NEW DELHI, May 31: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Sunday said that the past 12 years of technological progress have laid a strong foundation for India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, asserting that the country has moved from being a technology follower to a technology leader under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking during a podcast with Doordarshan News, the Minister said India, which earlier adopted technologies developed abroad after a time lag, is now actively contributing to global innovation and helping shape frontier technologies.
He said this shift has significantly transformed India’s position in the global scientific ecosystem, with advancements in sectors such as space, nuclear energy, quantum technologies, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and clean energy.
Dr Singh highlighted that reforms encouraging private participation have strengthened India’s space sector, with the number of space startups rising sharply and the space economy poised for rapid expansion. He added that space technologies are now widely used in governance, disaster management, agriculture and communication systems.
Referring to nuclear energy, he described the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor as a major milestone in India’s long-term energy roadmap, adding that recent policy reforms are opening new opportunities for private sector involvement in advanced energy technologies.
On quantum technology, the Minister said India has already achieved nearly half of its targeted quantum communication network under the National Quantum Mission, strengthening capabilities in secure communications and defence infrastructure.
He also noted significant progress in biotechnology under the BioE3 Policy, including genome research, rare disease treatment, gene therapy and indigenous drug development, which he said will drive future industrial transformation.
Highlighting the role of artificial intelligence, Dr Singh said AI is reshaping governance, healthcare, agriculture and scientific research, while the IndiaAI Mission is building a strong digital ecosystem through infrastructure and innovation support.
He further said India’s startup ecosystem, patent filings and scientific output have grown substantially over the last decade, reflecting the country’s emergence as a global innovation hub rather than just a consumer of technology.
On clean energy, he said India is pursuing a diversified approach including nuclear power, solar energy, green hydrogen and ocean-based energy systems, aligned with its net-zero commitment by 2070.
Concluding, Dr Singh said the last 12 years mark only the beginning of India’s larger transformation towards becoming a leading knowledge economy by 2047.
