Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that India's visionary leadership and progressive policymaking have created a strong foundation for innovation, making the country a global leader in technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at AI Bharat Shakti, the official pre-summit event of the upcoming 'India AI Impact Summit 2026', Sitharaman highlighted that India's institutional and policy framework has been instrumental in positioning the country as a global hub for emerging technologies like AI.
The Finance Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for shaping India's technology-driven transformation since 2014. Sitharaman noted that the synergy between progressive policies and dynamic governance is driving India's digital growth. She also lauded the role of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in promoting technology-led growth and stated that Andhra Pradesh is the right place to host India's first AI hub.
India's proactive governance and policy decisions are moving faster than ever before, creating healthy competition among states. This, Sitharaman believes, will ultimately benefit the country and help India achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The Finance Minister emphasized that both the central and state governments are working in harmony to ensure India stays ahead in the global AI race.
Sitharaman's comments come as India continues to make significant strides in AI, with the country ranking first in global AI skill penetration and witnessing a 263% AI talent growth since 2016. With a strong focus on innovation and technology, India is well-positioned to become a global leader in AI, and the government's visionary policies are expected to play a key role in driving this growth.
