Innovation in India: As Greatest Equaliser

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy & Intervention; GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• Recent innovation in India — particularly digital innovation — has emerged as a powerful equaliser, transforming governance, empowering citizens, and redefining access to opportunity.

Need of Innovation in India

• Innovation is the engine that can drive inclusive growth, global competitiveness, and sustainable development. It offers:
  • Scalable solutions to public service delivery;
  • Efficient use of resources in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing;
  • Empowerment of youth and entrepreneurs through digital tools;
  • Global competitiveness in emerging technologies like AI, biotech, and clean energy;
• According to the NITI Aayog, innovation has already played a transformative role in India’s Green, White, and Blue revolutions—lifting millions out of poverty and creating new livelihoods.

Innovation in India as an Equaliser

• Digital India and Connectivity: Digital India mission has expanded internet access to remote villages, making education, healthcare, and financial services accessible to all.
• JAM Trinity & India Stack:
  • Jan Dhan: 53+ crore bank accounts, bringing the unbanked into the formal economy.
  • Aadhaar: 142 crore digital identities; simplified verification, enabled e-KYC at just ₹5.
  • Mobile (UPI): 55 crore+ users; 20 billion transactions worth ₹24.85 lakh crore in Aug 2025 alone.
• Technology for Citizens:
  • PM-KISAN: Direct income support to 11 crore farmers.
  • DigiLocker: 57 crore users, 967 crore documents securely stored.
  • E-Services: From tax filing to traffic checks, everyday processes are simplified.
  • Education Technology: Tools like DIKSHA and SWAYAM are democratizing access to high-quality learning content.
• Governance and Accountability:
  • PRAGATI: PM-led monthly video conferences for real-time project monitoring.
  • Direct Benefit Transfer: Saved over ₹4.3 lakh crore by eliminating leakages.
• Space and Global Leadership:
  • Mars Orbiter Mission: World’s most cost-effective Mars mission.
  • Chandrayaan-3: First to land on Moon’s South Pole.
  • ISRO: 104 satellites in one launch; satellites launched for 34 nations.
  • CoWIN: Managed 200 crore vaccine doses with precision and transparency.
• Manufacturing and Innovation:
  • Stepwise approach from assembly to advanced semiconductor design.
  • India now designs cutting-edge chips (2nm, 3nm, 7nm).
  • Investments in fabs, packaging, chemicals, and gases to build a full ecosystem.
• Infrastructure with Intelligence:
  • PM Gati Shakti: Integrated GIS mapping of roads, rail, ports, and airports.
  • IndiaAI Mission: 38,000 GPUs at one-third global cost; datasets for AI innovation.
  • AIKosh: Supports development of indigenous AI in Indian languages and sectors.
• Engineering Marvels:
  • Statue of Unity: 182m tall, world’s tallest statue, transforming Kevadia into a tourism hub.
  • Chenab Bridge & Himalayan Tunnelling: Engineering breakthroughs in connectivity.
  • Pamban Bridge: Modern replacement for century-old structure.

Innovation in Governance and Public Policy

• Municipal and Rural Innovation: Institutional innovations like e-governance, citizen charters, and transparent municipal funds allocation have improved accountability at the grassroots level.
• Equalising Opportunities for Women and Marginalised Groups: Government initiatives in STEM promotion, entrepreneurship funds for women, and tribal innovation hubs are providing equal footing for historically disadvantaged communities.
• Healthcare Innovation: Telemedicine platforms and government health schemes like Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission are reducing geographical barriers to quality healthcare, especially in underserved regions.
• Grassroots Innovation Movements: The National Innovation Foundation has documented thousands of grassroots ideas, proving that innovation is not confined to laboratories but thrives in villages too.

Challenges to Innovation as an Equaliser in India

• Digital Divide: Rural and low-income communities still face limited access to high-speed internet, digital literacy, and tech infrastructure, despite rising smartphone penetration.
• Gender Gaps: Women often face barriers in accessing technology-driven opportunities.
• Startup Focus: Many Indian startups prioritize consumer convenience (e.g., food delivery, quick commerce) over deep-tech or grassroots innovation.
• Low R&D Orientation: India’s education system often emphasizes rote learning over creativity and problem-solving. It stifles innovation from the ground up.
  • Innovators often struggle to move from prototype to market due to lack of funding, testing facilities, and mentorship in NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.
• Unequal access to quality education: Technology in education has not yet bridged the gap between urban and rural learners.
  • ASER data shows that while smartphone access has increased, meaningful learning outcomes remain uneven.
• Lack of Skill: Indian industry often prioritizes low-cost labor over technological advancement.
  • Over 70% of manufacturing workers are in small, unregistered enterprises with minimal exposure to innovation.
  • A large portion of India’s workforce lacks job security, social benefits, or access to upskilling, making it harder to participate in or benefit from innovation.
• State-level Disparities: The India Innovation Index reveals wide gaps in innovation capacity between states, with southern and western states outperforming others.

Conclusion

• Innovation in India is indeed the greatest equaliser—transforming education, health, governance, and economy by bridging divides and creating new opportunities.
• While challenges persist, sustained policy support, grassroots participation, and inclusive design ensure that innovation is not just about economic growth but about social justice and empowerment.

Source: IE