Technology & Innovation

Technology has become the engine of modern development, transforming industries and societies at a pace unparalleled in history. India’s digital revolution—driven by initiatives like Digital India and widespread mobile connectivity—has created opportunities for inclusive growth while raising new policy challenges. Our Technology & Innovation pillar examines the governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, data governance and digital infrastructure. Inspired by research programmes dedicated to the digital economy and start up ecosystems, we explore how policy can foster innovation while safeguarding public interest.

The rapid expansion of India’s fintech sector illustrates how regulatory infrastructure can unlock innovation. Today the country hosts thousands of fintech firms and boasts one of the world’s largest fintech ecosystems. This success is attributed to digital public goods—open application programming interfaces, the unified payments interface, the Aadhaar identity framework, electronic know your customer protocols and electronic signatures—that facilitate affordable, secure transactions. We study how these innovations can be scaled, regulated and integrated into mainstream banking while protecting consumers and promoting financial inclusion. Our research also examines central bank digital currencies, open banking frameworks and payment interoperability to inform policymakers about benefits and risks.

Innovation policy must cultivate talent and ecosystems. We convene engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and ethicists to co create guidelines for artificial intelligence governance, quantum computing, blockchain applications and open source innovations. Our pillar hosts hackathons, policy labs and public consultations to identify solutions that balance innovation with ethical and societal considerations. We also analyse the vision of national initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission, which seeks to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design. Technology must serve inclusive development. We examine how digital exclusion affects marginalised communities and propose strategies for universal digital literacy. Through research papers, policy briefs and knowledge exchange, this section provides guidance for harnessing technology to create equitable and sustainable futures.

Article Paper

Digital Public Goods and Inclusive Growth

October 7, 2025