Lay foundation for inclusive growth

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?

- BVR SUBRAHMANYAM DEBJANI GHOSH

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.