Davos, Jan 23 (NationPress) Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to add $550 billion to five crucial sectors — agriculture, education, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing — in India by 2035 at a nominal level. This positions India as a possible global model for how emerging economies can leverage AI effectively and equitably, according to a report by PwC India presented during the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting here on Friday.

The findings indicate that AI can drive sectoral advancements, from enhancing crop yields and minimizing agricultural waste to refining school management, curbing power theft, speeding up disease detection, and improving manufacturing standards.

Real-world examples showcase this potential: AI-based crop advisories have resulted in double-digit efficiency improvements, smart metering has identified high-accuracy theft cases, and AI-enhanced TB detection has significantly increased notification rates. Even modest scaling of these applications could generate annual savings in the hundreds of millions, stated the report.

“AI is not merely a technological advancement; it is a force for nation-building. It empowers us to envision growth beyond just GDP metrics, focusing on a people-first perspective. By investing in infrastructure, talent, and governance, we can ensure that innovation and equitable development progress together. This is our path to shaping a Viksit Bharat that leads globally,” explained Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson of PwC India.

During the unveiling of the report, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remarked, “AI is transforming all aspects of life, and we are integrating it into governance to democratize its impact.”

“We have successfully established a robust digital infrastructure and are now positioned to utilize data to promote deeper digitization. We have created an AI-based application for farmers, available in Marathi, to assist in understanding crop cycles and pesticide usage. Concurrently, we are developing an innovative city to advance the state’s broader AI initiatives. Ease of Doing Business (EODB) is another focal point. Recently, in Maharashtra, we have repealed 17 laws as part of our decriminalization efforts,” he added.

PwC also introduced the AI Edge framework, outlining five concrete outcomes that India should anticipate from large-scale AI implementation: operational excellence, sustainability, good governance, resilience, and financial discipline.

These outcomes shift the dialogue around global AI from a singular focus on efficiency to a more expansive consideration of transparency, environmental responsibility, system reliability, and inclusive value generation across both public and private sectors.

Nikhil Kamath, entrepreneur and investor, commented on India's evolving business and policy landscape, stating, “The business environment is improving. We have witnessed strong policy stability in recent years, and India is striving to advance.”