Initiatives aim to accelerate GDP growth, foster innovation, and position India as a global tech leader

New Delhi, September 15, 2025:

Marking a decisive step toward India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, NITI Aayog today launched two flagship initiatives under its Frontier Tech Hub: the “AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap: Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth” and the “NITI Frontier Tech Repository.” The launch event, attended by Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, underscored the government’s focus on harnessing cutting-edge technologies to transform India’s growth trajectory.

The AI Roadmap, developed with insights from McKinsey & Company and an Expert Council of industry leaders including Tata Sons’ N. Chandrasekaran and Biocon’s Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, lays out a pragmatic strategy to unlock $500–600 billion in additional GDP by 2035. It identifies two key levers: rapid AI adoption across industries such as banking and manufacturing to boost efficiency and reduce costs, and leveraging generative AI in R&D to drive breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors. Together, these could close 50–65% of the growth gap needed to sustain 8% annual GDP growth.

Speaking at the launch, Smt. Sitharaman called for district-level AI adoption to ensure equitable development, likening the Frontier Tech Hub to a “honeycomb” connecting government, industry, and innovators. Shri Vaishnaw described AI as a transformative force that will “fundamentally change the way we work and live,” instilling new confidence in India’s youth.

Complementing the roadmap, the Frontier Tech Repository (frontiertech.niti.gov.in) showcases 200+ real-world use cases in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, and defense. Highlights include drones cutting farm input costs by 80%, AI diagnostics screening 20 million patients with 99% accuracy, and classroom AI solutions transforming rural education. The platform also features an interactive AI-powered assistant for sector-specific insights, making it a dynamic tool for problem-solving rather than just a catalog.

NITI Aayog CEO Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam announced two supporting programs: the Frontier 50 Initiative to empower aspirational districts with tech use cases, and the NITI Frontier Tech Impact Awards to recognize states delivering measurable improvements through technology.

Emphasizing urgency, Shri Subrahmanyam said, “Achieving 8% growth requires a seismic shift in productivity and innovation—this roadmap provides the blueprint, and the repository shows what works on the ground.”

The event brought together policymakers, startup founders, district administrators, and industry leaders, signaling a unified push toward inclusive, tech-enabled growth. Backed by the India AI Mission’s ₹10,000 crore investment, the initiatives aim to future-proof jobs, strengthen supply chains, and establish India as the data capital of the world.