Hyderabad: The Indian IT industry needs to switch gears from a software services and software as a service (SaaS) model to an `AI as a Service’ with AI rapidly changing the structure of the IT industry and new models creating fresh capabilities and business opportunities every few weeks, Union IT, electronics and railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here on Saturday.Pointing out that Hyderabad is already making significant contributions in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, AI, Kavach technology, VFX and digital innovation, he said Hyderabad is all set to play a central role in India’s next phase of technology-led growth, as the country expands capabilities in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and digital infrastructure under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao at HYSEA meet
He said this while addressing media persons after a closed-door industry leaders’ townhall organised by the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA).Pointing out that India’s strength lies in the trust earned globally by its technology professionals through their ability to understand industries, identify problems and deliver practical solutions, he said the transition to AI-led services would require sustained collaboration between industry, academia and govt.Vaishnaw said NASSCOM, working with the govt, prepared an AI curriculum that was shared with the ministry of education and AICTE to expose students to the latest developments in the field.Highlighting semiconductor progress, Vaishnaw said India aspired to develop the sector since the 1960s, but the effort gained momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He said 12 semiconductor plants were at various stages of development, three of which began manufacturing chips for export to Japan, Europe and domestic markets. Advanced semiconductor design tools, including EDA tools, were provided to 315 universities to build talent in chip design.Pointing out that India’s growing semiconductor design ecosystem, coupled with a global shortage of skilled talent, presents a significant opportunity for the IT industry, he urged companies to leverage their strengths in electronics, IT, design and product development to create innovative semiconductor solutions.On electronics manufacturing, he said the sector crossed ₹13 lakh crore and was expected to reach ₹20 lakh crore soon. He said mobile phones emerged as India’s largest single export item last year, while electronics became the country’s third-largest export category.In Telangana, he said, the Centre supported 104 electronics manufacturing companies, four electronics manufacturing clusters and a common facility centre for testing and prototyping.On digital public infrastructure, he said the country has built a strong foundation over the past decade that has made India a global leader. He cited UPI transactions worth over ₹314 lakh crore as evidence of India’s expanding digital public infrastructure base even as indigenous 4G and 5G technologies, affordable data services and world-class digital platforms are accelerating innovation and economic growth across sectors.Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy said growth should extend beyond Hyderabad to tier-II cities such as Warangal and Karimnagar.Hyderabad to emerge as high-speed rail hubAshwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said that Hyderabad would be linked by three proposed bullet train corridors to Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru, making the city a high-speed rail hub.He said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project would open its first Surat-Bilimora section next year.Vaishnaw said Telangana now receives more than ₹5,400 crore annually for railway development, compared with about ₹880 crore for undivided Andhra Pradesh during the UPA period.He said about 40 Telangana stations are being redeveloped under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with Secunderabad, Nampally, Warangal, Karimnagar and Hitec City stations among projects completed or progressing rapidly statewide now.
