Union Budget 2025: Key tech announcements – AI Centre, Geospatial Mission and more

Union Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a host of significant measures in the Union Budget 2025 aimed at strengthening India’s technological capabilities. These measures aim to bolster research, manufacturing, and digital connectivity. Here is everything announced for the technology budget.

Union Budget 2025: Broadband connectivity for rural schools and health centres

The government has announced broadband connectivity under the Bharat Net initiative. All government secondary schools and primary health centres in rural areas will have broadband access, facilitating enhanced education and healthcare services in remote regions.

Union Budget 2025: Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education

A new Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) dedicated to education will be established with an outlay of ₹500 crore. This centre aims to develop AI-driven educational tools and research to improve learning outcomes, modernise curricula, and support innovation in digital education.

Union Budget 2025: Boost for Deep Tech start-ups and research fellowships

The government is exploring the launch of a Deep Tech Fund of Funds, which will support the next generation of start-ups in emerging technologies. Additionally, under the Research Fellowship Scheme,10,000 fellowships will be granted over the next five years for research in premier institutions such as IITs and IISc, with enhanced financial assistance.

Union Budget 2025: National Geospatial Mission

The government has announced the launch of a National Geospatial Mission, which aims to develop foundational geospatial infrastructure and data. This initiative will play a crucial role in improving spatial data accuracy, benefiting urban planning, disaster management, and various technology-driven applications.

Union Budget 2025: Incentives for Green and Digital Manufacturing

To promote domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, Sitharaman has proposed exempting customs duties on several critical minerals. Cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery scrap, lead, zinc, and twelve other essential minerals will now be duty-free, aiding the production of electric vehicle (EV) and mobile phone batteries.

In a further boost to manufacturing, the list of exempted capital goods has been expanded to include 35 additional items for EV battery production and 28 more for mobile phone battery manufacturing. These exemptions are expected to stimulate the local supply chain and drive India’s ambitions in green energy and digital device production.

Hike in customs duty on interactive flat displays

In a move to strengthen the domestic electronics industry, the government has increased the customs duty on interactive flat displays from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. This decision aims to encourage local production and reduce dependency on imported display panels.

National manufacturing mission

Sitharaman introduced the National Manufacturing Mission, which will support the production of solar PV cells, EV batteries, motors, controllers, electrolysers, wind turbines, high-voltage transmission equipment, and grid-scale batteries.