India is expected to play an important role in the next industrial revolution, which will be driven largely by artificial intelligence and biotechnology, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said.
Speaking at a media conclave attended by technology developers, industry leaders and other stakeholders, Dr Jitendra Singh said India was late in becoming part of the previous industrial revolution, which was largely driven by information technology. He said the country is now better placed to participate in the next phase of technological development.
India is among the few countries with a dedicated biotechnology policy, BioE3, or Biotechnology for Economy, Employment and Environment. The country has also launched the National Quantum Mission and India AI Mission and has made significant progress in space and other emerging technologies.
Dr Jitendra Singh said biotechnology is expected to have a growing role in areas such as medical science, agriculture and food production. He also pointed to the growing importance of the circular economy, recycling and other technology driven sectors as the global economy changes.
India’s space economy continues to expand
The Minister highlighted the growth of India’s space sector following the opening of the industry to private participation in 2020. India’s space economy, which was earlier almost negligible, has now grown to around USD 9 billion and is projected to reach USD 40 billion to USD 45 billion over the next eight to nine years.
He cited the growth of Indian space startups as an example of the change. Several companies have developed rockets and some have achieved unicorn status within a few years.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to India’s achievements in space science, including the Chandrayaan mission’s detection of evidence of water molecules on the Moon. He said India has always had scientific talent and capability, but a supportive policy environment was needed to convert these strengths into results.
Greater role for private sector
The Minister said the government is increasingly bringing private companies into areas that were earlier largely outside the scope of private enterprise. He pointed to the opening of the space sector and the move to allow private participation in the nuclear sector.
He said industry will need to prepare itself for these emerging areas and develop the capabilities needed to participate in them.
Dr Jitendra Singh also said India has limited time to prepare for the opportunities linked to its 2047 vision. He stressed that every sector will need to evolve and that closer cooperation between the government and private sector will be important.
Technology expands access to education and entrepreneurship
The Minister also highlighted how digital technology is expanding access to education, particularly for young people outside major cities. He recalled meeting a student from a financially constrained family who cleared IIT JEE using digital learning resources.
He said India’s startup ecosystem also shows how technology is enabling young entrepreneurs from smaller towns to build businesses and access wider markets.
Dr Jitendra Singh further spoke about government efforts to remove outdated laws and procedures. He said nearly 2,000 obsolete laws have been removed. He also referred to reforms related to family pension rights for single daughters, nomination rights for women government employees and pension provisions for families of employees who die before completing ten years of service.
The government has also removed the requirement for gazetted officer attestation for a large number of documents, a move the Minister said reflected greater trust in citizens and young people.
Dr Jitendra Singh said India must move from being a technology follower to a country whose capabilities and innovations can be adopted globally. He called for greater cooperation between government and industry, with both sides learning from each other and working with greater synergy.
He said a “whole of government plus whole of nation” approach will be important for India to achieve its wider technological, economic and developmental goals.
