Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India has not missed the AI or quantum computing opportunity, countering doubts from some foreign media. She noted that the limited number of AI companies listed on Indian stock exchanges does not accurately represent the country's overall progress. Several Indian AI startups have already become unicorns or are close to achieving that status.
Sitharaman added that a stronger presence of AI firms on the stock exchanges could signal significant activity to global investors and attract more international funding. She emphasized the need for greater investment in AI infrastructure, quantum computing, and semiconductor manufacturing, alongside faster development of hardware, skills, and institutional capabilities.
She also highlighted the importance of training teachers and institutions in emerging AI technologies and suggested that MSMEs could use AI to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. Sitharaman identified AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies as key drivers of the next major infrastructure investment cycle, while pointing to opportunities in defense technologies such as drones and unmanned systems.
