India plans long-term tech strategy to cut supply chain risks

India is working on a 20 to 25 year plan to reduce critical technology dependencies and build strength against global disruptions, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi. Rather than trying to be fully self-sufficient, the country aims to act as a trusted partner across worldwide technology supply chains.

Goals And Sectors

The government has set short-term targets for three to five years, medium-term goals for five to 15 years, and long-term plans spanning 20 to 25 years. Vaishnaw pointed out that the semiconductor strategy must cover the full ecosystem, including materials, chemicals, gases, and substrate materials, alongside chip design and manufacturing. He noted that the mobile phone industry moved from simple assembly to making modules and components, and now exports some parts. He also mentioned that India developed its own end-to-end 4G telecom system through government and private teamwork in three-and-a-half years, and the setup is now active on more than 100,000 towers.

Future Risks

The minister warned about upcoming global financial and technological shocks, pointing to the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and services industries, as well as rising debt levels in advanced economies. To protect against such shocks, India has lowered its public debt-to-GDP ratio from 61 per cent to 55 per cent over the past five years. Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins also spoke at the event, stating that India's scale and partnership model provide a practical way toward technology sovereignty.

Context

Long-term technology planning helps emerging economies secure essential hardware and software supply chains against sudden geopolitical shifts. Major tech manufacturing requires deep local support networks rather than just final assembly facilities. Nations worldwide are increasingly focusing on building domestic capabilities to protect their economies from future global crises.