ESTIC 2026: Genetic Diversity Can Make India a Gene Research Hub

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, has said that India's wide genetic diversity holds the potential to turn the country into an important global resource for gene research, with other nations likely to look towards its unique genetic material in the years ahead.

Where he said it

The remarks came at a session on System and Synthetic Biology during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The Minister, who also holds charge of the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, argued for building domestic strength in the newer branches of biotechnology and converting India's scientific base into research opportunities and usable applications.

Why diversity matters in genetics

Dr Singh said the country's genetic and phenotypic variety gives researchers a valuable foundation, particularly for understanding why disease patterns differ between populations and for opening fresh lines in healthcare. As India scales up its research capacity, he said, it can become a significant source of genetic resources for scientists everywhere.

Gene synthesis and self-reliance

A second theme was indigenous capability in gene synthesis. Depending on suppliers abroad for specialised research inputs, the Minister pointed out, costs Indian scientists time, access and continuity of work. Building that capability at home would let researchers move faster and would strengthen the wider biotechnology ecosystem.

Other points from the session

• Research needs stronger support systems, including greater participation by industry and funding for promising scientific work.
• Biology, engineering, mathematics and other disciplines are converging, and such interdisciplinary work is becoming essential as applications grow more complex.
• The recently enacted SHANTI Act opens nuclear medicine research to private-sector participation, which can widen the field.
• The pathway from discovery to technology and then to practical use needs to be shortened through collaboration between institutions, industry and entrepreneurs.

About the conclave

Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, also took part in the session, which brought scientists and specialists together on the prospects for system and synthetic biology in India. ESTIC 2026 gathers scientists, policy makers, industry leaders, startups and young researchers to tie scientific research and technological innovation more closely to national development.