Lalit Garg
The twenty-first century has unmistakably become an era defined by artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and global competition over technological supply chains. In such a transformative period, India’s successful hosting of the AI Summit, followed immediately by its formal association with the U.S.-led group Pax Silica, is not merely a diplomatic accomplishment but a visionary and strategic milestone. It signals the emergence of a new India—one that possesses the capability to harmonize technological strength, ethical vision, and global balance. Through the AI Summit, India made it clear that it no longer wishes to remain merely a consumer of technology; it is prepared to assume the role of creator and guide. This marks a decisive step toward becoming the world’s third-largest AI power.
Over the past several years, China’s near 90 percent dominance over rare earth minerals and semiconductor supply chains has been a matter of global concern. From computer chips to defense systems and space technologies, nearly every modern sector depends on these critical resources. In this context, Pax Silica has been conceptualized as a balanced, reliable, and multipolar technological framework. India’s participation in this group is not symbolic—it is strategic and essential. India’s engineering excellence, vast pool of young talent, and rapidly developing semiconductor ecosystem will lend significant strength to this alliance. This initiative is not an act of aggression against any nation; rather, it is an effort to introduce balance and diversification into global supply chains. When power is decentralized and partnerships expand, the global order becomes more stable and equitable.
Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India has, over the past decade, placed technology at the heart of governance and development. Initiatives such as Digital India, Startup India, Make in India, and the Semiconductor Mission have laid a strong foundation for technological advancement. India’s Digital Public Infrastructure has today become a global model. Aadhaar, UPI, and digital service platforms have integrated millions into the economic mainstream. On this foundation, ambitious strides are now being taken in AI and chip manufacturing. The Prime Minister’s proactive engagement and India’s assertive presence on global platforms have established the country as a trusted technological partner. His vision extends beyond economic gains; it seeks to blend technological self-reliance with meaningful global collaboration.
India is actively attracting substantial investments to boost chip design, fabrication, and AI research. Global corporations increasingly view India as a stable democracy with a skilled workforce and long-term policy consistency. By becoming part of international frameworks like Pax Silica, India stands to benefit from technological cooperation, joint research initiatives, capital investments, and supply chain diversification. This will not only reduce overdependence on China but also strengthen national security and economic resilience. Such collaboration will deepen India’s engagement with leading technological powers, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and European nations, further elevating its stature in the global technological landscape.
India’s strength lies not only in its technological capacity but also in its cultural and ethical worldview. Inspired by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—India envisions AI as a tool for human-centered development. Its application in healthcare, education, agriculture, and disaster management can ensure widespread public welfare. If advanced technologies become concentrated in the hands of a few powers, global imbalances intensify. However, when democratic and inclusive nations guide their development, technology can become a force for collective progress. India advocates universal ethical standards in AI, ensuring that technology serves as an instrument of human advancement rather than a weapon of domination.
For India, artificial intelligence is not merely a technological tool but an extension of human consciousness. The civilization that offered the world the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” that upheld compassion, non-violence, and coexistence as core values, views AI not through the narrow lens of market competition or geopolitical dominance, but through the broader framework of human welfare and global harmony. The moral inspiration drawn from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and Gautama Buddha’s message of compassion reinforces the idea that technological advancement must be anchored in ethical discipline. Development must embody not only speed but direction, not only capability but sensitivity. If artificial intelligence is integrated with the holistic fabric of life—nature, society, and human dignity—India can offer the world a balanced model that prevents technology from becoming a source of destruction and instead transforms it into a powerful instrument of creativity, inclusion, and human flourishing.
Today, the world appears divided between two poles—centralized technological dominance on one side and a cooperative, balanced model on the other. India’s rise holds the potential to transform this polarization into equilibrium. India is neither pursuing confrontation nor embracing passivity; it is adopting a policy of active balance. Such equilibrium may well form the foundation of a peaceful global order in the future. Through Pax Silica, India and its partners can chart a new course where the benefits of technological innovation extend to the Global South, supply chains remain transparent, and global power structures stay stable. Undoubtedly, this is a historic moment for India. In the age of AI and semiconductors, this strategic step will elevate India’s economic and technological power to new heights.
Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the emerging technological and AI revolution is not only empowering India but also offering the world a new path of balance and cooperation. In the years ahead, this partnership could lay the foundation for a new global order—one in which technology becomes not a means of rivalry, but a vehicle for coordination and peace. India is moving forward with determination, positioning itself to play a constructive leadership role on the world stage.
