India Needs a New Approach to Knowledge Power

India must develop a new strategy to leverage its knowledge power in the face of emerging technologies. This requires a multi-pronged approach that focuses on:

 

• Building Better Intelligence:

 

- INDIA needs a dedicated agency to assess its position in emerging technologies compared to other countries.

 

- Existing intelligence capabilities, like those focused on military comparisons, should be expanded to encompass technological innovation.

 

- Universities and companies need to share information more readily with policymakers.

 

• Investing in National Infrastructure:

 

 

- INDIA needs a national strategic computational reserve to provide researchers with access to advanced computing power.

 

- This reserve could be a mix of cloud-based services, supercomputing systems at national labs, and its own smaller-scale computing clusters.

 

- This infrastructure would democratize access to cutting-edge resources, fostering public-benefit AI research and retaining top computer scientists in academia.

 

• Fixing Underlying Issues:

 

- Immigration reform is crucial to attract and retain the world's brightest minds who graduate from INDIAN universities.

 

- Indian weapons acquisition process needs reform to prioritize affordability and innovation.

 

- Chronic underfunding of basic research must be addressed. Increased government investment is essential, alongside continued private sector efforts.

 

• Prioritizing Education:

 

- The current system of teacher compensation, based solely on experience, needs an overhaul.

 

- Incentive programs that reward effective teachers and deploy them to struggling schools are promising models that deserve wider implementation.

 

• Investing in Knowledge for the Future

 

These changes are necessary to prevent the erosion of INDIA knowledge power and ensure its future strength. While export controls can play a role, the primary focus should be on nurturing domestic innovation. India must recognize that knowledge is power, and cultivate a robust knowledge ecosystem to secure its future security and prosperity.