NITI Aayog has launched two transformative initiatives: the AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap: Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth and the NITI Frontier Tech Repository under its Frontier Tech Hub. The roadmap was unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, alongside Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Bery, CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, and IT Secretary S. Krishnan.

Addressing the launch, Sitharaman highlighted the need for AI adoption across all districts to drive inclusive development and emphasised the importance of collaborative ecosystems linking government, industry, and innovators. Vaishnaw added that AI will fundamentally transform work and life, instilling confidence in India’s youth to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The roadmap provides a practical action plan to convert AI’s promise into measurable outcomes, focusing on two key levers: accelerating AI adoption across industries to enhance productivity, and leveraging generative AI in R&D to foster innovation-led growth.

The Frontier Tech Repository complements the roadmap by showcasing over 200 impact stories across agriculture, healthcare, education, and national security, demonstrating how states and startups are deploying technology to transform livelihoods.

NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam stressed that achieving India’s 8 per cent growth target requires a seismic shift in productivity and innovation, with AI as a key driver. Two additional initiatives were announced: the Frontier 50 Initiative, supporting 50 aspirational districts and blocks to deploy frontier technologies from the repository, and the NITI Frontier Tech Impact Awards, recognising three states excelling in technology-driven governance, education, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Debjani Ghosh, Chief Architect of the Frontier Tech Hub, observed that upcoming technological shifts may be even more disruptive than AI, urging early anticipation and strategic planning to strengthen supply chains, set global standards, and foster strong alliances.