Paris/New Delhi, June 18 (IANS). Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that India is an inspiring example for the world. He said that the country’s young population, cheap data, growing technological capabilities and inclusive development approach are putting India at the forefront of the global technological revolution.
Speaking on India’s role in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Viva Tech 2026, Goyal said that India has many natural strengths that enable it to play an important role in bridging the global technology gap.
He said that India adopts technology more quickly and effectively than many countries and considers AI as a means of development rather than a threat.
Goyal said, “India is an inspiring example for the world. Our young and talented population, cheap data, growing capabilities and vision of shared development place us at the forefront of technological development.”
The Union Minister stressed that AI can never replace human intelligence, human values, culture and traditions.
He said that India’s demographic power is one of its biggest strengths. The average age of the country is less than 30 years, which gives it a special edge compared to other countries.
“We have a young population and that is very important. Our average age is below 30 years. We are the fastest growing large economy in the world. This increases economic activity and drives innovation,” Goyal said.
“We have a huge market of 1.4 billion people, which creates demand and gives us the advantage of economies of scale,” he added.
The minister said India has adequate power resources available to meet the growing needs of data centers and computing infrastructure.
“The cost of data in India is very low compared to other countries. We have enough power available to meet data centres, computing capacity and other technology needs,” he said.
Goyal also said that India produces the largest number of graduates in the fields of science, engineering and technology in the world.
“We produce the largest number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates in the world, who are the backbone of the technology sector,” he said.
On concerns over the impact of AI on employment, Goyal said technological progress will not eliminate the role of humans but will create new opportunities and new career options.
He said that in the future, AI and human intelligence together will give a new direction to development and innovation.
–IANS
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