Indians will be number one community globally by 2047: CM Chandrababu

Chennai: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed confidence that by 2047, Indians will become the number one community globally.

Addressing the All-India Research Scholars Summit (AIRSS)-2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on Friday, the chief minister said that South India is leading in all aspects while the North is catching up very fast.

Appreciating the vibrant academic environment of IIT, Madras, CM Chandrababu Naidu expressed confidence that India’s future belongs to young scholars and entrepreneurs.

Deregulation helped digital transformation

The chief minister acknowledged the role of IIT Madras in knowledge dissemination and commended its contribution to startups like Agnikul Cosmos and Mindgrow Technologies, which have placed India at the forefront of space and semiconductor innovation.

He reflected on India’s economic journey, recalling the pre-liberalisation mixed economy and the impact of the 1992 economic reforms and highlighted how deregulation in the telecom sector, based on his recommendation, helped drive digital transformation.

Recalling his meeting with the Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates, in the 1990s, which led to Microsoft’s establishment in Hyderabad, the chief minister underscored the role of Telugu leaders like Satya Nadella in global technology.

Prof V Kamakoti, the director of IIT, Madras, introduced the chief minister as the visionary leader who is behind Cyberabad’s transformation. Chandrababu spoke about India’s digital revolution, citing Aadhaar and UPI as examples of successful innovations. By December 2024, India had achieved Rs 1,673 crore UPI transactions with an annual value exceeding $2.4 trillion, he pointed out.

Global Indian presence

CM Chandrababu projected India’s rapid economic growth from the world’s fifth-largest economy in 2021 to potentially reaching first or second place by 2047. Discussing the global Indian presence, he highlighted how Indians dominate in Silicon Valley, NASA and Wall Street, and predicted that by 2047, Indians will be the most influential community worldwide.

He stressed the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, noting that 65 per cent of Indians use AI compared to 30 per cent globally. The chief minister urged students to apply AI for real-time decision-making and lead in emerging technologies like quantum computing.

The chief minister announced Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious plans, including setting up Quantum Valley in Amaravati with the help of IIT, Madras. He recalled his foresight in establishing Hyderabad’s Hi-Tech City in 1995 and emphasised the importance of AI, urging students to develop practical use cases. He revealed that Andhra Pradesh is collaborating with IIT Madras, IBM, TCS and the Government of India to advance deep technology.

Enhancing global digital links

On infrastructure and connectivity, he mentioned Google’s upcoming data centre and a sea cable from Singapore to Visakhapatnam to enhance global digital links. The Chief Minister also addressed demographic trends, noting the declining fertility rates in South India and stressing the need for stable population growth and skilled migration.

Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s leadership in green energy with solar power now costing Rs 2 per unit, as he had anticipated, CM Chandrababu stated that India aims at producing 500 GW of green energy within five years, with 160 GW coming from Andhra Pradesh alone.

Rs 10 lakh crore in green energy

He revealed that Andhra Pradesh is all set to receive Rs 10 lakh crore in green energy investments, creating 7.5 lakh jobs. NTPC is setting up a green hydrogen unit, and Reliance is investing in bioenergy projects, he said and announced plans to install rooftop solar panels in two million houses in the coming two years.

On governance and policy, Chandrababu stressed the importance of stable policies, warning against the negative consequences of policy instability in other countries. He emphasised the need for public-private collaboration in education and called for greater philanthropic contributions.

Terming Andhra Pradesh’s IT policy as a game-changer, he felt the need for policymakers and technocrats to work together. CM Chandrababu made an appeal to the students to embrace AI, reminding them that 60 per cent of Indians are already using it.

He called for a nationwide drive to develop AI use cases and emphasised the availability of historical data for innovation. He humorously shared how his smart ring tracks his daily health, illustrating the power of real-time AI applications.

CM Chandrababu assured the students and the entrepreneurs that Andhra Pradesh is ready to support innovative businesses with proof-of-concept opportunities. He reiterated his optimism about India’s future, underscoring that the right leadership and technological advancements will drive the country toward double-digit economic growth and global leadership by 2047.