Question 1
What task or outcome should the research or tool improve?
National priority 14 · Digital, Science & Innovation
Digital, Science & Innovation
Digital capability, scientific inquiry and innovation that serve public needs.
Useful technology starts with a real problem.
Connect scientific questions and digital tools to a defined public need. Compare alternatives, test capability and make adoption conditions explicit. An idea, patent, app or prototype is a stage of work, not proof of public impact.
Question 2
Is a simpler alternative more suitable for the same need?
Question 3
Who is responsible for data, errors, maintenance and a safe fallback?
Data reference table
Evidence Snapshot
Read each value with its reporting period, population and limitations. A historical national reference is not a local baseline or proof that an IFT proposal works.
8 source-linked reference records. Publication checks do not independently reproduce the underlying data.
| Signal | Reference Value | Period / Population | How to Read It | Source Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet subscriptions | 969.10 million Historical reference | At 31 March 2025 India; internet subscriptions reported by providers | A national reference for the scale of internet connections. Limitations: Subscriptions are not unique individuals or households. This does not establish affordability, digital literacy, quality or coverage in one district. | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Official statistical report The Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2024–2025 Published: 2025-07-08 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Broadband subscriptions | 944.12 million Historical reference | At 31 March 2025 India; broadband subscriptions reported by providers | Shows the broadband portion of the reported subscription base. Limitations: A counted broadband connection does not establish actual experienced speed, reliability, affordability or accessibility. | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Official statistical report The Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2024–2025 Published: 2025-07-08 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Rural internet subscriptions per 100 population | 45.03 per 100 population Historical reference | At 31 March 2025 Rural India; provider-reported subscriptions and population denominator | A rural connection-density reference, not the proportion of rural people who personally use the internet. Limitations: Multiple connections and shared use prevent interpretation as unique-person access. Rural classification and population denominator must be retained. Density denominators use projected population; rural/urban classification is provider-reported. | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Official statistical report The Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2024–2025 Published: 2025-07-08 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Urban internet subscriptions per 100 population | 110.79 per 100 population Historical reference | At 31 March 2025 Urban India; provider-reported subscriptions and population denominator | Values above 100 are possible because people or institutions may have multiple subscriptions. Limitations: This is subscription density, not a percentage of unique urban residents with access. Do not infer universal inclusion. Density denominators use projected population; rural/urban classification is provider-reported. | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Official statistical report The Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2024–2025 Published: 2025-07-08 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Average wireless data use per data subscriber | 21.53 GB per month Historical reference | FY 2024–25 India; wireless data subscribers in provider reporting | A usage-volume reference for network planning. Limitations: An average conceals unequal use and non-users; it does not measure comprehension, service usefulness or digital wellbeing. | Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Official statistical report The Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2024–2025 Published: 2025-07-08 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Gross expenditure on R&D as a share of GDP | 0.64% Historical reference | FY 2020–21 India; national GERD and GDP aggregates | A historical national research-investment reference. Limitations: This is an expenditure ratio, not research quality or success. The source was published in 2025 about 2020–21; do not label it a current 2026 value. | Department of Science and Technology / Ministry of Science & Technology, via PIB Official government release Parliament Question: R&D Investment in India Published: 2025-08-07 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| Gross expenditure on R&D | ₹127,380.96 crore Historical reference | FY 2020–21 India; national GERD aggregate | A historical expenditure level for comparison with consistently defined research accounts. Limitations: Nominal rupees are not inflation-adjusted; spending alone does not establish useful research, technology adoption or equitable benefits. | Department of Science and Technology / Ministry of Science & Technology, via PIB Official government release Parliament Question: R&D Investment in India Published: 2025-08-07 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
| National Quantum Mission reported utilisation | ₹62.36 crore Historical reference | FY 2024–25 India; the named DST-funded mission in the release table | Shows reported utilisation against the same-table allocation of₹86.00 crore. Limitations: Programme expenditure is not evidence of operational quantum capability, a completed device, a scientific breakthrough or commercial success. | Department of Science and Technology / Ministry of Science & Technology, via PIB Official government release Parliament Question: R&D Investment in India Published: 2025-08-07 Publication checked: 2026-11-04 Value, period and coverage checked in publication |
Different surveys, administrative records, estimates and reporting years are not interchangeable. No combined IFT score is calculated from these rows.
Evidence coverage and review log (CSV) · Structured evidence register (JSON)
Every available subject in this pillar
All 62 topics, organised here.
Read the topic names below and open the subject directly. The groupings are for navigation; each original topic remains separate.
Technology, delivery & infrastructure (38)
Agritech System ›AI for Government ›AI for Indian Languages ›Digital & Science Better-Solution Engine ›Critical Digital Infrastructure Protection ›Cybersecurity National System ›Deep-Tech Startup System ›Digital Economy ›Digital Education ›Digital Health ›Digital Literacy Mission ›Digital Manufacturing ›Digital Public Services ›Digital Trust System ›Digital Water Management ›Drone & Autonomous Systems ›Final Master Digital + Science Model ›Indian-Language Digital India ›Lifelong Learning System ›MSME Digital Transformation ›National AI System ›National Digital Foundation ›National Innovation Challenge System ›One Government Digital Ecosystem ›Quantum Technology ›Research Funding System ›Rural Digital Transformation ›Science Research System ›Science & Technology Priority Map ›Scientist + Engineer + Entrepreneur Ecosystem ›Semiconductor & Electronics Technology ›Smart Cities & Digital Infrastructure ›Space & Satellite Technology ›Technology Dependency Map ›Technology Ethics & Responsible Innovation ›National Technology Foresight System ›Technology Transfer System ›National Testing & Prototyping Network ›
Core subjects & practical pathways (14)
Country Selection by Problem ›Cybersecurity Industry ›District Innovation Map ›Global Talent + Indian Talent ›Global Models to Study ›Government as Early Customer ›Implementation Roadmap ›India Software to India Product ›National Research Mission ›Pillar Connections ›Research to Product Pipeline ›Robotics & Automation ›Science Communication ›University–Industry Connection ›
Evidence, measurement & accountability (7)
People, access & capability (3)
IFT working ideas · Proposals for research
Practical ideas to investigate.
These are questions and proposals to develop, not completed programmes or established results.
Public-interest research translation
Turn a defined Indian problem into a research question, prototype plan and evaluation route.
What must be checked
Track actual adoption conditions; an idea or patent alone is not impact.
Useful digital tools in local languages
Test a limited service task with language support, assisted access and clear failure recovery.
What must be checked
Check comprehension, completion and privacy rather than app downloads.
Technology suitability review
Compare a digital or AI option with simpler alternatives for the same problem.
What must be checked
Require human responsibility, data quality and a safe fallback before deployment.
Connected priorities.
10 questions and answers
Questions about Digital, Science & Innovation
How should a digital or science proposal begin?
Define the real task, affected users and outcome first. Then compare research questions, tools and simpler alternatives that might address the same need.
What is the proposed role of AI?
AI may support an appropriate task after testing. People remain accountable for important decisions, errors, data handling, correction and an effective fallback.
Why is collecting more data not always better?
A project should identify the information it genuinely needs and how it will be protected. Unnecessary personal data creates responsibilities without proving better service.
How should people with limited connectivity be included?
Study device access, unreliable networks, assisted routes and offline needs. A proposed online service should explain how people complete the task when connectivity fails.
Why include Indian-language resources?
Language can affect whether a tool or service is usable. Test actual instructions and assistance with intended users rather than counting a language option alone.
What separates a research result from a public-impact claim?
A paper, patent or prototype can demonstrate a stage of work. Public impact needs evidence of useful performance, adoption conditions, cost and outcomes.
How should technology dependence be examined?
Map critical suppliers, skills, maintenance, data access and replacement options. State which dependencies can be studied publicly and which details need controlled handling.
What should a technical pilot test?
Test the defined task in relevant conditions, including errors, access needs and failure recovery. Record the method, comparison, responsible team and limitations.
Who maintains a digital service after launch?
Identify responsibility for updates, support, security, operating cost and eventual replacement. A launch plan should not leave these tasks unassigned.
How should the platform judge a technology project?
Compare task performance, usability, cost, inclusion and harm with the starting situation and alternatives. Usage counts alone do not establish a better public outcome.