Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada on 6 June 2026 said India is building a future-ready digital economy anchored in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological self-reliance, as the government doubles down on flagship programmes including the India Semiconductor Mission and the IndiaAI Mission. The remarks came at the STPI Tech Summit 2026: India's Next Leap, organised by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) in New Delhi.

Key Announcements at the Summit

Prasada underlined the government's commitment to an enabling ecosystem, citing progressive policies, ease of doing business, and expanded access to technology as the three levers of growth. 'The Government remains committed to fostering an enabling ecosystem through progressive policies, ease of doing business and enhanced access to technology,' he said. He added that institutions such as STPI will be critical in nurturing innovation, strengthening emerging technology ecosystems, and enabling world-class solutions for global markets.

MeitY Secretary on STPI's 35-Year Legacy

S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), marking 35 years of STPI, called on the organisation to leverage its legacy to drive growth in emerging regions. 'We must identify the opportunities that lie ahead and leverage its strong legacy to drive growth in emerging regions,' he said. Krishnan highlighted STPI's convening power — its ability to bring together entrepreneurs, mentors, venture capitalists, and industry stakeholders to create a critical mass for innovation. He noted that STPI has successfully built linkages from the North-East to established technology hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, enabling the flow of mentorship, expertise, and capital to emerging centres.

STPI's Footprint: 73 Centres, 1,700+ Startups

Arvind Kumar, Director General of STPI, said the organisation has emerged as a key pillar of India's digital economy over the past 35 years. 'With 73 centres across the country, support extended to more than 1,700 startups and a significant contribution towards India's IT exports, STPI has enabled technology-led growth beyond metropolitan cities,' he said. Kumar pointed to STPI's role in creating opportunities across Tier-II and Tier-III regions as a distinguishing feature of its mandate.

AI and Employment at the Centre of the Agenda

Krishnan specifically flagged artificial intelligence as the primary domain where STPI can make a meaningful difference — supporting startups, attracting technology investments, and creating high-quality employment opportunities for India's youth. This comes amid a broader government push to position India as a global AI and semiconductor hub, with the IndiaAI Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission both receiving significant policy and financial backing in recent budgets.

What Comes Next

The summit brought together senior government officials, venture capitalists, and ecosystem enablers to map India's technology trajectory. With STPI now operating 73 centres nationally and the government deepening its focus on deep-tech and AI, the emphasis is expected to shift further toward Tier-II and Tier-III cities as the next frontier for startup growth and IT export diversification.