Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday, 26 June declared that India is rapidly emerging as a major force in frontier technologies, asserting that artificial intelligence, nuclear, space, and quantum technologies will define the contours of future economic growth and global competitiveness. Speaking at a media conclave in New Delhi, the minister outlined the country's accelerating progress across several critical technology domains.

National Quantum Mission Hits Key Milestones

The National Quantum Mission (NQM), launched in 2023, has already achieved more than half of its targeted outcomes within just three years, according to Dr Singh. Substantial progress has been recorded in quantum-secure communication — a field with far-reaching applications in defence, strategic communications, cyber security, and the protection of sensitive information. The pace of delivery signals a structural shift in how India is approaching deep-tech development.

India's Position Among Leading Tech Nations

'India today stands at a stage where it is progressing alongside leading nations in several critical technology domains and is steadily building capabilities that will define the next era of economic growth, national security and global competitiveness,' Dr Singh said. He underscored that space, nuclear, and quantum technologies will play a decisive role in shaping the future world order — influencing not only economic advancement but also strategic strength and geopolitical positioning. 'Countries that fall behind in these technologies risk falling behind in both development and security,' he warned.

AI as a Cross-Sector Enabler

On artificial intelligence, Dr Singh said AI is fast becoming an essential tool across every sector, with growing influence over governance, industry, education, healthcare, research, and public service delivery. India is simultaneously strengthening the supporting ecosystem through investments in digital infrastructure, computing capacity, data resources, and reliable energy systems, he noted. This comes amid a global race to dominate AI infrastructure, where computing power and data availability are increasingly viewed as strategic assets.

Nuclear Energy's Role in the Digital Economy

The minister highlighted that the growing demand for advanced computing, data centres, and digital services will require robust and dependable energy sources. In this context, nuclear energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting India's technology-driven growth while contributing to the country's clean energy transition. Notably, this positions nuclear not merely as a power source but as an enabler of India's digital ambitions — a framing that aligns with global trends where tech giants are revisiting nuclear to power AI infrastructure.

Inclusive Growth at the Core

Dr Singh emphasised that technological progress has become the principal driver of growth in the modern world, and no nation can sustain long-term development without embracing innovation and frontier technologies. He added that India is pursuing this transformation while remaining committed to inclusive growth, democratic values, and social welfare — a signal that the government views frontier tech not as an elite pursuit but as a broad-based development lever. With the NQM ahead of schedule and AI investments scaling up, India's frontier tech ambitions are moving from policy rhetoric to measurable outcomes.