India’s linguistic diversity strengthens its AI ambitions: Dharmendra Pradhan
Describing technology as a strategic driver of national transformation, India's education minister said estimates indicate AI could add nearly $1.7 trillion to the country's economy by 2035.
India’s linguistic and socio-cultural diversity is a strength in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday, adding that solutions built for Indian conditions in healthcare, education and agriculture can also benefit regions such as Africa and Latin America.
India’s focus on AI has gathered pace in recent years, with the government positioning it as a key enabler of inclusive growth and public service delivery. Policy initiatives have increasingly emphasised strengthening domestic research capacity, expanding access to computing infrastructure, and developing multilingual, context-aware AI systems.
Public institutions, startups, and global technology firms are collaborating more closely to build applications suited for large and diverse populations, in line with India’s broader digital public infrastructure framework.
Describing technology as a strategic driver of national transformation, the minister said estimates indicate AI could add nearly $1.7 trillion to India’s economy by 2035.
“But AI is not only about economic value; it is about national capability, about whether we create technology or merely consume it. ‘Viksit Bharat’ cannot be built on borrowed ideas; it must be built on original research and institutional confidence, and the ability to solve problems at scale,” Pradhan said while speaking at Google’s ‘Lab to Impact’ event.
In the context of emerging technologies, the Swadeshi spirit (Make in India) means that data, language and research priorities are shaped by Indian realities, even as India remains a global collaborator and contributor, he added.
“India’s diversity—linguistic, cultural and socio-economic—is often described as a challenge, but in the context of AI, it is a strength. When AI systems can work for India, they can work for the world,” Pradhan said.
Crediting India’s institutions with extraordinary talent and discipline, the minister said the priority was to ensure this talent is supported by strong research systems, stable funding and long-term institutional frameworks.
He noted India’s transition into a “technology shaper” and said solutions developed for Indian farmers, healthcare workers and students could be adopted across developing regions, including Africa and Latin America.
(With inputs from PTI.)