India is at a pivotal moment in its journey towards becoming a technologically sovereign nation, with a strategic focus on emerging deep technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, green energy, and biotechnology. At the forefront of this transformation is Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and Chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). In a wide-ranging discussion with the editorial teams of BharatShakti and StratNewsGlobal, moderated by Editor-in-Chief Nitin Gokhale, Prof. Sood elaborated on India’s integrated, mission-driven push to harness critical technologies for national growth and strategic autonomy.
From Policy to Action: A Mission-Driven Approach
Since its inception in 2018, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser has spearheaded 11 national science and technology missions, including the National Quantum Mission, the India AI Mission, the Green Hydrogen Mission, and the One Health Mission. These multi-ministerial initiatives represent a “whole-of-government” approach to solving national challenges and driving innovation.
“What’s changed in the last decade is that we’ve moved beyond policy intent to actionable implementation,” Prof. Sood said. “We’re building an ecosystem where ministries and departments are not just stakeholders, but active participants in driving innovation.”
Deep-Tech Startups: The Foundation of Tech Sovereignty
Prof. Sood emphasized that deep-tech innovation—characterized by original intellectual property (IP), high technology content, and disruptive potential—is essential for India’s technological sovereignty. “No country will hand over critical technologies like quantum or AI,” he noted. “They are tightly linked to strategic capabilities and national security. We must build our own.”
India’s startup ecosystem has expanded exponentially—from 450 startups in 2015 to over 1.6 lakh in 2024—with more than 60% located in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. However, only around 10% of these are deep-tech startups, a gap the government aims to bridge through targeted funding, policy support, and initiatives like the iDEX programme in defence.
“Deep-tech startups need patient capital and risk-taking investors,” said Prof. Sood. “These are not two-year returns. The government is creating funds of funds and platforms like Manthan, which has already facilitated over Rs 14,000 crore in funding against challenges worth Rs 8,000 crore in less than three years,” answering a question posed by Kishore Atluri, President, Zen Technologies.
Quantum Technology: India’s Strategic Frontier
Prof. Sood described quantum technology as “the most disruptive technology discovered in the last 70 years—akin to the transistor’s discovery.” The National Quantum Mission is structured around multiple verticals, including quantum sensors, quantum AI, quantum internet, and quantum communication, all of which have dual-use potential across civilian and military applications.
Applications range from financial services to encrypted military communication and gravity sensors for terrain mapping. “Strategic autonomy cannot be achieved without mastering quantum technologies,” Prof. Sood asserted. “That’s why this mission is foundational.”
Prof Sood revealed that India is also advancing towards launching a quantum satellite through ISRO. This will mark a milestone in secure quantum communication and position the country among global leaders in the field.
Civil-Military Tech Fusion: A Strategic Imperative
Another pillar of India’s technology strategy is civil-military fusion. “Technologies developed by ISRO or DRDO must now find applications in the civilian domain—from automotive to healthcare,” Prof. Sood said. “Fusion of capabilities is critical for scale, innovation, and national security.”
The government’s empowerment of academic institutions like IITs and IISc and its recent launch of the Uthan initiative to uplift startups in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities reflects a commitment to democratize innovation and build nationwide tech capacity.
Beyond Emulation: India’s Own Innovation Model
While discussing disruptive models like China’s DeepSeek AI and its state-led technology paradigm, Prof. Sood emphasized that India must forge its own path. “We can’t simply replicate others. Our strengths, constraints, and democratic values are different,” he said. “But we have the talent and the hunger. We’re now creating the ecosystem that enables Indian-origin innovations to thrive.”
He concluded with a call to action: “If India wants to be a global power, we must lead in technology. And to lead, we must innovate—on our terms, with our capabilities.”
Team BharatShakti
