India’s future growth must be driven by its deeptech capabilities and the innovation of young startups—not just large corporations—said Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa, while speaking at Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi.
Why Deeptech Matters for India
Kant emphasized the need for India to build a strong base in deeptech fields such as:
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Mobility
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Battery storage
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Green hydrogen
“These sectors offer massive market opportunities for startups and will define India’s role in the global tech economy,” he said.
He called for building a full-stack AI ecosystem—from compute infrastructure to foundational models—not just application-layer solutions. “India must aim to become a deeptech champion,” he added.
Focus Areas: AI, Blockchain, Big Data
Kant urged Indian startups to aggressively enter areas like:
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Machine Learning
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Blockchain
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Big Data
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AI model development
He stressed that future disruptions will come from these technologies and India must lead in creating original solutions.
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Safeguarding India’s Tech Sovereignty
Kant warned that India must maintain technology sovereignty by investing in its own systems. “We must not rely solely on foreign platforms for critical technologies,” he said.
He noted that developing indigenous capabilities in foundational technologies is key to long-term national interest and competitiveness.
Corporate Governance and Self-Regulation
Kant also stressed the importance of ethical corporate governance. He stated:
“If governments are to stay at arm’s length, startups must adopt self-regulation through good audits, financial transparency, and responsible practices.”
He supported government initiatives that promote startup growth but said the ecosystem needs strong internal checks.
AI Push: National Efforts Accelerating
India’s deeptech push comes at a time when the central government is:
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Rolling out AIKosha and the IndiaAI Compute Portal
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Acquiring 18,000 GPUs to provide AI compute for startups, researchers, and students
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Supporting AI startup incubation through national accelerators
These steps aim to boost AI development and reduce India’s dependence on external infrastructure.
ALSO READ: Indian Startups Raise Rs 1,202 Cr in a Week, Led by Scapia, Pratilipi & Tonbo
India’s GenAI Growth Story
India is already home to over 200 Generative AI startups, which raised more than $1.2 Bn (approx. Rs 10,000 Cr) between 2020 and 2024.
Yesterday, MeitY additional secretary Abhishek Singh confirmed that the government is set to approve the first proposals for developing foundational AI models in the next two weeks.
The domestic AI sector is projected to grow into a $17 Bn (approx. Rs 1.41 Lakh Cr) market by 2030.