Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined an expansive roadmap for artificial intelligence, positioning it at the heart of India’s transformation into a developed country by 2047.
Speaking on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi with news agency ANI, he framed the technological shift as a defining moment, noting, "Today, AI stands at a civilisational inflection point."
Anchoring the summit around the civilisational maxim "Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhaye", he described the purpose of innovation as "Welfare for All, Happiness of All".
According to him, digital advancement must serve humanity rather than overshadow it. The Prime Minister stressed that the real objective is ensuring that progress touches every segment of society, particularly those often left out of technological revolutions.
AI and the 2047 development goal
Linking artificial intelligence directly to India’s long-term national ambition, PM Modi said, "It is AI that genuinely empowers citizens and accelerates India's journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047," underlining that the focus is not technology for its own sake but meaningful empowerment.
He pointed to practical examples already visible across sectors. From early diagnosis of tuberculosis and diabetic retinopathy at grassroots health centres to customised learning tools in Indian languages for students in rural schools, AI applications are being integrated into daily governance.
He also cited initiatives in dairy and farming, where technology is guiding women producers and helping cultivators with soil and weather insights. Even preservation of ancient manuscripts is benefiting from digital tools.
For Modi, these efforts reflect a deliberate strategy to bridge social and geographic divides rather than widen them.
Building sovereign and inclusive systems
Addressing concerns about bias, the Prime Minister acknowledged that AI systems can mirror social inequalities if not carefully designed.
He observed that datasets rooted mainly in English or urban contexts may fail diverse populations. As a corrective, India is encouraging broader representation in data and research to reflect linguistic and cultural variety, he said.
On the global stage, he advocated collaborative frameworks to ensure safety and accountability. He said that human oversight must remain central and called for safeguards against misuse, including deepfakes and criminal exploitation.
The Aatmanirbhar AI ambition
Positioning artificial intelligence within the larger Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, PM Modi said the country must evolve from a consumer to a creator of advanced systems.
He declared, "India should be among the top three AI superpowers globally," highlighting aspirations that extend beyond domestic deployment to worldwide influence.
His three-fold approach -- sovereignty, inclusivity and innovation -- rests on strengthening domestic compute capacity, encouraging startups, supporting research institutions and expanding digital skills. He expressed confidence that India’s youth will shape solutions tailored to local realities while competing internationally.
While acknowledging apprehensions about job displacement, he maintained that technological shifts historically generate new opportunities. With targeted skilling and re-skilling, he argued, India’s demographic dividend can thrive in the AI era.
(With inputs from ANI)
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