As India marks its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, the themes “150 Years of Vande Mataram” and “Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047” reflect both the country’s remarkable journey and its vision for the future. For the first time, Vande Mataram will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
In his column ‘Tiranga at 80’ (see p3), His Excellency P Kumaran, the new High Commissioner of India to the UK said the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 goes beyond economic growth. It envisages wider opportunities, greater innovation, stronger participation of women and youth, technology-driven development and sustainable, inclusive growth. With one of the world’s youngest populations, India’s energy, aspirations and creativity will be central to this transformation.
One of the parts of this vision is sustainable development. In his column ‘India’s Clean Energy Leadership in Green Hydrogen’, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri noted that non-fossil sources accounted for 51.93% of India’s installed power capacity by December 2025, exceeding its 50% NDC target. India also ranks fourth globally in installed renewable energy capacity. Puri said the energy transition must balance climate goals with rising demand, affordability and energy security, combining renewables, nuclear power, green hydrogen and energy efficiency with industrial growth and job creation.
India’s technological transition is accompanied by rapid economic growth. The IMF’s April 2026 outlook estimated India’s GDP at $3.92 trillion in 2025-26, making it the world’s sixth-largest economy. ASSOCHAM also identified India as an emerging manufacturing hub, driven by the China Plus One strategy and shifting global supply chains, with manufacturing growth rising from 3.44% in 2016-19 to 4.15% in 2022-25.
Former Indian Ambassador to France Dr Mohan Kumar said India must accelerate growth to achieve the Viksit Bharat goal of a $10-trillion economy by expanding global trade, exports and foreign investment.
Economic growth is being reinforced by India’s technological transformation. Aadhaar, UPI and digital governance platforms demonstrate the country’s ability to deploy technology at scale. Former Ambassador and author Gurjit Singh noted that missions such as Chandrayaan, Mars Orbiter, Aditya-L1 and Gaganyaan reflect India’s growing space capabilities. Chandrayaan-3’s successful lunar landing further boosted its global standing, while the expanding space economy offers opportunities in satellite communications, Earth observation, navigation and lunar exploration.
India is also advancing in semiconductors, critical minerals, AI and cybersecurity. However, greater investment in research and development and a willingness to take long-term risks will be essential to building globally competitive technology companies. These capabilities are becoming increasingly important as global disruptions have highlighted the need for technological and strategic self-reliance.
New era of growth and global reach
The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and Iran conflict have tested India’s resilience, yet the country has maintained strategic autonomy, strengthened energy security and emerged as a reliable partner, including by supplying vaccines to more than 110 countries during the pandemic.
Its growing defence capabilities, highlighted by Operation Sindoor in 2025, along with advances in missiles, naval power, space and cyber systems, have further strengthened its strategic position. Defence self-reliance and private-sector participation are also driving exports, which reached nearly Rs 39,000 crore in FY2025-26.
India’s young population adds another advantage, with a median age of around 29 and nearly 68% of people in the working-age group. Investment in education, skills and employment will be crucial to turning this demographic strength into sustained growth. Together with strong institutions such as the IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, these economic, technological and demographic strengths are expanding India’s global influence. The Lowy Institute’s 2025 Asia Power Index ranked India third in Asia, while its leadership in the G20 and BRICS and partnerships such as the Quad and I2U2 have strengthened its diplomatic reach.
This growing influence is also supported by India’s nearly 35-million-strong diaspora, which remains an important source of soft power. Prof Siddartha Khastgir, in his column, highlighted the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya’s contribution to building links between Indian industry and British manufacturing. In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, His Excellency P Kumaran (see p16-17) said the diaspora could evolve from being a “living bridge” into a more active partner in India-UK ties, driving investment, innovation, policy and people-to-people connections.
Tourism further complements India’s expanding global outreach, drawing visitors through its heritage, spirituality, diverse landscapes and growing connectivity. Medical tourism is also gaining ground, with India offering quality healthcare, skilled professionals and competitive costs. With the travel and tourism sector projected to reach $527 billion by 2036 and become the world’s fourth-largest tourism economy.
Across this special Independence Day edition, Asian Voice explores the many dimensions of India’s remarkable growth. From AI, clean energy and start-ups to Indian businesses expanding their global footprint, including in the UK, the features reflect a country embracing new opportunities.
