The Science Indigenous Technology & Advanced Research Accelerator (SITARA) – a think/do aimed at fostering a high-tech, R&D-intensive economy in India, with a focus on promoting indigenous science, industrial policy, and technology development – and the Bharath Digital Infrastructure Association (BDIA) – a not-for-profit industry body focused on technology sovereignty – jointly organised a high-level discussion at the India International Centre on the urgent need for implementing a Digital Atmanirbharta programme. The session was chaired by Ambassador Ashok Kantha and came at a critical juncture following the imposition of supplementary 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US and the recent hike in H1B visa fees — both posing severe setbacks to India’s economy.
Distinguished speakers included Dr. Sasmit Patra, Hon’ble MP, Shri Parminder Jeet Singh,Digital Affairs Expert, Shri Abhishek Bhatt, Founder & Secretary General, BDIA, Shri Ashish Sonal,AI & Security Specialist, and Amb. Smita Purushottam,Founder, SITARA.Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director IIC graced the event and made some critical observations on the need for laws and incentives to spur private sector R&D investment and utilisation of indigenous services like sovereign indigenous clouds.
The deliberations highlighted that while the Government has taken transformative steps through initiatives such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, UPI, the National AI Mission, and the Semiconductor Mission, the next phase must be focused on Digital Atmanirbharta. Experts emphasised that this programme could add US$1 trillion annually to India’s economy, create high-quality employment, and fortify national security.
Key themes included:
- Underscoring that Digital Atmanirbharta is not only an economic imperative but also a strategic and national security necessity.
- Building a deep-tech ecosystem that could reabsorb skilled professionals returning from abroad and retain Indian talent, countering AI-driven job displacement and catalysing exponential growth in India along the lines delivered by digital industrial policy in countries as diverse as the US, Russia, China and Iran.
- As part of a digital industrial policy, declaring data as a national strategic asset, critical for AI, platforms, surveillance tools, and defence.
- Promoting domestic apps and platforms, Enshrining the strategic role of Sovereign Cloudsfor data storage, AI training, digital public services, national security applications, and future economic growth – in Digital Industrial Policy. Today, the vast majority of India’s public, corporate, and government dataresides on foreign cloud platforms, creating deep vulnerabilities. Without sovereign clouds, India risks permanent dependency on foreign entities, data exploitation, and potential weaponisation of digital services.
- Ensuring FTAs under negotiation do not dilute India’s digital sovereignty, particularly on sensitive issues such as source codes and cross-border data flows, and other important issues.
- Strengthening digital self-reliance in India’s military capabilities, as network centric and AI infused capabilities and battlefields are now the order of the day.
- Proofing India from extortion and psychological warfare by external platforms.
A lively interactive discussion followed, during which Dr Patra took many questions from the audience and panelists. The meeting concluded with a unanimous call to prioritise Digital Industrial Policy as the backbone of India’s digital sovereignty, economy, and national security.
Founder SITARA and B‑DIA Secretary‑General said, “Nayara-Microsoft episode was an eye opener;digital sovereignty is not a choice but a national imperative and our policies should be aligned towards creating the building blocks of our digital ecosystem- cloud, apps, cloud and platforms – to ensure not just technological sovereignty but also National Security.