The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has underscored that India’s march toward becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 is not just a policy goal but a shared national mission that calls for collective participation. Speaking at Stanford University in the United States, the minister highlighted India’s growth story, stressing that the mission is rooted in the principles of inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven development.
Emphasizing India’s rapid economic ascent, Sitharaman said the country has emerged from being the world’s tenth-largest economy to the fifth-largest. “This is a testament to India’s resilience, growing global relevance, and visionary leadership,” she noted.
Among the significant milestones of India’s development journey, the Finance Minister pointed to the success of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which has become a model for many countries. From Aadhaar to UPI, India’s digital stack has democratized access to services and transformed lives, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Touching upon social progress, Sitharaman highlighted several key initiatives aimed at empowering women. She noted that maternity leave for working women has been extended to six months—an initiative strongly backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In addition, property registration in women’s names comes with tax concessions, promoting asset ownership and financial independence among women.
She also referenced the Poshan Scheme, which addresses the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating mothers, further strengthening the government’s commitment to women’s health and well-being. “India is changing, and Indian women are changing too,” she added.
Earlier, the Finance Minister met with Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian in San Francisco. The two discussed India’s burgeoning digital infrastructure and its transformation under the Digital India initiative. Kurian commended the strides India is making in artificial intelligence and digital adoption and expressed interest in enhancing global connectivity through land and sea cables.
Kurian also outlined Google Cloud’s commitment to operating entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030 and spoke about potential investment strategies in India. Sitharaman encouraged Google to deepen its local partnerships and contribute to the Make in India initiative by developing technologies for both Indian and global markets.
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