Critical tech list under review to push self-reliance

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Key sectors making it to the list: Telecom, defence,EV, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals (File photo)

The idea is to develop domestic capabilities and shield the country from any sudden disruption due to curtailment of access to such technologies and prepare a comprehensive roadmap to boost domestic availability by pushing priority investments and research in these areas, officials said.

The final list is being discussed at the highest level and could be out as early as next month, a senior government official told ET, requesting anonymity. Some of the critical technologies that could make to the list include 6G architecture and hardware, defence equipment, genomic sequencing and electric vehicle powertrains.

While work on strengthening indigenous capabilities in most of these sectors is already in progress, a government-backed and evidence-based list as well as a strategy will help attract private investment into these sectors, the officials said.

The US, EU, Canada, China, Australia and the UK have their own lists of critical technologies, with dedicated funding mechanisms and strategies for self-reliance, to ensure that they are protected against any global supply shocks. The plan being considered in India includes providing a certain amount of procurement guarantees for some of these products through public sector companies in the initial years or till the time market demand picks up.

A certain proportion of research funds could also be set aside for these sectors to encourage enterprises to innovate, research and develop these technologies. India has in place more than half a dozen schemes to incentivise innovation and investments in sunrise sectors, but the government feels a targeted approach is needed as the initial pickup remains slow and restricted to a few sectors.

The government set up the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) to support R&D in the private sector. Recently, the government approved 14 alternative investment funds and five focused research organisations, with a total RDIF commitment of ₹7,131 crore, almost a year after the fund was announced in November 2025.