Catalyzing India’s Tech Trinity—AI, Quantum, and Semiconductors for a $10 Trillion Viksit Bharat

In the heart of the 21st century’s great digital race, India stands on the brink of an epochal transformation. With the world’s largest youth population (median age of 28.4 years), over 100,000 startups, and a burgeoning digital infrastructure, the country holds the potential to leapfrog into a $10 trillion economy by 2035—but only if it places the right bets now. And the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Three converging technologies—Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and Semiconductor Manufacturing—are redefining the global economic order. For India, these are not just sectors; they are national imperatives. The name of the game has changed. To remain competitive, India must not only participate—but lead.

When India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023, it did more than showcase its cultural legacy and diplomatic finesse—it laid the groundwork for a technological renaissance. At the intersection of global governance, economic vision, and emerging technologies, India used the G20 platform to push for digital inclusion, strategic autonomy, and tech-led development. More importantly, it positioned itself as a tech hub for the Global South. The Tech Trinity for Viksit Bharat was sparked by the G20 Presidency, which moved the country from diplomacy to disruption.

Artificial Intelligence: The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity

In a world where data is oil and algorithms are the engines, AI is the new electricity. According to a 2023 PwC report, AI is set to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030—equivalent to adding another China to the world’s GDP. The Asia-Pacific region alone is projected to see a boost of $7 trillion, and India is uniquely positioned to capture a significant portion of this growth.

Already, India boasts over 1,300 AI startups, a figure that has more than doubled in the past five years. The government’s AI Mission, launched under the Digital India umbrella, has committed to building indigenous capabilities in AI research, ethics frameworks, and deployment in public systems like healthcare, agriculture, and education. AI is not merely about automation—it’s about augmentation:

• In agriculture, AI can predict crop yields, optimize irrigation, and reduce post-harvest losses.
• In healthcare, AI-driven diagnostics and telemedicine can make quality care accessible to 1.4 billion Indians.
• In defence and surveillance, AI will redefine security protocols with autonomous systems and predictive analytics.

India’s AI potential, if systematically scaled and integrated, could add up to $957 billion to its economy by 2035, according to NASSCOM and McKinsey.

Quantum Computing: From Theory to Economic Disruption

Quantum computing, once the preserve of theoretical physics, is now a serious contender in the race for computational supremacy. Unlike classical systems, quantum computers use qubits—and this enables them to perform certain calculations exponentially faster. Applications span:

• Supply chain optimization for logistics (a boon for India’s PM Gati Shakti vision),
• Drug discovery and molecular simulations for pharma R&D,
• Financial portfolio management and risk modeling in banking.

Globally, quantum investment is skyrocketing. The U.S. passed a $1.2 billion National Quantum Initiative, and China has already crossed $15 billion in quantum R&D spending. India, with its National Quantum Mission announced in 2023, has pledged ₹6,000 crore (~$725 million) for developing quantum communication, computation, and sensors over 8 years. India must now move from R&D to commercialization—partnering with academia, deep-tech startups, and global innovation hubs.

Semiconductors: The Silicon Backbone of Viksit Bharat

No digital revolution is complete without semiconductors. From smartphones to satellites, electric vehicles to defence systems—everything runs on chips. And yet, India imports nearly $24 billion worth of semiconductors annually (as of 2023), a critical vulnerability in a geopolitically fractured world. The global semiconductor market is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, and India’s government is making its move. With the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), launched in 2022, the government earmarked ₹76,000 crore (~$10 billion) in incentives for chip design, manufacturing, and display fabs.

Key milestones include:

• Micron’s $2.75 billion semiconductor plant in Gujarat (2023),
• Vedanta–Foxconn’s investment proposals,
• Growth of fabless design startups in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.

Semiconductors will not only power consumer electronics but enable India to lead in strategic industries—from AI hardware to missile guidance systems and advanced telecommunications. By localizing chip production, India can slash import dependency, build tech resilience, and become an essential node in the global semiconductor supply chain—particularly as companies look for “China + 1” strategies.

G20 Summit, A Start, A Strategy

India’s G20 Summit wasn’t just a diplomatic success—it was a strategic tech springboard. It catalyzed a convergence of AI, quantum, and semiconductors that could redefine India’s economic destiny. With vision, speed, and alignment, these powerhouses can elevate India into the top three economies globally. Viksit Bharat is not a dream deferred—it is a future being engineered.

India’s G20 Presidency (December 2022–November 2023) came at a time of global fragmentation—marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and technological shifts. Yet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with Amitabh Kant as the G20 Strategic Sherpa-Who Delivered Consensus, India turned this presidency into a landmark moment that redefined its global stature. They were the architect behind India’s AI for Good, Digital Public Infrastructure, and Semiconductor Policy discussions within G20 working groups. These laid foundations for India’s Tech Trinity vision. Kant was instrumental in crafting the 83-paragraph G20 Declaration, securing consensus among 20 nations including Russia and China, despite tensions over Ukraine.

Artificial Intelligence: G20 as the Global AI Ethics Lab

During its G20 presidency, India made Responsible and Inclusive AI a core agenda. The Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) deliberated on AI’s transformative potential and the need for globally aligned governance frameworks.

Key G20 AI Catalysts:

• India pushed for “AI for All”, advocating for AI use in healthcare, agriculture, and education in emerging economies.
• The summit emphasized the creation of global AI repositories for public good—where India offered to co-develop AI datasets in agriculture and climate resilience.
• India proposed a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR)—an extension of its success with Aadhaar, UPI, and CoWIN—laying the foundation for India-led AI tools for the world.

Impact: India emerged as the torchbearer for ethical AI and positioned itself as a bridge between developed AI powers and the developing world. This significantly boosts India’s diplomatic clout and commercial opportunities in AI deployment at scale.

Quantum Computing: From Strategic Talk to Structured Collaboration

Quantum was not just a side conversation at the G20—it became a central point of tech diplomacy.

How G20 advanced India’s Quantum Agenda:

• The summit facilitated high-level dialogue with the US, EU, and Japan on quantum tech cooperation.
• India signed MoUs with France and Germany to co-develop quantum sensors, cryptography systems, and quantum-safe communications.
• The G20 Science Ministers’ Roundtable endorsed India’s initiative to create a Global Quantum Collaboration Hub—a brainchild that could be rooted in IISc, Bengaluru.

Impact: India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM) got a global push, with new avenues of joint research, funding, and standardization. By positioning itself as a quantum-neutral ground, India can become the Switzerland of quantum collaboration in the next decade.

Semiconductors: G20 as the Launchpad for Global Chip Diplomacy

India’s G20 platform became a geoeconomic stage for solving the semiconductor crisis that had disrupted global supply chains during COVID-19.

Semiconductor Takeaways from G20:

• India hosted the SemiconIndia 2023 Conference as a prelude to G20, attracting delegations from Taiwan, Japan, US, and Europe.
• MoUs were signed for chip design and manufacturing collaboration with global giants like AMD, Intel, and TSMC.
• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20, includes supply chain corridors for critical technologies and semiconductors.
• India proposed a Semiconductor Skills Consortium, collaborating with G7 countries to train 500,000 chip designers and engineers by 2030.

Impact: India is now on track to become a semiconductor assembly and design hub, reducing import dependency and integrating with global supply chains—especially as companies shift focus from China to “China + 1”.

G20 as the Alignment Engine

What makes the G20 impact monumental is how it aligned these three technologies into one strategic trajectory:

• Semiconductors power AI and quantum systems.
• AI manages semiconductor supply chains and quantum computing error corrections.
• Quantum enables next-gen AI algorithms and cybersecurity.

By bringing these tech verticals into shared policy frameworks and international partnerships, India’s G20 presidency laid the institutional foundation for long-term growth and innovation.

What India Must Do Next: Policy to Execution

To catalyze this transformation, five bold steps are essential:

1. Skilling at Scale: Launch a national “Tech Trinity Fellowship” to train 1 million engineers and researchers in AI, quantum, and semiconductor design.
2. Mission-Mode Execution: Create a dedicated “Tech Trinity Taskforce” under PMO/NITI Aayog to fast-track integration across sectors and monitor outcomes.
3. Startup + Industry Integration: Offer procurement guarantees and sandbox environments for deep-tech startups working in critical technologies.
4. Public + Private R&D Linkages: Fund and expand quantum and chip R&D parks co-run by IITs, IISc, DRDO, and global technology partners.
5. Global Strategic Alliances: Join trilateral partnerships (e.g., US-Japan-India or EU-India Tech Corridors) for co-development and supply chain redundancy.
6. The Road Ahead: From G20 Presidency to Permanency. The baton has passed, but the momentum must continue. India must now:

1. • Institutionalize G20 tech outcomes via permanent missions.
   • Build a Digital Viksit Bharat Taskforce focused on AI, quantum, and semiconductors.
   • Invest in Talent Acceleration Zones (TAZs) in universities and national labs.
   • Forge more bilateral R&D pipelines with G7, Quad, EU, and Global South.

The $10 Trillion Dream

India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2035 —a developed, equitable, and self-reliant economy—demands non-linear growth. Incrementalism will not get us there. It requires moonshot thinking, backed by execution discipline. With the right hedge on AI, quantum, and semiconductors, India can unlock a new engine of productivity and innovation. This is not just about GDP numbers or global rankings—it’s about building the tech sovereignty that empowers a billion aspirations. India’s time is now. The only question is—how boldly will we step into the future?

(The views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the organisation)