NITI Aayog has unveiled two major initiatives – AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap: Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth and the NITI Frontier Tech Repository under its Frontier Tech Hub. The launch was attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Bery, CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, and MEITY Secretary S Krishnan.
Speaking at the event, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for the adoption of AI-powered technologies in every district of India to drive inclusive growth. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and innovators, describing NITI’s Frontier Tech Hub as a “honeycomb” that converts ideas into impact. “India cannot afford to lag in frontier technologies; we must aim for global leadership,” she said.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted AI’s potential to transform work, life, and governance, noting that India’s youth now have the confidence to dream of a developed nation. “Growth today is robust, inclusive, and technology-driven,” he added. The AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap offers a concrete plan to accelerate AI adoption across industries, improve productivity, and transform research with generative AI. The Frontier Tech Repository features over 200 impact stories across Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, and National Security, showcasing how states and startups are using technology to transform lives.
NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam stated, “India’s ambition of 8% growth requires a step-change in productivity and innovation. AI is central to unlocking this potential. The Roadmap provides sector-specific actions, while the Repository inspires states and districts to replicate and scale solutions.”
He also announced two significant initiatives aimed at accelerating grassroots technology adoption. The Frontier 50 Initiative will focus on supporting 50 Aspirational Districts and Blocks in identifying and deploying frontier technologies from the repository. These solutions will help fast-track the saturation of key services and drive measurable impact across priority themes under the Aspirational District and Block Programmes.
Additionally, the NITI Frontier Tech Impact Awards will recognize three states that excel in using technology to improve governance, education, healthcare, and livelihoods. These awards will not only celebrate innovation but also provide support to scale successful models, enabling other states to replicate transformative outcomes and strengthen nationwide development efforts.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog and Chief Architect of the Frontier Tech Hub, said that the next wave of technological disruptions will surpass AI in scale. “India must anticipate trends, strengthen supply chains, set global standards, and build alliances to stay ahead,” she stressed. The launch brought together startup founders, district magistrates, industry leaders, and government officials from across the country, showcasing grassroots innovation and impact.
