Articles and Commentaries |
April 16, 2024

Digital Leadership for a Viksit Bharat 2047: Fostering Innovation, Shaping Tomorrow

Written By: Subi Chaturvedi

In an increasingly interconnected world, digital inclusion has emerged as a cornerstone of development strategies. Digital India’s overarching goal of transforming the nation into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy has yielded significant outcomes over the past decade, since the Indian government launched the ambitious “Digital India” programme in 2015. One of the most notable achievements has been the reduction of the digital divide between urban and rural areas and connecting the unconnected. Through infrastructure development initiatives like the BharatNet project, which aims to connect every gram panchayat with high-speed internet, connecting over 250,000 gram panchayats (village councils) with high-speed internet. The government, through consistent efforts and successful collaborative partnerships, has hugely bridged the digital divide, enabling millions of rural Indians to access the internet for communication, education, and livelihood opportunities. This large-scale project, when completed, will connect over 630,000 inhabited villages in India, further bridging the digital gap between urban and rural communities.

Furthermore, the past decade has witnessed a revolution in the availability of smartphones and data plans, leading to a remarkable increase in internet penetration in India. With 850 million broadband users as of July 2023, representing a 250% growth since 2015, India has experienced the fastest growth in internet users globally. The average monthly data consumption per user reached 19.5 GB in 2022, with monthly mobile data usage soaring from 4.5 exabytes in 2018 to 14.4 exabytes in 2022. This exponential growth is expected to continue, with projections indicating a quadrupling of data consumption by 2024, driven by the impending implementation of 5G technology and India’s topping global data consumption in the next five years.

Moreover, the past decade has witnessed a concerted push towards leveraging emerging technologies to address complex societal challenges (Niti Aayog, 2018). The National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, unveiled by Niti Aayog in 2018, outlines a comprehensive roadmap for harnessing the potential of AI across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and education. With a steadfast commitment to technological development and advancement, the government has embarked on a journey that has led to the economic, technological, and entrepreneurial transformation of the nation. From bolstering digital infrastructure to fostering innovation hubs, the government’s policies have propelled India into the forefront of the global innovation landscape.

Furthermore, the government’s emphasis on promoting indigenous manufacturing through initiatives like “Make in India” has bolstered India’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse (Press Information Bureau, 2014). By incentivising domestic production of electronics, automobiles, and other critical sectors, the government has not only spurred economic growth but also catalysed technology transfer and skill development. The success of initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme underscores India’s growing prowess in manufacturing, attracting investments, and creating employment opportunities on a massive scale (Niti Aayog, “Production Linked Incentive Scheme”). A recent media report has pegged India’s electronic manufacturing industry to show growth upwards of over 40% annually until FY 26, with the market expecting to reach Rs 5,980 billion.  A combination of factors have led to this, which include geo-political shifts, the government’s progressive and concerted policy efforts to spur electronics manufacturing in India, the presence of a skilled workforce, which includes highly trained engineering talent, the availability of land and water, a stable responsive government with enhanced ease of doing business, and a clear focus on job creation, upping the value chain to make India the hub of a technology creator for technologies.

In addition to fostering technological innovation, the Modi government has prioritised the development of robust regulatory frameworks to navigate the complexities of the digital age. From enacting data protection laws to strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure, the government has demonstrated a proactive approach to safeguarding citizens’ privacy and securing critical digital assets. Not only is India now in the right rooms, it is now at the table and shaping the discourse, actively seeking accountability and greater transparency and equity in both future and emerging technology as well.

Moreover, Digital India, coupled with the JAM trinity, which includes Jan Dhan, Mobile, and Aadhar, has completely revolutionised governance by leveraging technology to improve openness, effectiveness, and public involvement in the delivery of government services. Digital platforms like DigiLocker, e-Hospital, and e-Government Procurement (GeM) have streamlined processes, reduced red tape, and increased access to essential services for citizens, raising the bar for minimum government and maximum governance. The impact of these initiatives is evident in the significant increase in e-transactions related to government services, which exceeded USD 3 billion in the fiscal year 2021 alone. By embracing digital governance, India has made substantial strides towards enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centric governance.

Additionally, Digital India has placed a strong emphasis on digital literacy and skill development, particularly in rural areas. Programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) have empowered millions of people with crucial digital skills, enabling them to participate actively in the digital economy. The National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) and Skill India have further strengthened India’s workforce by providing training in cutting-edge technologies and promoting entrepreneurship. By equipping citizens with digital skills, India is not only fostering economic growth but also empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to the digital revolution.

To confine the ambit of this discourse, our focal lens shall primarily scrutinise digital transformation and its symbiotic relationship with economic ascension. The performance of the current government at the centre over the last ten years can be summarised under five broad themes: economic growth, digital infrastructure, digital India, entrepreneurship and innovation, and emerging technologies. 

Economic Growth

India has experienced a period of unprecedented economic growth since 2014, achieving remarkable milestones along the way. The exponential growth has been witnessed across various economic indicators, propelling India to new heights and firmly establishing its position as a global economic powerhouse. India’s economic growth has been labelled “stable and resilient,” with an 8% growth rate a real possibility in the near future (Gupta and Blum, 2018).

One of the most striking achievements during this period has been the jump from the 11th largest to the 5th largest economy in the world (Armstrong, 2022). The significant expansion of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reflects robust economic performance and sustained momentum. Since 2014, India’s GDP has surged, far surpassing the growth rates of previous years and outstripping initial projections (see table below). This growth trajectory has not only propelled India’s economy forward but has also positioned it as one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.

Figure 1: Indian GDP by year: 2006 to 2022 (source: World Bank)

India surpassing the United Kingdom to become the fifth-largest economy globally highlighted India’s growing economic prowess and resilience (World Bank, 2024). This underscored India’s emergence as a key player on the world stage, with significant implications for global trade, investment, and geopolitics.

The government’s bold economic reforms and policy initiatives have played a crucial role in driving India’s economic transformation. From the implementation of landmark reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the promotion of ease of doing business, the government’s proactive approach has fostered a conducive environment for investment, entrepreneurship, and innovation. These reforms have not only streamlined the tax system and eliminated barriers to trade but have also enhanced India’s attractiveness as a destination for foreign investment (PTI, 2024).

Moreover, India’s economic growth has been accompanied by significant improvements in key socio-economic indicators, reflecting the government’s focus on inclusive development and poverty alleviation. The average income of people has witnessed a substantial increase, lifting millions out of poverty and enhancing their quality of life. More than 400 million people were lifted out of poverty in the last 15 years (Pandit, 2023). Even in 2023, India was leading salary growth projections in APAC (Majumdar, 2024). Additionally, initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) have promoted financial inclusion, ensuring that even the most marginalised segments of society have access to banking services and financial resources (PTI, 2023). Under the scheme, 55.5% of bank accounts were opened by women, while 67% of the accounts were opened in rural or semi-urban areas (ibid.).

India’s exponential economic growth firmly points to the nation’s resilience, dynamism, and potential, especially in a post COVID world. From surpassing previous growth records to ascending the global economic rankings, India’s journey over the past decade has been remarkable.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a transformative concept championed by India on the global stage, notably recognized in G20 deliberations by global ministers as an accelerator of global goals (UNDP, 2023). For the first time, a global coalition of twenty jurisdictions acknowledged the significance of DPI, offered a functional definition, and outlined specific guidelines and methods that may be taken into account during its creation and implementation (Chaudhuri, 2023).

DPI encompasses essential initiatives like digital identification (Aadhaar) and payment infrastructure (UPI). It embodies a transformative approach driving innovation, inclusion, and competition at scale, under open, transparent, and participatory governance. It mirrors foundational systems like the internet and telecom, ensuring global information exchange and interoperability. Simply put, DPI is a set of technology building blocks fostering digital advancement and societal progress that is going to be one of the key elements in driving India towards a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2030 (Economic Times, 2024).

India’s journey with technology in the public domain traces back to the ’80s and ’90s, marked by disparate applications. Subsequently, infrastructure projects like state-wide area networks, Common Service Centres (CSCs), and State Data Centres (SDCs) were initiated, alongside Mission Mode Projects (MMPs), laying the groundwork for comprehensive digital infrastructure.

The inception of Aadhaar, a unique digital ID project, marked a pivotal moment in India’s digital journey. Aadhaar, offering authentication as a service, revolutionised service delivery by enabling identity verification for various transactions. Aadhaar’s success led to the development of complementary products like Digital Locker, eKYC, and e-Sign, along with the initiation of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), resulting in substantial government savings and efficiency gains.

A holistic understanding of DPI entails recognising its three integral layers: market, governance, and technology standards. The market layer fosters innovation through inclusive product design, while the governance layer establishes legal frameworks and public programmes to drive adoption. Technology standards, including those for identity, payments, and data sharing, ensure interoperability and the adoption of shared standards, defining DPI’s structure and functionality.

DPI strikes a balance between all-government and all-private approaches, leveraging public authority to manage frequently required services and components efficiently. By developing open protocols, shared platforms, and enabling policies, DPI creates an interoperable ecosystem, facilitating the integration of private sector innovations while ensuring public accountability and service delivery.

Security remains paramount in DPI, necessitating the establishment of secure pipelines for accessing services and robust frameworks for authentication and certification. The Aadhaar experience offers valuable insights into ensuring the safety of both infrastructure and applications. Scalability is inherent in DPI, reducing development costs and fostering a vibrant ecosystem of diverse applications.

India’s DPI success stories include Aadhaar, UPI, and CoWin, the backbone of the world’s largest vaccination program. Initiatives like the Unified Health Interface (UHI), the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and PM-WANI (providing affordable internet connectivity) reflect India’s commitment to leveraging DPI for societal benefit and inclusive growth.

India’s approach to DPI embodies scalability, interoperability, innovation, and frugality, setting a precedent for a digitally inclusive future. These are good case studies that can be replicated at scale, especially by developing countries, emerging economies, small island states, and even landlocked nations. More than a technological advancement, DPI represents a vision for societal transformation and inclusion that resonates globally. The India story of DPI serves as a testament to the nation’s dedication to harnessing technology for the greater good, inspiring nations worldwide to follow suit in fostering digital progress and inclusion.

Digital India

Launched in 2015, the Digital India programme encompasses a wide array of initiatives spanning various sectors, including infrastructure development, e-governance, digital literacy, and digital empowerment. With the vision of transforming the nation into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, the programme seeks to provide citizens with access to digital services, enhance efficiency and transparency in government processes, and promote digital inclusion across all sections of society.

The Digital India programme rests on several key pillars, each addressing specific aspects of India’s digital transformation: broadband highways, universal access to mobile connectivity, a public internet access programme, E-governance and service delivery, digital literacy, digital infrastructure, and the digital empowerment of citizens. Since its inception, the Digital India programme has made significant strides in advancing India’s digital transformation agenda.

  1. Reducing the Digital Divide: By increasing internet connectivity, Digital India has significantly contributed to the reduction of the digital divide between urban and rural areas. According to the most recent data sets available, infrastructure development—best demonstrated by the BharatNet project—has made broadband connections possible for over 1,72,000 village panchayats, enabling millions of rural Indians to use the internet for communication, education, and livelihood. When finished, this large-scale project would connect every 250,000 local gram panchayats, or 630,000 inhabited villages in India, to the internet, enabling access to ICTs through Community Development Blocks (CDB).
  1. The Data Revolution: In the last ten years, India has seen a revolution in the availability of reasonably priced smartphones and data plans. With 850 million broadband users as of July 2023, the nation has experienced the fastest growth in the globe, up roughly 250% from 2015. The average monthly data consumption per user in 2022 was 19.5 GB, while the monthly mobile data usage throughout India increased from 4.5 exabytes in 2018 to 14.4 exabytes in 2022. This is anticipated to quadruple by 2024 as a result of the implementation of 5G.
  1. Digital Payments: As a result of the Digital India initiative, there has been a notable change in the digital payments market. The adoption of systems such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has transformed financial transactions and service delivery, with over 82 billion digital transactions in 2023 alone. UPI transactions exceeded INR 14.3 trillion in a single month, surpassing the total value of all digital transactions in the entire fiscal year of 2015.
  1. Digital Governance and Service Delivery: Digital India has revolutionised government by utilising technology to improve openness, effectiveness, and public involvement in the process of providing services. Technology-infused government procedures have improved service delivery and enabled citizen-centric governance. Platforms like DigiLocker, e-Hospital, and e-Government Procurement (GeM) have streamlined processes, cut red tape, and opened up access to necessary services for everyone. The impact of the programme was demonstrated by the fact that e-transactions pertaining to government services exceeded $3 billion in FY 2021 alone.
  2. Workforce Reforms and Digital Skills: Digital literacy and skill development programmes are given a lot of attention in Digital India. Millions of people, particularly in rural regions, have been empowered with crucial digital skills through programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), allowing them to actively participate in the digital economy. The country’s workforce has been further reinforced by the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) and Skill India, which offer training in cutting-edge technology and promote entrepreneurship.

    6. Financial Inclusion: Through the JAM trinity, the Digital India Programme has been instrumental in advancing financial inclusion in India. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, among other initiatives, has ensured that financial services are accessible to the poorest citizens.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

India’s innovation ecosystem has witnessed significant growth in recent years, propelled by government initiatives and private sector participation. India is home to the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, with over 1.26 lakh startups across various sectors (Inc. 42, 2024). The government’s Startup India initiative has played a pivotal role in nurturing this ecosystem, providing startups with access to funding, mentorship, and regulatory support.

Startup India: The Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, has yielded promising results, with over 1.26 lakh startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and over $110 billion in investments raised by startups since its inception (Startup India, 2020; Inc42, 2024). The initiative offers various incentives, including tax exemptions, self-certification compliance, and faster patent examination, aimed at fostering a conducive environment for startups to thrive and innovate.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has been instrumental in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among students and educators. As of 2021, AIM has established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools across 35 states and union territories of India, providing over 4 million students with hands-on experience in tinkering and innovation (Jogi, 2023). Additionally, AIM’s Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) have supported over 2,000 startups, facilitating their growth and scale-up.

Research and Development (R&D) Initiatives: Investments in research and development (R&D) are crucial for driving innovation and technological advancement. India’s R&D expenditure has been steadily increasing, reaching approximately $70 billion in 2020 (World Bank, 2021). Government initiatives such as the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have been instrumental in funding and supporting R&D projects across various sectors.

Digital Innovation Hubs: Digital innovation hubs serve as collaborative spaces for startups, corporates, and investors to ideate, innovate, and co-create solutions. The Indian government’s Digital India programme has supported the establishment of over 200 incubators and accelerators, providing startups with access to infrastructure, mentorship, and funding (Digital India, 2020). These hubs have played a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship and driving innovation across sectors.

Impact on Economic Growth: The impact of innovation and entrepreneurship on economic growth is evident in India’s startup ecosystem’s rapid expansion. According to the Economic Survey (2021), the contribution of startups to India’s GDP is expected to increase from 0.5% in 2020 to 3.5% by 2025. By 2030, Indian startups would be contributing USD 1 trillion to the Indian economy (Aggarwal, 2024).

Figure 2: Contribution of startups to Indian startups from 2020 to 2030

Startups have also been significant contributors to job creation, with over 500,000 direct jobs created by startups in 2020 alone (NASSCOM, 2020) and a total of 12.42 lakh jobs by 2023 (PIB, 2024). In the year 2022, when the world was experiencing a funding crisis, startups in India attracted funding of over USD 42 billion. The number of DPIIT-recognised startups in India was 1,26,392 as of April 10, 2024, across 763 districts of the country, as per Invest India.

Challenges and Opportunities: Despite significant progress, some challenges still remain, which include access to funding, regulatory hurdles as law always plays catch-up where disruptive industries are concerned, and talent acquisition and retention as potential employees seek tried and tested stable organisations. According to a survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), access to early-stage funding remains a primary challenge for startups, with over 60% of startups citing it as a significant barrier (CII, 2021). Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academia to create an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.

Emerging Technologies

Democratising the Internet: The data revolution in India has been accelerated by government measures to improve digital access, especially in rural and isolated areas. The government sought to close the digital gap and give every citizen access to reasonably priced internet service through initiatives like Digital India and BharatNet. Because of the low cost of data plans, millions of Indians were able to access the internet, leading to a notable growth in internet penetration in the country. The data revolution was made possible by the democratisation of internet access, which made it possible for people and organisations to use data for a range of objectives, including government, commerce, and education.

Data Analysis: Leveraging data as a strategic asset to drive innovation and decision-making has been made possible in large part by the government’s focus on developing data analytics capabilities. The goal of initiatives like the National Data Analytics Portal (NDAP) and the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) was to make government data more easily accessible for public service delivery, research, and innovation. These initiatives, which offer a centralised platform for data analytics and encourage cross-sector data exchange, have made it possible to build data-driven solutions to tackle complicated problems in fields like urban planning, healthcare, and agriculture.

Edge computing and quantum computing: These have the potential to be revolutionary technologies, and the government, led by the Ministry of IT and Electronics, has moved to support research and development in these fields. The goal of the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications, as well as programmes like the Quantum Computing Applications Lab (QCAL), is to expedite the development of quantum computing applications and research. Analogously, initiatives to advance edge computing infrastructure—like the Edge Computing Initiative—have aimed to maximise edge computing’s potential to improve digital services’ effectiveness and performance, especially in places with poor connections.

AI and machine learning: These have become major forces behind innovation and economic growth, and the government has been instrumental in encouraging these technologies’ use and advancement. Under the National AI Mission, the Cabinet has approved an allocation of over Rs 10,300 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, marking a significant step towards bolstering India’s AI ecosystem (PIB, 2024a). To be deployed over the next five years, this financial outlay will support initiatives like the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC), IndiaAI Datasets Platform, IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Startup Financing, and Safe & Trusted AI (ibid.). With the Ministry of IT laying special emphasis on the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, which aims to erect a cutting-edge, scalable AI computing infrastructure by deploying over 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) through strategic public-private collaborations. Also notable is the IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC), which will emerge as a leading academic institution, ensuring streamlined implementation and retention of top research talent for the country. The IndiaAI Mission comes with a very comprehensive vision, and together, these initiatives aim to bolster India’s global leadership in AI, foster technological self-reliance, and ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment. One of the key concerns around global models has been the availability of local data sets and Indian nuances and cultural contexts. The IndiaAI Datasets Platform, will be developed by the Independent Business Division (IBD) of IndiaAI and will aim to democratise the benefits of AI across all strata of society, practising true Antodaya, serving even the last mile, and leaving no one behind (ibid.). AI is being labelled the world over as the biggest disruptor, and India will achieve a level playing field by ensuring that both in practice and policy it is able to usher in a paradigm shift.

The goal of initiatives like the AI for All programme and the National AI Strategy is to promote the adoption, development, and research of AI technology across a variety of industries. The government has aided in the development of AI firms and ecosystems by offering capital, infrastructure, and policy support. This has spurred innovation in sectors like cybersecurity, agriculture, and healthcare as well.

AI’s global market size by 2030 will be over USD 1812 billion, and by 2035, it is projected that AI will contribute approximately USD 967 billion to the Indian economy. By 2025, it is estimated to add around USD 500 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), constituting about 10% of the country’s aim to achieve a USD 5 trillion GDP (Indian Express, 2023). There is potential to add USD 359  to 438 billion to India’s GDP on account of Gen AI adoption in 2029-30, over and above its baseline estimates (EY Report, 2023). For a country like India, AI has vast use cases across agritech, healthtech, fintech, edtech, manufacturing, and SMBs and can vastly add value to our engineering talent, marrying India’s unique strengths of culture, content, and creativity. It’s a visionary leader defining the path ahead to challenging technology that works for good.

Viksit Bharat 2047: Vision and Way Forward

With a clear focus on realising the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) by 2047, the government has laid out a comprehensive plan aimed at empowering citizens and fostering a sustainable economy. This section outlines the key pillars and strategies envisioned to achieve this ambitious goal.

The empowerment of citizens via social welfare programmes, skill development, and education is at the core of the Viksit Bharat goal. In order to produce a qualified workforce that can spur innovation and productivity, the government wants to guarantee that everyone has access to high-quality healthcare and education. Targeted interventions will also be implemented to promote inclusive growth and development by bridging socioeconomic gaps and elevating marginalised communities.

The creation of a sustainable economy that strikes a balance between social justice, environmental preservation, and economic growth is essential to the Viksit Bharat ideal. To reduce climate change and increase resilience to environmental issues, the government will give green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable agricultural methods a priority. Efforts will be made to promote responsible consumption and production patterns, ensuring the efficient use of resources and minimising environmental impact. The recent initiatives like the PM SuryaGhar Yojana, which subsidises and promotes individual rooftop solar connections, have not just seen a massive surge in registrations, but have also led to a bottom-up movement about green and clean energy amongst the citizens, where all stakeholders, including startups, are pitching in to do their bit.

India’s ability to use innovation and technology to its advantage will determine how developed the country becomes. In terms of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space exploration, India is envisioned as a worldwide leader under the Viksit Bharat vision. In order to achieve this goal, the government will fund R&D, encourage industry-academia cooperation, and establish an environment that is supportive of innovation and entrepreneurship. India wants to increase its competitiveness in the global market and promote inclusive growth by utilising technology for social and economic transformation. Moving forward, putting the initiatives in the vision paper into practice and overcoming obstacles in the way of progress will require sustained engagement with the corporate sector, foreign partners, and civil society.

The Viksit Bharat vision, which is based on the ideas of empowerment, sustainability, and innovation, offers an ambitious and aspirational development blueprint for India. India is positioned to fulfil its potential as a developed country and become a major player in the world economy in the twenty-first century by investing in its people, developing a sustainable economy, and embracing technology and teamwork.

Viksit Bharat with STRIDE

To achieve the Viksit Bharat dream, we will have to implement a STRIDE model of transformation. As senior stakeholders hold planning meetings for the next 100 day vision plan for the new government, the proposed model will be a good addition to take into ‘stride’. Figure 3 depicts the STRIDE model as it would be applicable to India’s vision of becoming a developed country. The model focuses on six priority pillars:

  • S: Startups: There is a need for around 5 lakh innovative startups and supporting the growth of these startups will enable them to innovate and achieve their potential.
  • T: Technology and Innovation: Emerging technology and innovation need to be leveraged to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness across industries.
  • R: Research and Development: Investments will be required for research and development to foster innovation and advance scientific and technological capabilities. A fund of funds may provide a much-needed shot in the arm.
  • I: Infrastructure: Pervasive world-class infrastructure will be needed to improve quality of life and deploy the best tech products and services.
  • D: Deployment and adoption: Comprehensive implementation and widespread adoption of advanced solutions to transform industries and society will be required.
  • E: Enhancing skills and capacity: The workforce will need to be upskilled and trained to meet the requirements of jobs in the future.

Figure 3: STRIDE model of transformation that will help India achieve the 2047 Viksit Bharat vision by Dr. Subi Chaturvedi

In order to realise the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, a comprehensive plan for revolutionary development is offered through the STRIDE model. By promoting both economic growth and the general well-being of our citizens, this integrated approach would pave the way for India’s ascent to prominence in the world economy by 2047, where both development and growth go hand in hand, taking inspiration and being propelled from the Prime Minister’s Panch Pran which include, above all, throwing away the subservient, conformist mindset, asking the right questions, leaving the baggage from the past behind while learning from history, embracing tradition with modernity, and dreaming to our fullest potential while doing right by our nation, putting our fellow Indians first and our country above all.

 

Author Brief Bio: Dr Subi Chaturvedi, is a distinguished public policy professional, an AI tech policy expert, and a former member of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum, MAG. She is currently the Global SVP, Chief Corporate Affairs & Public Policy Officer, InMobi and FICCI Chair Women in Technology, Policy & Leadership.

 

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World Bank. (2024). World Development Indicators Database. Retrieved from https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators on 20 March 2024

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