SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
NITI Aayog | Ministry of Finance | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
The January 2026 edition of NITIसंधान, the quarterly newsletter by the Research and Networking (R&N) Division of NITI Aayog, highlights key initiatives and establishes a roadmap for Viksit Bharat @2047, pivoting on the mobilization of long-term capital and the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. At the core of infrastructure development is the UK–India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB), which, in its first year, has moved from project-centric to deal-centric thinking, focusing on unlocking a $4.5 trillion gap by 2030 through global ESG standards and transparent risk management.
A major focus of the roadmap is the integration of AI to drive societal development and job creation:
The AI Economy: Two distinct roadmaps focus on reskilling the workforce and positioning India as a global AI hub, with a specific focus on “AI by HER” to foster women’s mentorship and innovation.
Mission Digital ShramSetu: This national mission targets India’s 490 million informal workers, utilizing AI, blockchain, and smart contracts to provide verifiable identities and social security.
Sectoral Frontier Tech Roadmaps: India aims to be a Top 3 Quantum Economy by 2035, capturing 50% of the global quantum software market. In energy, the goal is 100 MTPA of coal gasification by 2030 using indigenous technologies to reduce import dependency.
Inclusive Sustainability: Initiatives span from Blue Economy fisheries to water budgeting via the Varuni application and ensuring all-weather tap water in the Himalayas.
What is the ‘Mission Digital ShramSetu’? It is a national technology mission proposed by NITI Aayog to bridge the gap between India’s 490 million informal workers and formal economic protections. By leveraging AI for voice-based access, blockchain for smart contracts to ensure fair pay, and a federated credentialing system, it seeks to raise average informal worker income from $1,800 to $14,500 by 2047. The mission aims to transform workers—ranging from artisans to healthcare aides—into catalysts for a $30 trillion economy.
Policy Relevance
This roadmap functions as a coordinated multisectoral framework to shift India from a services-heavy economy into a high-income, technologically sovereign nation.
Strategic Impact for India:
Bridging the Income Gap: Without the AI interventions like Digital ShramSetu, informal worker incomes are projected to stagnate at $6,000 by 2047, far below the high-income target.
Financial Sovereignty: Growth of the Corporate Bond Market and integration with the City of London through UKIIFB aim to diversify India’s financing sources for large-scale urban and climate projects.
Gender Parity as Growth Lever: The roadmap aims to bring 145 million women into the workforce by 2047, addressing the current low participation rate of 15% in the informal trade sector.
Technological Independence: Targeted roadmaps in Quantum Computing and Coal Gasification ensure strategic autonomy in national security, communication, and energy sectors.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the government harmonize domestic and international ESG compliance expectations to ensure that the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge can attract ‘patient capital’ without creating excessive regulatory burdens for Indian project sponsors?
Follow the full news here: January 2026 edition of NITIसंधान