Jammu, Mar 6 (Reporter) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that while India's Bio-economy grew more than 10 times in last 10 years, the biotech potential of Himalayan territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, particularly their agri-biotech potential, remains still underexplored. India's biotech economy, which soared from a $10 billion valuation in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, is set to reach a massive $300 billion by 2030, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh’s projections. He highlighted the ongoing Bio-revolution in India, comparing it to the IT revolution in the West and underscoring the importance of India’s rich natural and biodiversity resources in fuelling this transformation. He underscored the rise in DBT’s budget from 1,485 crores in 2013-14 to 3,447 crores in 2025-26 almost marking a 130% increase. The minister underscored the transformative potential of Agri-Biotechnology J&K, with a special focus on the success of initiatives like the Aroma Mission and the floriculture revolution, Dr Singh was delivering the inaugural address at the PBBCON-2025, a 2-day International and National Conference on "Emerging Innovations in Biochemistry and Biotechnology for Holistic Development of Agriculture" conference, in Jammu, coinciding with the celebrations of India’s scientific achievements. He further highlighted India’s remarkable growth in biotechnology, positioning the country as a global leader in the field. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call during the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ for the nation to celebrate the day with festive fervour, a call echoed across Indian embassies worldwide. The Union Minister emphasised how Agri-Biotech initiatives such as the Aroma Mission and the floriculture revolution have been instrumental in boosting J&K's agricultural economy. India is now ranked third in the Asia-Pacific region and 12th globally in terms of bio-manufacturing, a fact Dr. Singh proudly highlighted. He noted the New BioE3 Policy, launched under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, which places a special focus on bio-manufacturing and bio-foundries, marking a new era for India’s biotechnology sector. Reflecting on the past decade of India’s scientific journey, Dr. Singh noted the rise of India as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, driven by youth-led innovation. He mentioned that 5352 Indian Scientific Minds now feature in the Top 2% globally, underscoring India’s rise as a global hub for talent and innovation. In addition to biotechnology, Dr. Singh also touched upon India’s growing prominence in nuclear energy. Once met with scepticism, India’s nuclear energy program is now recognised globally for its peaceful and sustainable ambitions. India has set an ambitious target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2047. Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by urging the youth of J&K to prepare for the region's crucial role in India’s growth story, emphasising that J&K, with institutions like SKUAST University, can be at the forefront of driving innovation in Agri-Biotech and other emerging sectors. He encouraged young minds to leverage the opportunities created by India’s expanding biotech sector and global scientific leadership...////...