India’s inclusive innovation can shape the world’s digital future
Our experience with tech solutions built from the bottom upwards and at scale could guide the use of AI for public purposes
is president of Nasscom.
At a time when the world is grappling with shifting global narratives and macroeconomic challenges, India is experiencing a remarkable transformation. Strong demand, resilient supply chains, relentless innovation, rapid digitization at scale, energetic entrepreneurship and a conducive policy-and-investment climate are shaping a new wave of global optimism over India. From governments across Europe and the US to power centres in the Global South, India’s name resonates in discussions on alliances and strategic partnerships. ‘Incredible India’ is now being seen as ‘Inevitable India.’
Hence, it’s no surprise that Goldman Sachs forecasts that India could become the world’s secondlargest economy by 2075, with its GDP potentially reaching $52.5 trillion, trailing only China’s projected $57 trillion. EY predicts that India’s GDP will grow sixfold to $26 trillion by 2047, the 100th year of Independence, while Martin Wolf of the
sees India’s purchasing power surpassing that of the US by 30% by 2050.
But the narrative of an ‘Inevitable India’ isn’t just about numbers. It’s about a qualitative and inclusive digital transformation reshaping the nation’s social, economic and cultural fabric. With over 1.2 billion internet users, the third-largest startup ecosystem, a $250 billion technology industry and a 5 million-plus technology workforce, India is transforming itself into a young, vibrant and tech-savvy digital economy where no one is left behind. That is the real highlight of India.
Innovation in the West often caters to the top of the pyramid, focusing on the best before trying to reach out to the rest. India, however, has forged its own path in innovation, starting from the bottom and working its way up. This approach is incredibly challenging, especially given the complexities of a billion-plus population, diverse languages and cultures, and high levels of illiteracy at the grassroots. Many experts dismissed it as a ‘Mission Impossible.’ Yet, India has defied those odds to make it possible.
Over the past decade, India has invested well in creating the world’s largest Digital Public Good (DPI) infrastructure, establishing digital highways that connect the entire country and facilitate the delivery of essential services—from financial transfers to life-saving vaccines. This infrastructure is built on robust design principles, emphasizing interoperability, an open ecosystem and inclusive scalability from the outset.
India’s DPI could serve as a valuable case study for the world on how best to build inclusive technology in this age of artificial intelligence (AI). It demonstrates the importance of prioritizing open ecosystem-driven approaches (making it hard for monopolies to emerge), interoperability and inclusivity right from the start. This has become even more essential as AI continues to