New Delhi, Oct 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged India to embrace future technologies, innovate boldly and take the lead in creating them, while warning of new security challenges in the age of artificial intelligence.
Nation must move from 'catching up' to shaping technology
Addressing the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC)–2026 in New Delhi, Modi said that India is progressing with a renewed mindset and confidence in science and technology. He traced India’s historical relationship with knowledge — from the discovery of zero and the development of the number system to advances in astronomy — and said the country is carrying that scientific heritage forward.
The prime minister contrasted earlier eras when India largely caught up with global innovations to a new phase in which the country aims to create and direct technologies "for India, for the world, for today, and for tomorrow."
"India must embrace technology of the future, innovate boldly, and lead the world in creating them," he said.
AI: productivity gains and new responsibilities
Modi acknowledged the potential of artificial intelligence to rapidly perform routine tasks and boost productivity. However, he emphasised that AI should enrich independent thinking rather than constrain it. According to his address, the freeing up of researchers’ time through automation must be channelled into tackling harder problems, conducting new experiments and validating ideas.
He also highlighted the emergence of AI-era threats — particularly to financial networks and national security — and called for development of protective technologies.
- Defensive focus: Modi urged development of AI-based and quantum security solutions to safeguard national systems.
- Research priority: Use gains from automation to pursue complex scientific questions and experimental validation.
- Global ambition: Transition from adopting existing innovations to actively shaping and creating future technologies.
Implications and context
The prime minister’s remarks at ESTIC-2026 underline a policy orientation that blends national technological self-reliance with global leadership. By stressing both the creative potential of AI and its attendant security risks, the address sets out a dual agenda: harness AI for productivity and discovery, while investing in advanced defensive capabilities such as quantum- and AI-powered security systems.
Modi’s invocation of India’s long intellectual tradition framed the push for modern scientific leadership as a continuity of historical strengths in mathematics and astronomy. The call to shape technology — not merely adopt it — signals an expectation that researchers, industry and government will prioritise indigenous innovation across emerging fields.
| Focus area | Priority highlighted |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | Boost productivity; preserve independent thinking; enable complex research |
| Security | Protect financial networks and national assets using AI and quantum solutions |
| National ambition | Move from adoption to creation and global leadership in new technologies |
ESTIC-2026 provided the platform for these pronouncements, with the prime minister articulating an agenda that links technological capability to national confidence and global contribution. His warning about AI-era cybersecurity threats highlights a growing policy concern that will shape future investments in defence, financial safeguards and research infrastructure.
By framing innovation as both an economic and a civilisational mission, the address seeks to align India’s scientific community and industry with a long-term strategy of technological self-determination and global engagement.
