The Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an autonomous body under the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), published India's "Technology Vision 2035" in early 2016. It is an account of what we can (and should) be as a people and a country in 2035. TV 2035 claims to be inspired by the "collective aspirations of Indians, the ambitions of our youth, and the likely expectations of Indians in 2035 as the country grows." In this article, we will discuss regarding the Technology Vision 2035 which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Technology Vision 2035

What is Technology Vision Document 2035?

• The document presents a vision of Indian citizens' needs in 2035, as well as how technology can help bring this vision to fruition.
• People are said to be as important as technology in TV 2035: "It considers India's technological 'peoplescape' to be as important as its technological landscape."
• TV 2035 recognises that there is no India without Indians.
• This document is divided into six sections to explore the technological dimensions of this vision.
• The document also identifies 12 technology development sectors - Education, Medical Sciences and Healthcare, Food and Agriculture, Water, Energy, Environment, Habitat, Transportation, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Materials, and Information and Communication Technology.

Technology Vision Document 2035 – Prerogatives

• Twelve prerogatives should be available to every Indian, and ensuring their attainment is at the heart of our technology vision for India.
• Nonetheless, our people's inherent and enduring diversity would have to be factored into our policies in order to meet these prerogatives.
• To begin, different targets would need to be set for different population segments: while clean air is a greater challenge in our cities, potable water is a greater challenge in our rural areas.
• Second, technology delivery mechanisms would differ for different population segments: for example, ensuring water availability in our arid zones would present a number of challenges in terms of both technology creation and delivery.
• Finally, success in meeting our technology goals would have different social consequences depending on the characteristics of the population segment: connectivity, for example, would be far more enabling in our countryside than in our metropolitan areas.

Technology Vision Document 2035 – Essential Prerequisites

• Critical technologies that would assist in achieving these prerogatives are identified and placed on a timeline divided into four stages:
  • technology that already exists and is thus ready for deployment,
  • technology in pilot scale that must be scaled up in order to move from lab to land,
  • technology in the R&D stage that requires additional targeted research, and
  • technology that is still in the imagination and could emerge as a result of curiosity driven, paradigm shattering research.
• The vision document also mentions the three critical 'transversal' technologies - materials, manufacturing, and information and communication technology (ICT) - that serve as the foundation for all other technologies.
• Furthermore, this will necessitate a strong supporting infrastructure.
• Technology development cannot occur in isolation; it requires an enabling ecosystem and a teamwork culture. It must also heavily rely on cutting-edge fundamental research.

Technology Vision Document 2035 – Grand Challenges

• Many of the challenges encountered during this technology vision exercise could be easily related to our country's developmental needs.
• We attempted to connect technology to the real needs of the people and the country by identifying twelve prerogatives.
• However, it is important to recognise that some goals go beyond the prerogatives in the sense that they address enormous challenges, would be realised only in the medium term, and would necessitate concerted and herculean efforts.
• The Grand Challenges identified here share a few characteristics. They all have a single overarching goal with multiple specific targets.
• If the Grand Challenges are met, they will have a multiplier effect, resulting in positive spinoffs, virtuous cycles, and feed into a variety of sectors.
• The document focuses on the grand challenges in the field of technology that we should address as a nation and are as follows:
  • Guaranteeing nutritional Security and eliminating female and child anaemia
  • Ensuring quantity and quality of water in all rivers and aquatic bodies
  • Securing critical resources Commensurate with the size of our country
  • Providing learner centric, language neutral and Holistic education to all
  • Understanding national Climate patterns and adapting to them
  • Making India Non-fossil fuel based
  • Taking the railway to Leh and Tawang
  • Ensuring location and ability Independent electoral and financial empowerment
  • Developing commercially Viable decentralised and Distributed energy for all
  • Ensuring universal ecofriendly Waste management

Technology Vision Document 2035 – Capabilities & Constraints

• There has also been a heated debate about the social impact of technology and the trade-off between capital and labour.
• Capital-intensive technology has been projected as detrimental to the use of 'Manpower,' particularly in India with abundant human resources, because it is argued that it would reduce jobs.
• The Vision Document seeks to dispel this myth by arguing in favour of prudent policy and deliberate planning in the use of technology to teach new skills to workers and meet societal needs.
• It depicts technology as a great equaliser rather than a source of social stratification.
• To address these challenges, the Vision Document 2035 envisions a rational assessment of the Indian Technological Landscape's capabilities and constraints.
• From an Indian perspective, it divides technologies into six categories:
  • Technology leadership refers to those niche technologies in which we have core competencies, trained and skilled manpower, supportive infrastructure, an intellectual environment, and a traditional knowledge base, and can thus seek to assume a leadership role.
  • Technology independence refers to technologies that we would be forced to develop on our own because they are critical and simply would not be available elsewhere.
  • Technology innovation entails connecting disparate technologies or applying a breakthrough in one technology to another.
  • Technology adoption entails acquiring technologies from other sources, either by purchasing them or through a collaborative approach, and then modifying them to meet our needs, reducing our permanent reliance on other sources.
  • Technology dependence: those technological areas in which our country would remain dependent for reasons of infancy (technologies in which India is at the infancy stage and is likely to fall behind the curve in the long run), insignificance (technologies that are unlikely to have a significant impact on India's growth trajectory in the next 20 years), or redundancy (technologies that could easily be purchased from elsewhere and whose costs are low).
  • Technology constraints refer to areas where technology is threatening and problematic, either due to its negative environmental or social impact or due to serious legal and ethical issues.

Technology Vision Document 2035 – Comprehensive National Power

• In a separate section of the Vision Document, a 'Call to Action' is issued to all key stakeholders. It highlights the importance of long-term sustainability of India's technological prowess.
• Technical Education Institutions conduct large-scale advanced research that leads to game-changing innovations.
• The government increases its financial support from 1% to the long-planned 2% of GDP.
• In the core research sector, the number of full-time equivalent Scientists should increase.
• Participation and investment by the private sector in emerging technologies that are easily deployable and transferable from lab to field, thereby increasing efficiency in terms of technology and economic returns.
• The connection between academia, intelligence, and industry is established through idea exchange, innovative curriculum design based on industry needs, industry-sponsored student internships, and research fellowships, among other things.
• Creating a Research Ecosystem to translate research into a technology product/process by bringing together students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
• In addition, three key activities are identified as part of the 'Call to Action' in the document.
  • The first is the creation of knowledge. It asserts that India cannot afford not to be at the forefront of the applied or pure knowledge revolution.
  • The second activity is ecosystem design for innovation and development. Intriguingly, the document again states that the primary responsibility for ecosystem design must necessarily rest with government authorities.
  • A third key activity mentioned is technology deployment, which involves launching specific national missions with specific targets, defined timelines, and only a few carefully defined identified players.

Conclusion

While this vision document looks to the future while considering the entire country, the technology roadmap for each sector would provide details outlining future technology trends, R&D directives, research points, anticipated challenges, and policy imperatives for each sector.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What is the primary aim of the Technology Vision Document 2035?

A) To make India a global leader in technology
B) To develop space exploration programs
C) To increase international trade in technology
D) To increase defense capabilities

2. Which of the following is NOT a focus area of the Technology Vision Document 2035?

A) Artificial Intelligence
B) Biotechnology
C) Cybersecurity
D) Space Tourism

3. What role does innovation play in the Technology Vision Document 2035?

A) It is central to driving economic growth and technological advancements
B) It is limited to enhancing manufacturing processes
C) It is only focused on digital infrastructure
D) It is primarily aimed at improving agricultural productivity

4. How does the Technology Vision Document 2035 aim to improve the standard of living in India?

A) By focusing on rural development
B) By increasing the manufacturing of low-cost goods
C) By enhancing access to digital infrastructure and technology
D) By limiting technological advancements to defense

5. Which sector is highlighted as critical for the growth of India’s technology ecosystem in the Vision Document 2035?

A) Defense technology
B) Space technology
C) Clean energy
D) Tourism technology

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze how the Technology Vision Document 2035 aligns with India’s goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy.

Answer: The Technology Vision Document 2035 plays a pivotal role in India’s ambition to become a $5 trillion economy by enhancing the technological ecosystem in sectors such as AI, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. By focusing on innovation and digital transformation, the document aims to increase productivity, create new industries, and boost exports. Additionally, promoting research and development (R&D) and fostering entrepreneurship will help create jobs and improve economic competitiveness. The document’s emphasis on clean energy also aligns with sustainable growth, which is essential for long-term economic success.

Q2: How does the emphasis on digital infrastructure in the Technology Vision Document 2035 contribute to inclusive growth in India?

Answer: The focus on digital infrastructure in the Technology Vision Document 2035 is essential for promoting inclusive growth by improving access to services, education, and healthcare for all sections of society. Expanding broadband connectivity, particularly in rural areas, will bridge the digital divide, enabling people to benefit from digital education, telemedicine, and government services. By integrating underserved areas into the digital economy, the document aims to foster economic participation and reduce regional inequalities.

Q3: Discuss the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in transforming India’s industrial landscape as envisioned in the Technology Vision Document 2035.

Answer: The Technology Vision Document 2035 highlights artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics as transformative technologies for India’s industrial sector. AI and robotics can improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. By integrating these technologies into sectors like automotive, electronics, and agriculture, India can achieve higher productivity and competitiveness in global markets. Additionally, AI-driven automation can help address labor shortages and enhance precision in industrial processes, leading to a more robust and technologically advanced industrial landscape.

Previous Year Questions on Technology and Innovation

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: What is the key focus of India’s Technology Vision Document 2035?

A) To make India a global leader in clean energy
B) To establish India as a leader in space exploration
C) To improve technological infrastructure and innovation
D) To focus exclusively on artificial intelligence

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The document focuses on improving technological infrastructure and innovation across sectors to position India as a leader in various technological fields.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 3):

Question: How does the Technology Vision Document 2035 address India’s technological challenges and opportunities?

Answer: The document identifies key technological challenges such as limited infrastructure, dependence on imports, and the digital divide. It proposes solutions including investment in R&D, fostering innovation, expanding digital infrastructure, and promoting clean energy technologies. These initiatives are expected to transform India into a global technology hub by enhancing capabilities in AI, biotechnology, and cybersecurity, thereby addressing both current challenges and future opportunities.