Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is set to disrupt India’s genomics and diagnostics space by offering advanced genetic tests at a fraction of prevailing prices—potentially below ₹1,000—a move that could significantly expand access to preventive healthcare.

The initiative will be driven through Strand Life Sciences, the Bengaluru-based genomics and diagnostics company acquired by RIL in 2021 for ₹393 crore. The rollout is expected to span specialised healthcare testing and genomic sciences.

Genomic tests, which analyse DNA from blood, saliva, or tissue samples, are increasingly used to assess disease risk, monitor cancer progression, and enable personalised treatment strategies. However, widespread adoption in India has remained limited due to high costs, with basic tests typically priced at around ₹10,000.

According to company executives, RIL aims to sharply reduce prices to make genomic testing accessible across income groups.
“We would like to make an impact,” Nilesh Modi, Director at Strand Life Sciences, told The Economic Times, describing the initiative as a “Jio-fication of genomics.”

As part of its mid-term goals, the company plans to bring down the cost of its CancerSpot early cancer screening test to approximately ₹9,999, with a longer-term objective of reducing prices into the triple-digit range, making early detection feasible for millions.

Cost reductions are expected to be achieved through scientific innovation, assay and laboratory engineering, and economies of scale.

RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani has previously identified genomics as a key frontier for transformative health outcomes, underscoring the group’s broader push into digital health, life sciences, and AI-driven healthcare solutions.

If successful, the strategy could reshape India’s preventive healthcare ecosystem—moving genetic testing from niche diagnostic centres into mainstream medical practice.