INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Engineering will drive India's journey to 2047, powering infrastructure, decarbonisation, and manufacturing

- By Vivek Bhatia

AS INDIA MARCHES TOWARD ITS 100th year of independence in 2047, it stands at a unique inflexion point. With aspirations to emerge as a trillion-dollar economy and a global manufacturing powerhouse, the choices we make today regarding how we design, build, and innovate will shape our economic and environmental destiny. Engineering, as both a discipline and a mindset, lies at the heart of this transformation. It is not just the foundation of infrastructure and industrial growth, but also a vital enabler of sustainability, productivity, and self-reliance.

Engineering Growth

India's infrastructure has undergone a remarkable shift in the past two decades, but the road to 2047 requires a scale and speed of transformation that is unprecedented. Engineering is the invisible force that underpins every expressway we lay, every manufacturing facility we build, and every smart city we imagine. From civil and mechanical to electrical and digital engineering, every field is now converging to power India's next phase of development.

New-age tools like digital twins, 3D printing, automation, and modular construction are dramatically improving the speed, quality, and sustainability of infrastructure projects. The integration of AI, IoT, and predictive analytics is making systems smarter while reducing cost overruns and carbon footprints. For India to become truly future-ready, it must institutionalise engineering-led thinking not just at the execution level, but in policymaking, urban planning, and industrial strategy.