India Is the Future: It's Time for Indian IT to Re-Center Its Compass

In recent years, the Indian economy has been generating waves of innovation across multiple sectors. From e-commerce (especially quick-commerce and e-services) to real estate (especially industrial & logistics and flex spaces), from fintech (retail payments and micro-credit) to renewable energy (rooftop solar energy and green hydrogen), from chip design to electric vehicles (especially two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and SCVs) -- the list is long and growing fast. These innovations are not boutique or niche; they are India-scale—nation-sized markets where adoption runs in the tens of millions.

What makes this story even more interesting is that these advances are not happening only through Indian companies. Indian subsidiaries of foreign multinationals are just as active in investing, experimenting, and scaling. The result is that India is steadily becoming a global player in industries as diverse as semiconductors, AI, critical minerals, shipping, tourism, aircraft MRO, and even defence manufacturing.

Now, contrast this with the other thread that dominates the business press: Indian IT. In any given week (especially this week!) one finds speculation—optimistic and pessimistic alike—about its future. I have discussed this industry before: whether Indian IT should remain an industry-agnostic service provider, whether it should focus on functional specialisation, and whether it should co-develop foundational AI models instead of simply tailoring them.

Here is my fusion and pitch: India, despite rising international protectionism, is the future. Foreign multinational companies' CXOs say this, in different words, repeatedly. Read their interviews in Indian business dailies and the themes are familiar:-

- "India is our fastest growing market"
- "India will be among our top 3/5 markets by 2030"
- "India is one of our biggest innovation hubs"

The future pattern is unmistakable. The world’s corporations and governments will want access to India’s continent-sized market throughout the 2030s.

So the real question is: What is Indian IT chasing?

If the future is right here, then Indian IT must stop seeing itself only as a service arm for overseas clients. Whether it chooses to specialise functionally, to continue tailoring solutions, or to co-develop foundational AI, its primary clients will increasingly be right here in India. Indian IT must therefore embed itself in the many innovations unfolding across Indian industries.

What would this look like in practice? Here are a few plausibilities:-

Fintech: Building software that helps small businesses get credit instantly, or ensures smooth compliance with India’s strict payment rules.

Logistics & real estate: Creating digital platforms that cut delivery times and manage giant warehouses more efficiently.

Green energy: Developing apps and analytics that help households and companies monitor and sell surplus rooftop solar power.

EVs: Designing systems that track the health of electric two- and three-wheelers, or optimise fleet charging.

AI for India: Training AI systems in Indian languages, or for sectors like agriculture and healthcare, so they work for India’s unique conditions.


If Indian IT steps into these roles, it won’t just earn revenue. It will create intellectual property, exportable platforms for other emerging markets, and a reputation as a builder of future-ready systems.

But, of course, there are risks. Indian IT could get stuck in low-value services, lose focus in fragmented demand, or face capital pressures while building products. But with smarter business models—like sharing a slice of the customer’s savings or revenues instead of just charging fees—many of these risks can be managed.

The larger point remains clear: India is not just a large talent pool. It is becoming the largest and most dynamic laboratory and market for the 2030s. Indian IT must decide now whether it will simply remain a supplier of outsourced tasks, or whether it will be a co-creator of the India-scale innovations shaping the future.

The choice is in their hands—but the opportunity is in front of their eyes.

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