India looks to cut critical tech dependencies over 20-25 years, build resilience: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India is adopting a 20-25-year roadmap to reduce critical technology dependencies and strengthen its resilience against geopolitical and economic disruptions, Union IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. The strategy focuses on developing domestic capabilities in strategically important sectors while positioning India as a trusted partner in global technology supply chains.

“Things change, politics change, geopolitics play a big role, so we have to constantly calibrate our approach, and we in India are thinking at least 20 years ahead,” Vaishnaw said.

The minister outlined short-term goals spanning three to five years, medium-term targets of five to 15 years and long-term objectives covering 20 to 25 years. The approach reflects the government's effort to identify strategic dependencies that could expose Indian manufacturing and the wider economy to changing trade policies and geopolitical tensions.

Semiconductor push extends beyond chip manufacturing

Vaishnaw emphasised the need to build an end-to-end semiconductor ecosystem, including materials, chemicals, industrial gases and substrate materials, alongside chip design and fabrication. He said the second phase of India's semiconductor programme places greater emphasis on these inputs, which are essential to establishing a sustainable domestic manufacturing base.

“Without ecosystem, no manufacturing effort will ever pay off,” he said.

India's semiconductor ambitions have attracted investment interest, with global and domestic investors pledging as much as $12 billion following the launch of the government's new semiconductor policy.

Citing the mobile phone industry, Vaishnaw said India had progressed from assembly towards manufacturing modules and components, with some locally produced components now being exported.

Indigenous telecom technology, R&D in focus

The minister highlighted the development of India's end-to-end 4G telecom stack through government-private sector collaboration. Developed in three-and-a-half years, the system has been deployed on more than 100,000 towers, he said.

Vaishnaw also called for higher research and development spending and better allocation of funds, particularly towards applied research, to strengthen India's technological capabilities.

AI disruption raises economic concerns

Vaishnaw warned that artificial intelligence could trigger significant changes in employment, particularly in services, while mounting debt in advanced economies could add to global financial instability.

He said India was preparing to strengthen its financial, economic and technological resilience. The country's public debt-to-GDP ratio had declined from 61% to 55% over the past five years, he added.

The discussion also featured Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins, who said India's strategy of developing critical capabilities while collaborating with trusted companies offered a practical route towards technology sovereignty.