Unshackling Indian science

Exempting research-related goods and services from GST is a strategic reform that can unlock India's full innovation potential

- HARILAL BHASKAR

INDIA STANDS AT a crucial crossroads in its scientific and technological journey. With growing ambitions to become a global innovation hub, the country has witnessed remarkable progress in research and development (R&D). Yet, an overlooked obstacle limits India's potential—the Goods and Services Tax (GST) levied on scientific infrastructure usage and research consumables. Reforming GST policies to exempt research-related goods and services is essential to democratise access to scientific facilities, accelerate innovation, and strengthen collaborations between academia and industry.

Publicly funded research centres, universities, and startups rely on expensive, cutting-edge scientific equipment—from electron microscopes to high-throughput sequencers and specialised chemical analysers. These instruments drive innovation across healthcare, agriculture, clean energy, and manufacturing. However, each time researchers book lab time or procure consumables like reagents or chemicals, they face GST ranging from 5-18%, significantly inflating operational costs. For many early-career scientists and small startups with limited resources, these costs are prohibitive.