India will increasingly rely on generative AI to accelerate drug discovery and strengthen clinical research, Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh Minister Of State (Independent Charge) of The Ministry of Science and Technology Minister of State (Independent Charge) of The Ministry of Earth Sciences Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Minister Of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy and Minister of State in the Department of Space said on Friday. Speaking at the 7th CII Pharma and Lifesciences Summit 2025 in New Delhi, the Minister said fears that AI will replace scientists are unfounded, emphasising that the technology will enhance decision-making rather than substitute human expertise.
Hon’ble Minister Jitendra Singh noted that AI-driven tools are already transforming how pharmaceutical and biotech companies operate. “In drug discovery, generative AI is creating value in protocol development, clinical trial execution, quality assurance, and regulatory submissions,” he said.
Countering concerns over job losses, he stressed that AI would not make researchers redundant. “AI is not going to replace scientists. It makes us better. Those who use it will certainly outperform those who do not.”
He added that AI adoption is helping reduce errors, improve documentation, and cut delays in drug approval processes—issues often caused by traceability gaps in regulatory dossiers. Generative AI, he said, can ensure work is done “first time right.”
Dr. Jitendra highlighted India’s digital infrastructure, scientific talent and government initiatives like India AI, which position the country to become a global hub for AI-enabled life sciences innovation. He added that AI is also transforming supply chain predictability, pharmacovigilance and safety analytics.
India’s life sciences sector, he said, is entering a defining phase in 2025—recognised globally for quality, scale and affordability. The next challenge, he added, is shifting from scale to innovation.
He pointed to long-term reforms, including the production-linked incentive scheme, regulatory simplification and a clearer patent regime, as foundations of an innovation-led ecosystem. Companies that embrace sustainability early, he said, will lead the next wave of growth.
Highlighting progress in domestic vaccine innovation, he cited Panacea Biotech’s single-shot dengue vaccine, which recently completed phase-three trials with 11,000 participants. “If Panacea Biotech can innovate, many more Indian companies can do the same—while ensuring affordability and scale,” he said.
Singh called for deeper collaboration between industry, government, regulators, academia and global partners to help India evolve into a life sciences powerhouse by 2047.
