Describe the reasons for India’s reputation as a biotechnology opportunity land. Talk about India’s readiness to emerge as a major hub for biomanufacturing as well. (Answer in 250 words)
Kirti SharvanBegginer
Resources & Suggestions
Mains Answer Writing Latest Articles
On: April 18, 2025
Daily Answer Writing Practice Questions (18 April 2025)
Do you agree with the claim that indecision and risk aversion are prevalent issues in Indian bureaucracy? Support your answer with logical reasoning. (150 words) ऐसा कहा जाता है कि भारतीय नौकरशाही में अनिर्णय और जोखिम से बचने की प्रवृत्ति ...
On: April 18, 2025
Comments:
0
Strengthening India’s Cyber Defence
Rising Threats Digital Era Challenges: 2024 marks a significant rise in digital threats, particularly from AI and cyberattacks. Key Issues: Disinformation campaigns. Cyber fraud affecting daily life. Current Major Cyber Threats Ransomware Rampage: Over 48,000 instances of WannaCry ransomware detected ...
On: April 18, 2025
Comments:
0
भारत की साइबर सुरक्षा
बढ़ते खतरे कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता (AI) और साइबर हमले: 2024 में AI और साइबर हमलों के खतरे में वृद्धि। महत्वपूर्ण अवसंरचना पर हमले: डिजिटल हमलों और दुष्प्रचार अभियानों की संभावना बढ़ी है। प्रमुख साइबर खतरें रैनसमवेयर का प्रकोप: 48,000 से अधिक ...
India is the third-largest biotechnology market in the Asia-Pacific region and one of the top twelve globally. The nation controls 3% of the worldwide biotechnology market. The Indian economy grew from US$ 70.2 billion in 2020 to US$ 80.12 billion in 2021, growing at 14.13%, and is targeted to reach $150 billion by 2025 and $270-300 billion by 2030. The factors that make India a land of opportunities in the field of biotechnology include:
India’s preparedness to make itself a leading global biotechnology hub can be understood through the following:
Although the government is enthusiastic about supporting the biotechnology industry, it is facing some challenges as well. For instance, the government’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is facing difficulties getting approval for genetically modified crop field trials. There are also concerns about the environmental impact of India’s pharmaceutical industries. Also, the timelines and regulatory steps for biotechnology drug approvals are not user-friendly. The government needs to resolve these challenges through mass awareness, consensus building, and setting up a regulatory regime in accordance with the developments in the field.
Different key factors have combined to assign India the tag of land of opportunity in the biotechnological sector. It hosts an excellent, diverse pool of scientific talent, with a large number of biotechnology and pharmacy graduates and post-graduates. It is this well-educated workforce that forms a very important asset for any nation aspiring to lead in biotechnology innovation.
The other key factor is India’s low-cost R&D. It was the relatively low cost of scientific research compared to Western countries that has made India an abode not only for its domestic biotech companies but also for international biotech firms. In addition, a well-built pharmaceutical industry provides good ground in which biotechnological-development can thrive, with a focus on mainly biosimilars and generics.
India’s regulatory environment is gradually getting more and more conducive to biotechnological growth. The government has put in place policies aimed at fast-tracking approval processes for biotech products, slashing time-to-market and encouraging innovation. Initiatives such as the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council funding and mentorship are a great help to startups and SMEs alike in setting up a vibrant biotech ecosystem.
Apart from that, India is also emerging as a key biomanufacturing destination due to its developed manufacturing infrastructure and experience in large-scale manufacturing. It produces quality biotech products at affordable prices, thus making it an important supply chain partner in the world market. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced this fact once again as India emerged as one of the top vaccine producers among other biotech products supplied across the globe.
Its geographical location also provides India with logistical advantages in terms of distribution to developed and emerging markets. If the investment in infrastructure is carried forward and biotechnology continues to evolve, then it can help establish India as one of the global leaders in biomanufacturing and an important contributor to the international biotech industry.
Over the last few decades, India has made many huge stomps and steps to emerge as one of the medical hubs in the world. The country has seen an immense improvement in the quality and the number of it’s healthcare facilities and has successfully averted several preventable disease epidemics. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has provided India with an opportunity to play the lead role in the global biotech ecosystem. The pandemic has assisted the country in setting up the ideal ecosystem for production, sourcing, and exporting medical devices and vaccines.
POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN INDIA:-
– The number of biotech startup registrations has surged throughout the nation in 2021, with around 1,128 new startups registered, which is the highest in a single year since 2015. Estimates put the total number of biotechnology startups at 6,756 as of 2022. The number of startups is expected to reach 10,000 by 2025.
– India has 665 FDA-approved plants in the US; 44% of the global abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) and more than 1,400 manufacturing plants, which are compliant with WHO’s requirements. The country is also the world’s third-largest producer of recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine and second-largest producer of BT cotton (genetically modified pest-resistant plant cotton).
– From 2015-2020, India’s biotechnology industry grew rapidly, doubling from US$ 30.2 billion to US$ 70.2 billion in five years. The Indian biotechnology industry is expected to reach US$ 150 billion by 2025 and has the potential to reach US$ 270-300 billion by the year 2030.
– By 2025, the contribution of the Indian biotechnology industry to the global biotechnology market is expected to grow to 19%. The Indian biologics market is forecasted to reach US$ 12 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 22%.
SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS:-
– In November 2021, Serum Institute of India restarted deliveries of Covid-19 shots to global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX for the first time since April 2021.
– In February 2022, Genova Biopharmaceuticals, who were conducting phase 2 and 3 trials of India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine on humans, GEMCOVAC-19 is the very first mRNA vaccine developed in India and only third mRNA vaccine to be approved for COVID-19 in the world.
– In January 2022, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) made a major contribution to developing the world’s first Intranasal vaccine for Covid through Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL).
– In July 2023, Biocon Biologics launched a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s top selling biologic Humira (generically called adalimumab) in the US market under the brand name HULIO.
– In January 2024, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh inauguration of Biotech Startups Expo on “Emerging Startup Trends” in North India at Biotech Park, Kathua.
INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS TO BECOME A LEADING BIO-MANUFACTURING HUB:-
– Current Economic Status:
Currently, India accounts for approximately 3% of the global biotech industry.
The biotechnology sector in India has grown from $1.1 billion in 2003 to a mammoth $64 billion sector in 2019 and by 2024, it is expected to be a $100 billion industry.
– Growing Biotech Start-ups:
Currently, there are over 2,700 biotech start-ups and are expected to touch the 10,000-mark by 2024.
– To make India globally competitive in biotechnology research, innovation, translation, entrepreneurship and industrial growth and be a USD 150 billion Bio-economy by 2025, a new “National Biotechnology Development Strategy-2021-2025” has been announced with an ambitious target of Biotechnology contributing to a “knowledge and innovation driven Bio-economy.”
– The Government of India has supported 9 Biotech Parks and 146 Biotech-KISAN Hubs.
Hence, India’s preparedness to become a leading bio-manufacturing hub is corroborated by it’s skilled workforce, cost advantages, robust infrastructure, strong research capabilities, global partnerships and government support.
r
The Indian biotechnology industry is one of the fastest growing knowledge based sectors.
India currently ranks amongst the top 12 biotechnology destinations in the world, and is a
global leader in the production of drugs and vaccines. For an economy like India,
biotechnology is a powerful enabling technology that can revolutionize agriculture,
healthcare, industrial processing and environmental sustainability. According to a forecast by
the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), the Indian biotechnology industry
sector has the potential to be $ 100 billion (Rs. 6 lakh crore) industry in the next decade.
The Indian biotechnology industry can be broadly classified into five categories namely
biopharmaceuticals, bioagriculture, bioservices, bioindustry and bioinformatics. There are
approximately 800 – 850 large, medium, small and startup companies in the biotechnology
and allied sectors. Within the different sectors in biotechnology, there are multiple disciplines
which are huge specialties on their own.
• Biopharma – Drugs, vaccines, diagnostics
• Bioindustrial – Biofuels, nutraceuticals, enzymes
• Bioagri – Hybrid crops, biopesticides, biofertilizers
• Bioservices – custom synthesis & manufacturing and contract research
• Bioinformatics – data analytics and software and database services.
Click on the attached file to get the answer!
India is considered a land of opportunities in biotechnology due to its vast biological diversity, large talent pool, and supportive governmental policies. With one of the world’s most extensive and varied ecosystems, India offers a rich repository for biotechnological research. This diversity is crucial for developments in areas such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental biotechnology.
The country boasts a substantial workforce of highly skilled scientists, researchers, and engineers. India produces a large number of graduates in biotechnology-related fields each year, ensuring a continuous influx of fresh talent. This is complemented by a strong emphasis on education and training in life sciences and biotechnology.
Government initiatives have played a pivotal role in fostering the biotechnology sector. Programs such as the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Department of Biotechnology’s various schemes provide funding, infrastructure, and mentorship to startups and established companies. The “Make in India” campaign further encourages domestic production and innovation, making India an attractive destination for biotech investments.
India’s readiness to become a leading bio-manufacturing hub is supported by several factors. The country has made significant investments in developing state-of-the-art bio-manufacturing facilities that meet international standards. This infrastructure, combined with cost-effective manufacturing capabilities, positions India as a competitive player in the global market.
Moreover, India’s regulatory framework is evolving to support bio-manufacturing, with efforts to streamline processes and ensure compliance with global standards. Strategic collaborations with international organizations and companies enhance India’s capabilities and integration into the global supply chain.
Overall, India’s unique combination of natural resources, talent, supportive policies, and advancing infrastructure makes it well-prepared to emerge as a major hub for biomanufacturing, contributing significantly to the global biotechnology landscape.
India is a prime location for biotechnology due to its growing market, supportive policies, skilled workforce, strong research and development infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, robust pharmaceutical industry, and global market penetration. With a population of over 1.3 billion, India has a significant domestic market for biotechnological products and solutions, including healthcare and agriculture. The country’s rising incomes and health awareness drive demand for advanced healthcare solutions, including biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostics. The government has implemented policies to support the biotechnology sector, including the National Biotechnology Development Strategy and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) initiatives. India’s vast talent pool, strong research and development infrastructure, and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive destination for biotech companies. The country’s well-established pharmaceutical industry provides a strong foundation for the growth of biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology. India’s infrastructure development, regulatory framework, public-private partnerships, and export potential make it a potential leader in bio-manufacturing on the global stage. India is positioned as a land of opportunity in biotechnology and a prospective leader in bio-manufacturing in the world arena because of its mix of a sizable domestic market, supporting regulations, talented labor, cost advantages, and a strong industrial base.
India is a significant player in the global biotechnology sector, ranking third in the Asia-Pacific and among the top twelve worldwide. With a current market size of US$ 80.12 billion, India controls 3% of the global biotechnology market and aims to reach US$ 150 billion by 2025 and US$ 270-300 billion by 2030. The following important aspects support India’s biotechnology industry:
India’s robust biotechnology infrastructure, along with assistance from the government, qualified labor, and a vibrant startup environment, position the country as a burgeoning hub for biotechnology. Addressing difficulties like regulatory hurdles and environmental concerns will further solidify India’s role as a global leader in bio-manufacturing.
India is regarded as a land of opportunities in the field of biotechnology for several reasons. Here is an infographic to show the Indian progress in biotechnology:
India’s Preparedness to Become a Leading Bio-Manufacturing Hub is as follows: