| Biotechnology is considered to be a quickly emerging | | | | programs in India. It also offers grants to universities, |
| and far-reaching technology. It's a branch of science | | | | national research laboratories, and research |
| that may play a major role in the development and | | | | foundations associated with biotechnology-related |
| growth of India. Biotechnology refers to any | | | | activities. |
| technological application that uses biological systems | | | | The key responsibilities of the DBT include: |
| and forms in a governable manner, to not only | | | | 1. Promoting large-scale use of biotechnology |
| produce new and useful processes or products but | | | | 2. Acting as a government agent for importing fresh |
| also modify the existing ones. It benefits both | | | | recombinant DNA-based biotechnological processes, |
| mankind and other life forms, such as microorganisms. | | | | technologies, and products |
| Besides, biotechnology helps maintain an optimum | | | | 3. Building infrastructure facilities to aid R&D and |
| ecological balance by lowering the amount of | | | | production |
| hydrocarbons and controlling pollution. | | | | 4. Initiating technical and scientific efforts associated |
| Biotechnology in India is one of the most rapidly | | | | with biotechnology |
| growing knowledge-based sectors. Today, it's being | | | | 5. Promoting international collaborations to expound |
| increasingly used to design and develop unique, | | | | the knowledge base of the biotech sector in India |
| improved varieties of pharmaceutical products, crops, | | | | 6. Providing bio-safety guidelines for laboratory |
| fertilizers, processed foods, a plethora of chemicals, | | | | research, applications, and production |
| cosmetics, growth enhancers, health care aids, and | | | | 7. Serving as a nodal agency for collecting and |
| environment-related substances. The biotech | | | | disseminating biotechnology-related information |
| segment in India has been making fast strides on the | | | | Furthermore, the Indian government has set up the |
| world platform. India is currently producing and | | | | National Bio-Resource Development Board (NBDB) |
| marketing many therapeutic biotech drugs and | | | | under the department to determine the broad-policy |
| vaccines. From 2005-2006, the Indian biotech sector | | | | framework for efficient use of biotechnological |
| recorded an impressive revenue of approximately | | | | research and development. |
| US$ 1.07 billion and registered a 36.55% growth. | | | | The key functions of this board include: |
| India has diverse biological resources. Biotechnology | | | | 1. Promoting how bio-resources add value and |
| offers opportunities to convert these resources into | | | | strengthening bioinformatics |
| employment opportunities and economic wealth. | | | | 2. Formulating predictive groupings of biological |
| Several factors create an impetus for India to | | | | resources via well-developed molecular lineages |
| produce excellent capabilities in the domain of | | | | 3. Providing efficient conservation strategies for |
| biotechnology. These factors include a strong pool of | | | | bio-resources with potential economic and scientific |
| scientists and engineers, a large reservoir of scientific | | | | value |
| human resources, affordable manufacturing | | | | 4. Promoting the application of biological software in |
| capabilities, numerous medical colleges, educational | | | | pathogens' and agricultural pests' management |
| and training institutes providing diplomas and degrees | | | | 5. Training and teaching human resources towards |
| in biotechnology, a large number of national research | | | | achieving all these objectives |
| laboratories engaging thousands of scientists, fast | | | | The Indian government is also establishing many |
| developing clinical capabilities, and a vibrant drugs and | | | | biotech parks and incubators. Some existing biotech |
| pharmaceutical industry. | | | | parks/incubation centers are in Uttar Pradesh, |
| The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India is | | | | Hyderabad, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Bangalore. |
| regulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology | | | | With so many measures being adopted to promote |
| and is a top authority responsible for the | | | | biotechnology, the Indian biotech sector is set to |
| development of the biotech industry. This | | | | flourish, and it can revolutionize agriculture, industrial |
| department is responsible for planning, promoting, and | | | | processing, health care, and environmental |
| organizing different biotechnological activities and | | | | sustainability. |