Union Minister for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, highlighted that AI-driven gene sequencing by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is set to transform India’s healthcare ecosystem by powering personalised medical prescriptions and predictive medicine.
Speaking at the ongoing AI Impact Summit, Dr. Singh emphasised that India’s large-scale genome sequencing initiatives are already AI-enabled. Future treatments will increasingly be guided by individual genetic profiles analysed through AI-powered platforms, moving beyond conventional models toward precision healthcare.
Announcing new initiatives, the Minister said DBT, in collaboration with BIRAC, will establish “Bio-AI Mulankur” hubs in 2026, integrating AI-based predictions, laboratory validation, and data analytics within genomics diagnostics, biomolecular design, synthetic biology, and Ayurveda research. This approach institutionalises AI as a core engine in biotechnology, aligned with the BioE3 policy for high-performance biomanufacturing and sustainable economic growth.
Dr. Singh cited applications such as the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS), where AI analyses drug-resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, reducing confirmation timelines from weeks to days. In maternal health, the GARBH-Ini programme uses AI-driven ultrasound and genomics to identify 66 genetic markers linked to preterm birth risk, exemplifying AI-enabled early risk prediction for targeted interventions.
The Minister also noted that the National Genomics Core at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, and the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, provide high-throughput sequencing and big data infrastructure for AI-led research. Data from the GenomeIndia project is being analysed using AI and machine learning to identify disease-associated variants and strengthen translational medicine.
Further, AI applications are extending to predictive drug target discovery for rheumatoid arthritis, single-cell and spatial genomics for tumour profiling, protein engineering, and therapeutic molecule design. Dr. Singh stressed that embedding AI across DBT’s genomics platforms will accelerate predictive healthcare, disease surveillance, and biomanufacturing, enhancing India’s global biotechnology competitiveness.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
