As global technology giants increase their investments in India — from Anthropic opening its Bengaluru office to Graphcore committing a billion-pound investment — the government aims to position India not merely as a consumer of foreign innovation, but as a hub for creating it.
At the heart of this vision is a drive to transform India into a “product nation”, developing homegrown solutions capable of competing with the world’s best.
In a wide-ranging conversation on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan discusses how India plans to foster domestic tech champions, build capacity in emerging fields like AI and semiconductors, and promote global competitiveness over protectionism.
Edited excerpts:
Q: It’s been a landmark week for IndiaAI, with companies like Anthropic opening their Bengaluru office and Graphcore pledging a billion pounds over the next decade. Google is also expected to announce a major investment soon. How do you view all this activity?
India’s tech ambition: Building a “product nation”
As India becomes a hub for global tech investments — from Anthropic opening its Bengaluru office to Graphcore committing a billion pounds — the government is focused on ensuring the country is not just a consumer of innovation but a creator of it. At the heart of this vision is making India a “product nation”, with homegrown solutions capable of competing globally.
Foundational technologies and convergence
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan highlights that India is experiencing a crucial inflection point, driven by convergence across sectors. Events like the India Mobile Congress and the Global Fintech Festival show technology interlinking with telecom, finance, and beyond. Two foundational horizontal technologies — semiconductors and artificial intelligence — are at the core, enabling data-driven productivity and innovation.
India is increasingly recognized as a talent powerhouse fueling global innovation, as well as a market where technology can drive economic and social good.
From user to creator
While India has historically been a large user base for global tech giants like Google, Meta, and X, the government is focused on producing world-class Indian products and services, not just software services. Examples include the NIC email system moving to Zoho, demonstrating that Indian companies can match global standards in quality and reliability. Startups are also creating alternatives in messaging, conferencing, and productivity tools, providing healthy competition and choice.
Supporting Indian products
Krishnan clarifies that the government’s push is broad-based, not favoring any single company. Initiatives aim to scale and enhance Indian offerings to meet global standards, encouraging market-driven adoption rather than protectionism. Competitiveness, not geopolitics, is the guiding principle — the focus is on globally competitive products.
Regulatory and infrastructure updates
- Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules: Completed internal feedback integration; now undergoing legal vetting.
- ISM 2.0: Active development in line with Prime Minister’s vision.
- Electronic Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Received proposals worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore; funds will be allocated to projects demonstrating quick implementation.
- IndiaAI foundation models: 12 companies selected; first model, likely Sarvam, expected by year-end.
AI strategy and talent retention
Krishnan notes that India’s strength lies in the application layer of AI, which is where real-world impact occurs. Being slightly behind allows India to learn from others’ mistakes and focus on efficient use cases.
The government is also actively working to retain and attract talent, through programs under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and other initiatives, creating incentives for top talent to stay or return to India.
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