Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, 18 June 2026, described India as “a compelling case for the world” in the age of artificial intelligence, speaking at VivaTech 2026 in Paris. Goyal highlighted the country’s young population, affordable data, expanding technological capabilities, and a vision for inclusive growth as the pillars positioning India at the forefront of the global technology revolution.

India’s Structural Strengths in the AI Era

Goyal argued that India adapts technology faster and more efficiently than many peer nations, and that the country views AI as an enabler of growth rather than a threat to its workforce. He pointed to a cluster of demographic and infrastructural advantages that, taken together, make India’s position in the global AI race structurally distinct.

“India is a compelling case for the world. Our young and talented population, affordable data, growing capabilities and a vision for shared growth position India at the forefront of technological development,” Goyal said at the conference.

The Demographic and Economic Edge

The minister underscored India’s demographic dividend as a core competitive advantage. With an average national age of under 30 years, a population of 1.4 billion generating sustained consumer demand, and the status of the world’s fastest-growing large economy, India offers both the scale and the dynamism that drive innovation cycles.

“We have a youthful population. That’s important. Our average age is under 30 years. We are the world’s fastest growing large economy. So a lot of economic activity spurs innovation. We have 1.4 billion people generating demand and that gives us economies of scale,” Goyal stated.

Data, Power, and STEM Talent

Goyal also drew attention to India’s cost advantage in data access, noting that data is available “at a fraction of the cost it costs in other countries.” He added that India has sufficient power infrastructure to meet the growing requirements of data centres and computing capacity — a critical bottleneck for AI deployment globally. Notably, India produces the world’s largest number of STEM graduates, giving it a deep pipeline of engineering and technology talent to sustain AI-led growth.

AI and Jobs: A Growth Narrative, Not a Threat

Addressing widespread concerns about AI-driven job displacement, Goyal offered a reassuring framing: technological advancement would create new opportunities and career paths rather than eliminate human relevance. He emphasised that AI can never replace human intelligence, values, culture, or traditions — a position that aligns with the Centre’s broader push to position AI adoption as socially inclusive rather than disruptive.

This comes amid a global debate at forums like VivaTech over AI’s net impact on employment, with the International Labour Organization and several European governments flagging risks to mid-skill jobs. India’s counter-narrative — rooted in scale, youth, and affordability — is increasingly becoming a diplomatic and economic talking point on the world stage.

India’s Global AI Positioning

Goyal’s remarks at VivaTech reinforce a pattern of India asserting itself as a technology-sovereign nation capable of bridging the global digital divide. The government has been actively courting AI investment, pushing domestic compute capacity, and expanding digital public infrastructure. With the global AI governance conversation intensifying, India’s pitch — scale, affordability, and democratic values — is likely to grow louder in multilateral settings in the months ahead.