New Delhi: NITI Aayog launched its latest Frontier Tech Hub research On Wednesday, “AI for Inclusive Societal Development,” in partnership with Deloitte. This is a big step towards using artificial intelligence (AI) in India’s growth. The paper looks at how AI and cutting-edge technologies could change the lives of India’s 490 million informal workers, who make up almost half of the country’s GDP but are mostly left out of formal systems of protection and productivity.
Jayant Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Minister of State for Education, and Suman Bery, the Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, started the report.
Giving authority to India’s informal workers
Jayant Chaudhary spoke at the inaugural event and said that the research shows how to use AI to make the informal sector more inclusive and productive, which is very similar to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
He remarked, “Giving India’s informal workers more power is not only an economic priority, it is also a moral duty.”
Digital Skilling in AI’s goal is to make learning flexible, accessible, and demand-driven, which fits perfectly with our national skilling strategy. This mission will bring together government, business, and civil society to make sure that every worker, whether they are a farmer, an artisan, or a healthcare aide, has the tools and chances they need to do well in the digital economy of the future.
AI with Human Intent
The paper stresses that even if AI has a lot of potential, technology alone can’t break down deep-seated structural limitations. Without human motivation, dedicated effort, and a supportive ecosystem, it will remain out of reach for those who need it most.
NITI Aayog came up with a national project dubbed “Mission Digital ShramSetu” to make AI available, affordable, and useful for all Indian workers. The mission’s goal is to use cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, immersive learning, and others to solve big problems including financial instability, limited market access, and a lack of social safety. This will enable informal workers be more productive and have more respect at work.
Working together is important
BVR Subrahmanyam, the CEO of NITI Aayog, stressed how important it is for different sectors to work together:
“If we really want to change the lives of India’s 490 million informal workers, we have to work together. It’s not an option; it’s a must.”
To reach this goal, people from many departments need to work together. This includes R&D that lowers the cost of cutting-edge technology, creating a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the informal sector, and training and retraining people on a large scale.
A Warning About Delays
The report also said that India could lose a lot of money if changes are put off. If things keep going the way they are, the average annual income of informal workers could stay around $6,000 by 2047. This is much lower than the $14,500 needed for India to become a high-income country.
“We can’t leave behind the 490 million workers who fuel our economy every day if India wants to reach its $30 trillion Viksit Bharat 2047 goal. “AI won’t change their lives on its own; we need to carefully plan the roadmap and ecosystem that will make these technologies available and affordable,” said Debjani Ghosh, Chief Architect of the Frontier Tech Hub and Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog.