drug Discovery and Healthcare
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, affirmed India's increasing reliance on generative AI to accelerate drug discovery and bolster clinical research. Speaking at the 7th CII Pharma and Lifesciences Summit 2025 in New Delhi, Minister Singh emphasized that AI would enhance decision-making rather than replace scientists. He highlighted that generative AI is already creating significant value in clinical trial protocol development, execution, quality assurance, and regulatory submissions. The Minister also noted that AI adoption is helping reduce errors and delays in drug approval processes, particularly by addressing traceability and documentation gaps in regulatory dossiers. India's robust digital infrastructure, scientific talent, and government initiatives like 'India AI' are positioning the country to become a global hub for AI-enabled life sciences innovation.
Furthermore, Minister Singh pointed to the growing capabilities in biotechnology, gene therapy, and vaccine development, with several initiatives from the Department of Biotechnology being implemented in collaboration with the private sector to develop indigenous solutions, including synthetic antibiotics, DNA, and HPV vaccines.
GlowCas9 Breakthrough: Real-Time Gene Editing Tracking
In a significant scientific breakthrough, a team of scientists at the Bose Institute, Kolkata, has engineered a glowing CRISPR protein named 'GlowCas9'. This innovation enables the real-time observation of genome editing inside living cells, marking a major advancement in the field of gene therapy. GlowCas9 works by fusing the Cas9 protein with split nano-luciferase fragments derived from deep-sea shrimp proteins. When Cas9 folds correctly, these fragments reunite and emit light, providing a built-in indicator of gene-editing activity. This system allows for continuous monitoring of CRISPR operations in living cells, tissues, and even plant leaves without causing harm. The development inaugurates the field of "theratracking," promising safer and more precise gene therapies and offering non-transgenic pathways for crop improvement.
Investments and Strategic Initiatives in AI and Quantum Technology
The burgeoning AI ecosystem in India is attracting substantial investments. Microsoft announced a US$17.5 billion investment in India over four years (2026-2029) to drive AI diffusion at a population scale. This includes integrating advanced AI capabilities into national platforms like e-Shram and the National Career Service (NCS) to benefit over 310 million informal workers, and committing to skill 20 million Indians in AI by 2030. Similarly, Amazon plans to invest over $35 billion in India by 2030, focusing on AI-driven digitization, export growth, and job creation, with initiatives to empower 4 million government school students with AI education.
Beyond AI, India is also making strategic moves in quantum technology. The NITI Aayog's Frontier Tech Hub, in partnership with IBM, has released a national roadmap to transform India into one of the world's top-three quantum economies by 2047. This vision includes incubating globally competitive quantum startups and capturing a significant share of the global quantum software and services market. Additionally, a Quantum Biomedical Research Ecosystem is set to be established in Amaravati, integrating quantum computing with biomedical research for advancements in personalized medicine, drug discovery, and diagnostics.
Sanchar Saathi App Raises Surveillance Concerns
Amidst these technological advancements, a significant controversy has emerged regarding the Indian government's decision to mandate the pre-installation of the 'Sanchar Saathi' app on every smartphone in India. Cybersecurity researchers at TraceX Labs have issued a high-risk privacy advisory, warning that this mandate creates a "Pegasus-style surveillance architecture," raising concerns about large-scale, one-way monitoring of user activity. The directive requires smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the app, push it to existing users via updates, and ensure it cannot be deleted, disabled, or modified. TraceX Labs noted that while not technically Pegasus, the app exhibits spyware-grade characteristics such as continuous location access and access to call and SMS metadata, leading to fears of state surveillance.