National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Friday looked back on India's increasing global presence—both economic and military—and presented a vision for the future of the country as it nears its hundredth anniversary of independence in 2047.
At the 62nd convocation ceremony of IIT Madras, Doval sounded assured that India possessed the ability for speedy growth, projecting that the country's GDP would grow eight times by the time it celebrates 100 years of freedom.
During the address, Doval mapped out India's transformation from its turbulent historical origins to its current path of promise, crediting this journey for the efforts of great national leaders. He urged graduating students to stand up as future leaders capable of handling intricate global scenarios.
Emphasizing the imperative to adopt innovative cutting-edge technology like Artificial Intelligence, Doval made a significant comparison with China's 5G development drive.
The Chinese spent 12 years and $300 billion to make 5G. We did not have that much money or that much time. But, in a span of two-and-a-half years, we set out to build an indigenous equivalent," he said.
Reflecting the confidence expressed by attendees at the conference, Doval stressed that the ambitious targets imagined for India are within reach, as long as there is a collective national effort to attain them.
He supported a projection made by an expert that India's GDP may reach $32 trillion by 2047.
"If it does, then our per capita income would increase from $2,500 dollars to $22,000. The nation would possess around 1.1 billion working class - highly trained on multi-oriented disciplines. There would be a growing middle class as the nation's demography, civilisational and spiritual power will provide it with another layer of strength," he said.
With the demographic advantage of India being juxtaposed with China's expected threats, Doval said China's working population could decline by almost 23%, thus compromising its workforce.
Appealing to the youth to assume the burdens of tomorrow, the NSA referred to them as the 'X factor' that would be needed to navigate India through uncertain tomorrows and external challenges.
He also emphasized the need for calibrated technological development, especially in the area of national security, as India is set to enter a critical stage in its growth.
Citing the accuracy of 'Operation Sindoor,' Doval pointed out that it was carried out in 23 minutes. He also berated international media for what he termed as irresponsible coverage of purported Indian casualties, calling for more precision and responsibility in such reporting.
