India’s Deep‑Tech Ascent: How Policy Is Turning Vision Into Reality

When Abhay Karandikar, a senior member of NITI Aayog and former secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, took the podium at IISER Thiruvananthapuram’s 14th convocation, the atmosphere was electric. He wasn’t just handing out degrees; he was laying out a roadmap for a nation that, in his words, has “evolved from a centre for frugal innovation into an emerging deep‑tech powerhouse.”

Karandikar reminded the fresh‑out of 210 BS‑MS graduates, 58 PhDs and dozens of other scholars that the real work was only just beginning. “Be lifelong learners,” he urged, “and let excellence, integrity and service guide how you apply science for the nation’s benefit.” He wove in a gentle warning: while artificial intelligence can accelerate discovery, the human spark—curiosity, creativity, ethical judgment—remains irreplaceable.

He then turned the conversation to the sweeping policy framework that, he argued, is the engine behind India’s deep‑tech surge. The National Quantum Mission, IndiaAI Mission, India Semiconductor Mission, National Supercomputing Mission, BioE³ Policy, Green Hydrogen Mission and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation—all launched over the past decade—have opened doors for young innovators like never before.

“These initiatives are not just funding calls,” Karandikar stressed, “they are ecosystems that connect labs, startups, and industry, turning bold ideas into market‑ready technologies.” He pointed to the rise of homegrown quantum‑computing prototypes, AI‑driven drug discovery platforms, and pilot semiconductor fabs as evidence that the policy push is bearing fruit.

The ceremony itself was a celebration of academic excellence. Vijayalaxmi Deshmane, chairperson of the Board of Governors, presided, while Director S. Murty Srinivasula conferred degrees on a diverse batch that included 21 Integrated PhD students and 78 MSc scholars. Among the honourees, Ananthakrishna P. shone brightly, clinching both the Institute Gold Medal for All‑Round Excellence and the Director’s Gold Medal for Academic Excellence.

In the closing moments, Karandikar left the graduates with a simple, resonant thought: the tools of deep‑tech are powerful, but they must be wielded responsibly. “When you step out of these halls,” he said, “carry with you the humility to ask the right questions and the courage to seek answers that uplift society.”