Future Forward: How Tech Will Drive India’s Sustainable Leap By 2047

By Dr. Sanjay Srivastava

As we are a little more than 2 decades into commemorating the centenary years of India’s independence in 2047, it’s time for us to reflect not just on how far we’ve come, but where we are headed. Alongside this, there’s a growing urgency to ask: what kind of future are we building? The government’s vision of Viksit Bharat outlines an ambitious, hopeful path — one where India emerges not just as a developed economy, but as a nation that leads with responsibility, resilience, sustainability and equity.

The future seems to rest on how we engage with three things: technology, sustainability, and people, and the space where they converge is where our most powerful transformations are taking place. Clean energy is no longer a buzzword — it’s becoming a way of life.

India’s clean energy transformation is no longer limited to policy papers. Currently, we have been witnessing a gradual shift towards non-fossil fuel sources, such as seen in solar parks in Rajasthan to wind farms in Tamil Nadu. So, we can say, India’s aim to produce 500 GW of renewable energy looks promising!

Solar microgrids have begun to power local businesses, schools, and residences in rural areas. In remote areas, clean cooking and biogas solutions are trying to ease the burden on women and the environment. These wins may be small, but they add up and bring dignity, stability, and the kind of local ownership that top-down policies often miss out on.

Local Solutions For Global Problems

India’s innovation in sustainable infrastructure is also deeply linked to its ability to localise global solutions. Instead of importing models that may not work in our social and economic context, we’re seeing the rise of frugal innovation, where cost-effective, scalable, and context-aware technologies are built indigenously. Whether it is modular solar units for off-grid villages or AI-powered weather alerts in regional languages, these interventions reflect not just technological progress but cultural intelligence.

Climate tech is helping us prepare for a future that is already incoming. We have to be honest — climate change isn’t a future problem anymore. It’s here. We’re seeing extreme weather events, shifting seasons, and stressed natural resources. But we’re also seeing incredible innovation. Young entrepreneurs are using satellite data to help farmers make better crop decisions. Cities are experimenting with smart water management systems and low-emission public transport. We’ve moved from reacting to predicting — and that shift could be a game-changer.

What’s most hopeful is that these solutions are coming from within India — from small labs, rural incubators, and early-stage startups solving for our specific challenges. We’re learning to look at waste differently. One of the most powerful shifts we’re seeing is in the mindset, especially around waste. In India, there’s growing momentum towards a circular economy, where waste isn’t the end of a product’s life, but the beginning of another. Recycling has been something which is being understood by people, and they strive to follow the principle R’s of waste management.

Plastic is being repurposed into furniture and roads. Textile waste is fuelling new business models in fashion. Even e-waste is being mined for precious metals, thanks to smart tech. The role of regulation, like Extended Producer Responsibility, is also pushing the private sector to think long term. We’ve been talking about sustainability for decades. The difference now is that technology is making it visible, viable, and even profitable.

Where do universities come in?

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||

Bhagavad Gita; Chapter 3, Verse 21

In Bhagavad Gita, the Lord propounds: “Whatever action a great person performs, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world pursues.” Universities, as thought leaders, set the tone for responsible innovation and sustainable living. Their actions influence youth and society alike. Many universities now understand that education isn’t just about preparing students for working in corporations or otherwise — it’s about preparing them for the real world. They root sustainability into their curriculum, not as a subject, but as a lens through which students can see the real world. Students must be encouraged to work on real-world projects around areas like water conservation, clean mobility, and waste management. The labs can double up as innovation hubs for climate tech. Many campuses are slowly becoming a model for low-carbon living, with energy-efficient buildings, green transport, and active biodiversity efforts.

We also know that change happens faster when work is being done collectively. That’s why collaboration with local communities, industry partners, and government bodies can make sure that research and ideas don’t stay confined to campus walls. When people from all walks of life join hands together, the impact will be bigger and greater.

The future workforce will not just be green-skilled, but green-minded. Embedding sustainability into higher education isn’t only about equipping students with technical know-how — it’s about instilling values of stewardship, systems thinking, and ethical leadership. When the students prototype zero-waste businesses, build community composting models, or study the carbon footprint of everyday choices, they begin to see themselves as change agents — not just graduates seeking jobs, but citizens shaping futures. 

2047 isn’t far away. But it’s not the finish line either

The vision for Viksit Bharat is bold, and rightly so. But it’s not about one moment in time — it’s about building systems that last well beyond 2047. It’s about ensuring that growth doesn’t widen gaps, and that technology doesn’t outpace ethics. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: real change doesn’t start in policy documents or conference rooms. It starts in classrooms. In small labs. In local communities. In the minds of young people who still believe they can make a difference, and yes, we all can!

That’s where India’s sustainable future will be shaped. And that’s where our focus, as educators and institutions, needs to be.

(The author is the Vice Chancellor, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies)

Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.

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