Sovereign AI - now or never? A Roadmap to get there
Story: "GenerativeAI is beginning to be pervasive, although we must not forget PredictiveAI. The big question is Sovereign AI: where India should invest its limited generativeAI funds: in foundational models, or in the layers above and below? The layer above: use open source models, focus on applications in domains such as agriculture, medicine, defense, jurisprudence and governance? The layer below: data centers hosting multiple models? Can't ignore concerns about job loss, water/energy demand from data centers, biases from training/post training data that skew model output, hallucinations; loss of cultural and national sovereignty, based on western or chinese values or politically charged (left or right) perspectives baked into the models".

Future Wars - How do we win?
Story: "Warfare is changing with drones/missiles/space but land border supremacy, a blue water navy, and air defenses continue to be the core of national security. Surging Indian defense exports are a source of soft power as well, and must be ramped up. Jet engines and other critical technologies need to be indigenized. Information warfare, quantum warfare, and the malicious use of indian data need to be defended against. 

Build world-class for भारत
Story: "The creation of world-leading infra such as highways, rail, port, airport and metro as well as living/working spaces is game-changing for the average citizen. Not only is the emerging indian aesthetic eg in the new airports a matter of civic pride, but the fact that india can build the world's highest rail bridge,electrify 99.9% of its railways, dramatically increase its renewable energy output, build a graceful new state capital city (Amaravati): all this means that efficiency with beauty is the new mantra."

Digital Payments Revolution: Here we come, world!
Story: "The Indian economy has grown steadily and has become resilient to external shocks. With the enthusiastic acceptance of UPI, india has set a global benchmark for Digital Public Infrastructure, and reduced its reliance on external players. The India Stack has the potential to further create "a multi-protocol switch" to complement SWIFT, ease trade in multiple currencies across multiple countries, and increase capital flows."

Space Tech - let a thousand flowers bloom
Story: "There is an explosion of innovation in the aerospace industry in india, both in ISRO and the private sector. In addition to the official Indian manned space flight program, and reusable rockets, we have firms such as Agnikul, Skyroot, Galaxeye and a host of other private companies doing leading-edge work. There are new opportunities, in addition to traditional space exploration, including space tourism, space/satellite based warfare, space data centers, and enhanced civilian applications"

Megaports with muscle - securing trade in the new Spice Route
Story: "India is reviving the maritime trading power which it had 3000 years ago, through deepwater container ports such as Vizhinjam and Vadhavan, efficient cargo movement, shipbuilding, etc. Dual-use ports such as Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar enable the defense of straits and sea lanes. With a blue-water navy, port infrastructure, and the India Stack, India can attempt to recreate its earlier dominance of Indian Ocean trade, via offering quick, dependable good transportation and multi-party compatibility."

Nanometers - does size really matter?
Story: "India has always had the design talent, but it typically works for foreign firms. The physical fabs in India are now beginning to come on line, and with the manufacturing know-how, even at 28nm+, India can move up the value chain. There are also DLI recipients that are taping out their products, with production initially in overseas fabs, but moving to India shortly. Sustained progress on both fronts can reduce supply chain risks for defense and electronics manufacturing"

Sports Analytics:

Education:
The coming explosion in manufacturing, for instance in electronics and in defense, needs a workforce that has hands-on experience. How can the Indian tertiary education system uplevel itself to supply the necessary skills and work experience in addition to the book learning? What models can be followed?

Govern.Next

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