Competing with the dragon

India should take inspiration from the Chinese playbook, but not copy it. It needs to innovate, powered by a clear vision

- M MUNEER

THE VIKSIT BHARAT vision aspires towards a $30 trillion economy by 2047—yet, barring bold recalibrations, experts peg the timeline of crossing that milestone closer to 2050. Meanwhile, China races ahead, predicted to touch $42 trillion by then. Once dismissed as a low-cost, copycat factory floor, China has stealthily morphed into a deep-tech juggernaut—leading in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotech, and green energy. This transformation is no accident; it's the product of architected statecraft, strategic investments, and a techn-onationalist vision.

India now stands at a significant crossroads. It boasts of a formidable youth bulge, a globally entrenched diaspora, and a vibrant digital backbone. Yet, it lacks a DeepSeek moment. While the Chinese playbook holds critical cues, mimicry alone won't suffice. What India needs is not imitation, but intentional innovation powered by clarity of vision and consistency of execution. A closer look at the Chinese techno-ascendancy reveals six major planks of policy thrust:

Techno-nationalist industrial policy: In 2015, China launched the "Made in China 2025" industrial strategy, aimed towards dominating ten core technology sectors. From subsidies and tax incentives to state-backed venture capital, the government push led to the rise of behemoths like DJI (drones), Huawei (telecom), and SenseTime (AI). It took a decade to see tangible results, which included strategic decoupling from foreign tech dependencies, acceleration of indigenous innovation, and global tech leadership.