ATUL KUMAR,
DIRECTOR-GLOBAL TRADE, CYBER DIPLOMACY,
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE- DSCI
Geopolitics is changing the whole paradigm of technology. In the last few months, sovereignty has become a central theme, driven by wars, export controls, sanctions, and restrictions on frontier technologies. AI model access, rollout delays, acquisitions, and government interventions highlight that technology usage is increasingly influenced by state-level decisions. The global conversation has shifted toward AI geopolitics, sovereign AI, sovereign compute, and control over frontier technologies. Massive capital investments in AI, rapid advancements in physical AI and device-level AI, and tighter government oversight are creating a complex technology landscape, and India must determine how to maintain its strategic edge.
The global technology order is being rewired. Supply chains are moving from cost optimization to trusted ecosystems. Internet governance has expanded into AI, cloud, telecom, and data governance, while cybersecurity has evolved from compliance to real-time resilience. The strategic drivers behind this shift include AI chips, semiconductors, quantum computing, cyber tools, regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act, and global technology standards.
Technology has also become the new geopolitical choke point. Critical minerals, semiconductors, GPUs, cloud infrastructure, firmware, and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools now shape national competitiveness, making supply chain diversification and trusted partnerships essential. India has already established global leadership through Digital Public Infrastructure and digital payments. The next phase is building resilience across critical infrastructure, trusted technology ecosystems, startup innovation, regulatory participation, and international collaboration, to strengthen Brand India as a trusted technology and cybersecurity leader.
