India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, said on Friday that the country must focus on developing its own advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to avoid dependence on other nations for technological progress.
Addressing the second editon of the Startup Mahakumbh’ event in New Delhi, Kant emphasized that India should maintain its technological independence and create frontier technologies that reflect the country’s unique culture and identity.
He stressed that India must not become a “technological colony” of the West or any other country. Instead, the nation should prioritize innovation that is agile, energy-efficient, and cost-effective.
“It is crucial for India to maintain its sovereignty in technological advancement and lead from the front. We must not become a technological colony of either the West or any other country. Instead, we must continue to innovate in a nimble, energy-efficient, and cost-effective manner,” Kant said.
“India’s startup story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that defines New India. When we launched the Startup India Initiative in 2016, our goal was to build an ecosystem that fosters innovation, provides financial support, and nurtures young businesses. In just nine years, we have witnessed an explosion in startup activity,” he added.
The number of recognized startups in India has surged from 400 in 2016 to over 161,000 in 2025. “Let us continue this momentum, ensuring that innovation remains at the heart of India’s growth story,” Kant stressed.
He also highlighted the importance of leveraging India’s vast data sets to create advanced technologies. He stressed that the country must go beyond merely applying AI and instead develop complete AI systems that are free from the biases present in Western models.
“We must build sovereign frontier models based on our own data sets, free from the inherent biases of the West. We need to establish an end-to-end AI ecosystem, not just the application layer,” Kant said.
He urged Indian startups to explore emerging sectors such as AI, machine learning, blockchain, big data, cybersecurity, space technology, and semiconductors.
According to Kant, these sectors will propel future innovation and establish India as a global leader in deep technology. “India’s future lies in becoming a champion of deep tech,” he said.
Kant’s remarks echoed similar sentiments expressed a day earlier by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who had encouraged Indian startups to invest in deep tech, robotics, and next-generation industries.
-IANS
