From IITs To Defence Exports, FM Lists Big Education, R&D And Security Gains Since 2014

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the government’s sustained investment in education, research, and defence since 2014 while replying to the discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants in the Lok Sabha. She noted a sharp expansion of premier institutions, with increases in IITs, IIMs, IIITs, central universities and AIIMS across the country. Emphasising research and innovation, she said India’s spending on R&D has more than doubled over a decade, supported by a ₹1 lakh crore RDI scheme and rising per capita R&D expenditure. On defence, Sitharaman underlined record budget allocations, a surge in indigenous production, growing MSME participation and all-time-high defence exports, contrasting the current situation with funding constraints during the UPA era.