By BVR Subrahmanyam & Debjani Ghosh
Every generation is given one defining opportunity to shape the future of its nation. For India, that moment is now. As we march towards our goal of becoming a $30-trillion economy by 2047, we must pause to ask ourselves: growth for whom? Will our progress truly include every Indian, or will millions remain on the
margins of the digital economy that we are building?
When we began the journey to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and frontier technologies could impact India’s informal workforce—nearly 490 million people who form the backbone of our economy—we quickly realised how invisible this segment remains in most global narratives on technology and growth.
There were countless reports on AI’s impact on productivity or white-collar jobs, but almost none asked how these very technologies could uplift the carpenter, the street vendor, the weaver, or the gig worker who powers our everyday lives.
Why inclusion must be the starting point
The AI for Inclusive Societal Development road map, launched by NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub, was born out of this realisation. It is our collective attempt to shift the conversation—from the future of work for the few, to the future of dignity for the many.
The informal sector contributes nearly half of India’s GDP, yet its workers face low productivity, uncertain livelihoods, and minimal access to formal training or finance. Despite landmark initiatives—e-Shram, PM Vishwakarma, Skill India—too many programmes still function in silos. The result is fragmentation, duplication, and lost potential.
To address these challenges, the road map proposes a National Digital ShramSetu Mission that envisions a single, seamless digital bridge that harnesses the power of technology to connect every worker to identity, trust, finance, skilling, and opportunity. It aims not to replace existing efforts but to weave them together—into one living, breathing ecosystem of empowerment.
Silos to a whole of government approach
The challenge before us is not the lack of intent, but the absence of integration. Ministries, institutions, and innovators across India are already doing remarkable work—but too often in isolation.
If we are to truly transform lives, we must move from fragmented efforts to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The government must act as the catalyst and convener. Industry must bring innovation and scale. Academia must lead problem-driven research. Civil society must ensure that no one—especially the most vulnerable—is left behind.
Only such collaboration at scale can deliver the tenfold productivity leap we envision by 2047. Only then can technology translate into transformation.
From ‘Make in India’ to ‘Invent in India’
Inclusion cannot depend on imported innovation. If India is to lead in inclusive technology, we must be the creators—not just consumers—of solutions that understand our realities and languages. That means making a decisive shift from Make in India to Invent in India. We must invest in R&D that designs affordable, intuitive tools for the informal sector; we have to reimagine growth from the ground up.
Skilling as a path to dignity
Technology can empower only when people are equipped to use it. Imagine an India where every ITI is a hub of AI-enabled learning—where a young plumber or tailor can learn using augmented reality/virtual reality simulations, reskill at their own pace, in their own language, and with pride in their craft. This is how we bridge not just the digital divide, but also the dignity divide.
Shared responsibility
We are convinced that India’s growth story must be written not only in GDP numbers but in human stories—stories of the millions who rise every day to build our nation with their hands, their skills, and their spirit.
If we can collaborate with intent, invest in indigenous R&D, and empower every worker with skills and opportunity, then Viksit Bharat 2047 will be a reality that the world looks up to: a nation where technology doesn’t just drive growth of a few, but creates dignity, opportunity, and empowerment for every Indian.
BVR Subrahmanyam & Debjani Ghosh are respectively CEO and distinguished fellow at NITI Aayog.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of FinancialExpress.com. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.