New Delhi: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said India was advancing at a very fast pace in quantum and AI technologies and asserted that the country’s youth would play a key role in building Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Dr. Jitendra Singh made the remarks while inaugurating the “Lakshya 2047” Centre for Future Skills, Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities at Parul University in Vadodara on Thursday.
The Minister said India had already achieved the target of 1,000 km secure quantum communication within three years under the National Quantum Mission. He stated that the target was completed in less than half of the projected timeline.
According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, the government was aligning higher education with emerging sectors such as quantum and AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity and deep technology. He said the Centre for Future Skills would train students in nine advanced technology domains through collaborations with the National Skill Development Corporation, Ethnotech and Cambridge University Press and Assessment.
The Minister also highlighted the progress of the India AI Mission launched in 2024. He said the initiative was creating a strong ecosystem around datasets, innovation, compute infrastructure and future skills development.
Quantum and AI initiatives focus on youth skills
Dr. Jitendra Singh said continuous skilling and re-skilling had become essential because of rapid technological changes. He noted that nearly 70% of India’s population was below the age of 40 and described it as a major demographic advantage.
He said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was encouraging stronger collaboration among academia, startups and private institutions to support innovation and research.
The Minister also referred to initiatives such as the National Education Policy 2020, Atal Tinkering Labs and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. He stated that these programmes aimed to expand access to science, research and innovation opportunities across the country.
Moreover, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India was promoting responsible and inclusive use of artificial intelligence. Referring to the Delhi Declaration on responsible AI, he stressed that technology should benefit vulnerable and underserved communities.
He also called on young Indians to actively contribute to the country’s development journey and said the generation of today would lead India when the nation marks 100 years of Independence in 2047.
