The global landscape today is at an unprecedented turning point. Geopolitical tensions are intensifying, international trade increasingly reflects a pattern of retaliation, and climate shocks are becoming more frequent and severe. At the same time, technological innovations are progressing at a rate that far outpaces the capacity of global policy frameworks to respond effectively. Institutions created in the mid-20th century, designed for an era with different challenges, are struggling to adapt to the complexities of the 21st century. The result is a world where uncertainty has become structural, and where nations must navigate a complex matrix of political, economic, environmental, and technological forces. Amidst this turbulence, India emerges as a nation of stability and momentum. Over the past decade, it has transitioned from being labeled one of the ‘Fragile Five’ economies to becoming the fastest-growing large economy in the world, driven by structural reforms, robust digital public infrastructure, and a focus on inclusive growth.

This moment presents India not only with the opportunity to rise economically but also to lead globally. At the Heartland Thinkers’ Leadership Summit (HTLS) 2025, Amitabh Kant, a senior advisor and public policy expert, outlined five pivotal ideas that could shape India’s trajectory and provide guidance for the world in navigating this era of uncertainty. These ideas are both national and global in significance, emphasizing the intersection of technology, climate action, urban development, global governance, and a reimagined development model.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Improve Outcomes at Scale

Technology is the most potent force shaping global economic growth, competitiveness, and national security. Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced materials are redefining the parameters of productivity and economic advantage. Yet, technological progress translates into meaningful societal impact only when it is designed to reach the last mile and directly benefit citizens.

India has already demonstrated how technology can transform governance and service delivery. Initiatives such as Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and DigiLocker have enabled over 1.4 billion people to access digital identities, financial services, and public services efficiently and transparently. However, Kant emphasized that the next leap in India’s digital transformation must come from the deployment of AI for the public good. AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by supporting diagnostics, clinical decision-making, and predictive analytics. In education, AI-powered personalized tutoring can help bridge learning gaps, assist teachers with content and assessment, and enable targeted remedial interventions. In agriculture, AI can optimize yields through precision farming and predictive analytics. Governance systems can also benefit from AI applications in enhancing service delivery, improving administrative efficiency, and ensuring better security outcomes.

India’s approach to technology emphasizes open protocols, open-source models, multilingual datasets, and interoperable platforms. This model is particularly relevant for the Global South, where equitable and inclusive access to technology is essential. As AI becomes central to economic growth worldwide, global governance frameworks must prioritize equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Kant argued that India is well-positioned to champion this approach, establishing a blueprint for “technology for good” that can be adopted globally.

A Green Industrial Strategy for Sustainable Growth

Climate change, while posing severe risks, also presents an unprecedented opportunity for nations willing to invest in clean industries and future-ready economies. India has emerged as a leader in green growth, and the next decade offers the chance to solidify its position as a global clean-tech powerhouse. Kant outlined a three-pronged green industrial strategy for India.

The first pillar involves scaling up clean energy production. India has already added over 256 gigawatts of non-fossil energy capacity, built the world’s largest solar park, and established round-the-clock renewable energy markets. This expansion in clean energy infrastructure lays the foundation for long-term industrial and technological growth.

The second pillar focuses on building deep domestic manufacturing capabilities in clean-tech supply chains. India has rapidly expanded its solar module production capacity from near zero five years ago to over 90 gigawatts in the domestic pipeline. Production-linked incentives for solar modules, advanced chemistry cells, electrolyzers, and semiconductors are fostering competitive ecosystems, reducing import dependence, and positioning India as a cost-leader in batteries, hydrogen electrolyzers, and green-manufactured goods.

The third pillar aims at fostering the rise of future industries, including green hydrogen, green steel, sustainable aviation fuels, industrial electrification, and circular material systems. Initiatives such as hydrogen valleys in Gujarat and Odisha, green steel production pilots, and green ammonia export terminals reflect India’s ambition to lead globally in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. Financing this transition will require innovative instruments such as de-risking mechanisms, blended-finance platforms, and a robust green bond market, all supported by clear taxonomies and modern disclosure systems. Kant stressed that India’s message to the world is unequivocal: clean energy must be scaled, costs must fall, technology must be shared, and development must remain central to the global climate agenda.

Urbanization and Services as the Next Growth Driver

India’s demographic trajectory offers an unprecedented opportunity for economic growth. By 2050, an estimated 400 million additional people are expected to migrate to cities in India. Technological advances are also making services more tradable, positioning India’s services sector to become a global productivity hub. Kant highlighted that the country’s burgeoning Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are already attracting multinational corporations seeking skilled talent, with over 1,800 centers established across India.

To fully leverage this opportunity, India’s cities must be transformed into clean, livable, and efficiently governed urban spaces. Structural municipal reforms are essential to improve air quality through electrified public transport and strict construction dust norms, implement scalable solid waste management systems, and address affordable housing shortages through revised floor space indices, density incentives, and transit-oriented development. Urban governance must also be strengthened by empowering local bodies, integrating planning frameworks, ensuring predictable revenue streams, digitizing property records, and fully implementing the 74th Constitutional Amendment. The modernization of India’s cities is critical not only for economic growth but also for creating environments conducive to inclusive development.

Amplifying the Voice of the Global South

Global governance structures are increasingly misaligned with contemporary realities. The UN Security Council remains gridlocked, the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement mechanism is largely dysfunctional, and commitments on climate finance and technology transfer remain unmet. Kant emphasized that India’s G20 presidency illustrated how inclusive global governance could be achieved by integrating green development, digital public infrastructure, and including voices such as the African Union in decision-making processes.

A reformed multilateral system, he argued, must deliver four critical outcomes. First, it must provide effective global governance for AI and frontier technologies, reflecting India’s call during the G20 Summit. Second, climate finance architecture must be equitable and geared toward long-term investment. Third, the representation and decision-making processes within multilateral institutions must align with the global economic realities, where two-thirds of growth originates from the Global South. Fourth, trade for development must be revitalized through a fully functional WTO that ensures predictability in international commerce. Kant asserted that for globalization to survive and thrive, it must become inclusive, development-centric, and responsive to the priorities of emerging economies.

A New Development Model: Growth with Social Justice

Kant highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of a Global Development Compact, presented at the Voice of the Global South Summit in 2024, as a framework for achieving high growth while maintaining social equity. The core principle is that economic growth and targeted welfare are complementary, rather than contradictory. Growth generates prosperity, while targeted welfare ensures that all citizens benefit from it, building resilience within society.

The compact rests on three pillars. First, growth should be enterprise-driven, supported by regulatory reforms, competitive markets, and innovation. Second, welfare should be empowerment-oriented, focusing on healthcare, education, skills development, women’s participation, and social protection in the context of a changing labor market. Third, global cooperation is essential to secure access to technology, diversify supply chains, advance climate finance, and promote fair trade for the Global South. This model, Kant argued, provides a roadmap not only for India’s continued rise but also for a new development paradigm that the world can emulate.

Conclusion

The forces of technological innovation, climate change, geopolitical fragmentation, and demographic shifts are reshaping the global landscape. India enters this era with the confidence of a nation that has already delivered transformation at scale, demonstrating its capacity for innovation, inclusive growth, and resilience. Amitabh Kant’s vision underscores that India has the potential not only to harness these forces for national development but also to lead globally, advocating for shared prosperity, sustainable growth, and inclusive governance. By leveraging AI, investing in green industrial strategies, reforming urban infrastructure, amplifying the Global South’s voice, and adopting a development model that blends growth with welfare, India can chart a course toward an era defined by progress, equity, and shared opportunity for all.