NXT Summit 2026
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 13: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State in PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that India is entering a transformative era of personalised and precision medicine powered by genomics, artificial intelligence, and advanced biotechnology, which will enable early detection of diseases and targeted treatment even before symptoms appear.
Addressing the NXT Summit 2026- “For All Humankind”, the Minister said that India’s vast genetic diversity and rapidly expanding genomic databases are creating unprecedented opportunities for predictive healthcare, precision diagnostics, and customised treatment protocols.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that with over 4,000-5,000 distinct communities and one of the largest genetic pools in the world, India has a unique advantage in advancing genomic research. Highlighting the Genome India initiative, he informed that genome sequencing of 10,000 Indian individuals has already been completed, with the long-term goal of sequencing one million genomes to strengthen preventive healthcare and disease prediction.
The Minister said that the future of medicine will be shaped by multi-omics technologies, genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics- integrated with artificial intelligence, enabling doctors to design personalised prescriptions based on a patient’s genetic profile, lifestyle, and environmental factors.”Tomorrow’s medicine will be personalised medicine, precision medicine and prescription tailored specifically for the individual patient,” he said.
Dr. Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving strong impetus to biotechnology and life sciences through progressive policy initiatives. He highlighted the Bio-E3 Policy, Biotechnology for Economy, Employment and Environment, which aims to accelerate innovation in biomanufacturing and position India among global leaders in the sector.
The Minister said that India has already emerged as a major bio-manufacturing hub, ranking third in the Asia-Pacific region and among the top global players, supported by initiatives such as bio-foundries, bio-manufacturing clusters and Bio-NEST incubators to nurture start-ups and scale biotechnology innovations.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further stated that biotechnology is widely expected to drive the next industrial revolution, like the transformative role played by information technology in the past.
The Minister also highlighted India’s progress in genetically driven vaccines and therapies, recalling that India developed the world’s first DNA vaccine for COVID-19 and an indigenously developed vaccine against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for cervical cancer prevention.
Referring to cutting-edge research breakthroughs, he noted that Indian scientists have successfully conducted gene-therapy based treatment trials for haemophilia, a major bleeding disorder, and are advancing research in several other genetic diseases.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted the importance of AI-enabled diagnostics, particularly in improving early detection of diseases such as breast cancer. He appreciated large-scale screening initiatives using AI-based thermal imaging technologies, which can take diagnostic services to remote villages through mobile health units.
He further noted that early detection is transforming cancer outcomes, with certain cancers, including breast cancer, now increasingly considered curable when diagnosed in early stages.
Highlighting emerging areas of scientific research, the Minister said India is also advancing space-medicine collaborations, including joint initiatives between the Department of Space and AIIMS to study biological responses in microgravity and their implications for healthcare on Earth.
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