Strategy for Viksit Bharat @2047

 The Niti Aayog published a working paper titled “India’s Path to Global Leadership: Strategic Imperatives for Viksit Bharat @2047”, in April 2025. The paper presents a roadmap for India’s economic growth, encompassing sustainability, social inclusion, national security, and global leadership.

The paper outlines a strategic framework for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047, by focusing on four key tasks: (i) Economic Competitiveness and Growth; (ii) National Security and Stability; (iii) Global Partnerships and Strategic Influence; and (iv)Legal Reforms and Good Governance. The paper emphasizes that successful completion of these tasks will require collective effort, collaboration, and sustained commitment across all sectors of society, government, and industry.

Summary of the working paper

Four Strategic Pillars

·         Economic Competitiveness & Growth: streamline regulations, boost innovation (R&D, AI, smart cities), enhance human capital, infrastructure, and digitalization.

·         National Security & Stability: modernize defense, strengthen cybersecurity, ensure internal stability, and build disaster resilience.

·         Global Partnerships & Strategic Influence: expand trade and diplomatic ties, engage in multilateral forums, secure technology/resource deals, and lead on global issues.

·         Legal Reforms & Good Governance: increase judicial efficiency, simplify regulations, combat corruption, and enhance transparency.

Roadmap and vision

Economic Growth

·         Target sustained 8-10% annual GDP growth through structural reforms, infrastructure development, and digital transformation.

·         Focus on enhancing manufacturing, services, and exports to drive economic expansion.

·         Emphasize on sustainable growth, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070 through renewable energy and sustainable practices.

Human Development

·         Ensure universal access to quality education, healthcare, and skill development to build a future-ready workforce.

·         Aim to reduce poverty and inequality, ensuring inclusive growth across regions and communities.

·         Promote women-led development through policies enhancing workforce participation and leadership roles.

Technology and Innovation

·         Attain leadership in AI, quantum computing, and green technologies to position India as a global innovation hub.

·         Scale up R&D investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2047, fostering public-private partnerships.

·         Achieve digital inclusion through nationwide high-speed internet and digital literacy programs.

Infrastructure Development

·         Make massive investments in physical infrastructure (roads, railways, ports) and urban development to support economic growth.

·         Promote smart cities and sustainable urban planning to accommodate a growing urban population.

·         Develop resilient infrastructure to address climate change challenges.

Global Leadership

·         Become voice for the Global South, pursue equitable global governance.

·         Look for strong strategic partnerships with major economies while maintaining strategic autonomy.

·         Use foreign policy to diversify supply chains and energy imports. Build coalitions for green‑tech, regulatory alignment, and IP protection. Streamline bureaucracy to support investment and tech transfer.

·         Enhance India’s soft power through culture, diaspora engagement, and international cooperation.

Governance and Reforms

·         Streamline regulatory frameworks to improve ease of doing business and attract FDI.

·         Pursue judicial and administrative reforms to ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

·         Promote cooperative federalism, empowering states to align with national development goals.

Social and Environmental Sustainability

·         Focus on achieving SDGs, particularly in health, education, and gender equality.

·         Promote sustainable agriculture and food security through technology and policy interventions.

·         Prioritize environmental conservation, including afforestation and biodiversity protection.

Security and Resilience

·         Strengthen national security through modernization of defense and cybersecurity frameworks.

·         Reduce reliance on foreign suppliers; diversify sourcing. Use PPPs for maintenance, land use, R&D, and MSME participation. Encourage foreign partnerships for tech transfer and joint exercises. Adopt blockchain, encryption, cybersecurity protocols.

·         Update defence laws (e.g., Defence Acquisition Procedures, Defence of India Act).

·         Make the planning process strong enough to build resilience against economic, environmental, and geopolitical shocks.

Key Economic Challenges

Complex regulations, poor infrastructure, low R&D investment, rigid labour laws, energy insecurity, and limited global supply‑chain integration.

Recommended Economic Reforms

·         Simplify bureaucracy via e‑governance and single‑window systems.

·         Modernize judiciary: fast‑track courts, digital case management, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism.

·         Reform labour laws and support gig workers.

·         Strengthen education, vocational training, and industry‑academe linkages.

·         Boost R&D with tax incentives, grants, and innovation hubs.

·         Invest in logistics, smart cities, and digital infrastructure.

·         Pursue balanced energy policy: renewables, efficiency, reserves.

·         Negotiate Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), modernize Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), integrate into global value chains.

·         Consolidate fiscal policies, optimize spending, manage debt, stabilize the rupee.

The report is more of a vision document rather than an action plan, Its sets out ambitious targets like (i) sustained annual GDP growth of 8-10%; (ii) achieving net-zero emissions by 2070; (iii) scaling up R&D investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2047; and (iv) enhancing manufacturing and services, promoting green growth, and investing in education and healthcare. It also talks about some structural reforms like (i) streamlining regulatory frameworks to improve the ease of doing business; (ii) promoting cooperative federalism; and (iii) encouraging women-led development through workforce participation policies.

However, it does not answer the question “how”. Previously several policy papers and election manifesto have spoken about these targets, tasks, goals and reforms. The execution has however been lacking consistently. It is to be seen whether things could be different this time.

If things do turn out to be different this time, we may see two decades of accelerated, sustainable and inclusive growth. As of this morning, I have little to hold this hope. But the way things are evolving globally, the situation may change quickly and dramatically. I am therefore keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.