India's Emerging Technology Ecosystem (PIB Backgrounder)

📌 Summary:

• A PIB backgrounder traces India's shift from a large digital consumer market to an emerging global technology power over the past decade
• Mission-mode programmes drive emerging tech: Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum technologies, supercomputing, blockchain, cloud computing and cybersecurity
• Digital India (launched 2015) is the backbone: optical fibre coverage rose from 19.35 lakh route km (2019) to 42.36 lakh route km (2025); 5G now reaches 99.9% of districts
• Internet connections grew from 25.15 crore (2014) to 102.86 crore (2026); broadband connections rose from 6.1 crore (2014) to 99.56 crore (Dec 2025)
• Capacity built via Centres of Excellence, research hubs, semiconductor labs, skilling and industry-academia collaboration
• Trusted Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), inclusive digital governance and global partnerships position India as a reliable, human-centric technology partner, underpinning the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 (science & technology, emerging tech, digital economy, indigenous innovation). Useful for indigenisation, DPI, and India's evolving role in global technology governance.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Digital India Programme was launched in 2015
• DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) includes platforms like Aadhaar, UPI and DigiLocker
• India achieved one of the world's fastest 5G rollouts, covering 99.9% of districts

🔑 Key Term: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — shared, interoperable digital systems (identity, payments, data exchange) that enable services at population scale.