Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh asserted India’s unparalleled genetic diversity, home to 4,600+ population groups, positions the nation to spearhead global multi-omics research revolutionising precision medicine and biotech innovation. Addressing the 3rd Biotech Innovators Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Singh highlighted India’s strategic advantage in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics integration, unlocking personalised therapies for complex diseases.
India’s 1.4 billion population spanning 7,000+ endogamous communities offers unmatched statistical power for polygenic risk scores, pharmacogenomics, and microbiome studies, unmatched by homogeneous cohorts elsewhere. The Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) at Faridabad, Asia’s first national repository, now hosts 10,000+ genomes supporting AI-driven multi-omics platforms.
Key initiatives include:
– IndiGen Programme: GenomeIndia sequenced 10,000+ diverse genomes, establishing population-specific reference panels.
– BharatGen: GenomeAsia 100K expanded to 100,000 Indian genomes prioritising tribal/underrepresented groups.
– Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): ₹50,000 crore over 5 years funding multi-omics consortia bridging academia-industry.
Multi-omics convergence enables systemic disease modelling, from cancer immunotherapy matching to Alzheimer’s polygenic prediction, reducing trial-and-error treatments plaguing 70% pharmacotherapy failures. India’s biotech sector, valued at $130 billion (15% CAGR), targets $300 billion by 2030, leveraging sovereign data assets.
Dr Singh emphasised ethical frameworks safeguarding genomic sovereignty under the DPDP Act while fostering global collaborations. The conclave showcased 50+ startups demonstrating CRISPR-based therapeutics, AI drug discovery, and spatial transcriptomics validated on Indian cohorts.
