AI a Cross-Cutting Technology That Can Transform Lives and Accelerate India’s Progress towards Viksit Bharat 2047: MeitY Secretary
S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, speaks at a high-level panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 in New Delhi on Wednesday.
New Delhi, November 6: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) hosted a high-level panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence at the Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, highlighting India’s vision to build a safe, inclusive, and innovation-driven AI ecosystem under the IndiaAI Mission.
Chaired by S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, the session brought together deep-tech leaders, researchers, and industry experts to deliberate on the country’s roadmap for responsible AI innovation, governance, and global leadership.
AI as a Horizontal Technology for Development
In his opening remarks, Krishnan said, “The critical aspect of all technology is the impact it has on society — how it enhances quality of life and benefits people. For India, this is truly an opportunity to leverage a horizontal, cross-cutting technology like AI to ensure the country is firmly on the path to becoming Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
He emphasized that AI’s potential lies in its ability to transform multiple sectors simultaneously — from healthcare and education to agriculture, manufacturing, and governance — driving both economic growth and social equity.
IndiaAI Mission: Building a World-Class AI Ecosystem
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY and CEO, IndiaAI Mission, outlined the seven-pillar strategy of the IndiaAI Mission, designed to bridge existing gaps in computing infrastructure, datasets, and startup enablement.
“To unlock pathways for AI innovation, the Mission is addressing all gaps in our story. With affordable computing, quality datasets, foundation models, startup support, and tools for safe and trustworthy AI, we’re building an ecosystem that enables India to catch up with the best in the world,” he said. “Our goal is to develop AI applications that not only serve India’s needs but also set global benchmarks for innovation, ethics, and trust.”
Experts Call for Indigenous Innovation and Responsible AI
Sharing his perspective on India’s unique innovation approach, Dr Sridhar Vembu, Co-founder and Chief Scientist, Zoho Corporation, said resource constraints can drive new scientific breakthroughs. “When you don’t have all resources available, those very constraints push you to come up with better solutions. I believe there is new science waiting to be discovered — a completely different foundation that could change how we approach these problems,” he said.
Dr Geeta Manjunath, CEO of Niramai Health Analytix, highlighted AI’s role in democratizing healthcare through early breast cancer detection, while Dr Sriram Raghavan of IBM Research underscored the importance of open innovation ecosystems to accelerate AI development.
Dr Amit Sheth, AI Institute, University of South Carolina, emphasized the evolution from generic AI to purpose-driven, domain-specific systems that boost productivity in sectors like energy and manufacturing.
Panel on Responsible AI for Innovation and Inclusion
A panel discussion on “Responsible AI for Innovation and Inclusion”, moderated by Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Co-founder, DeepTech for Bharat Foundation, featured key voices from academia and industry including Prof. Balaraman Ravindran (IIT Madras), Debjani Ghosh (NITI Aayog), Dr Harrick Vin (TCS), Dr Rimjhim Agrawal (BrainSightAI), Abhishek Singh (MeitY), and Prof. P. Venkat Rangan (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham).
The panel stressed the need for ethical governance, indigenous models, global partnerships, and digital infrastructure expansion to ensure AI’s growth aligns with India’s developmental priorities and inclusion goals.
Towards Responsible, Human-Centric AI
The session concluded with a shared commitment to ensuring that AI innovation remains human-centric, trustworthy, and globally competitive, reinforcing India’s position as a leader in the responsible and inclusive AI movement ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026.
