Chandrababu Naidu Highlights India's Future in AI, Green Energy, and Economic Growth at IIT Madras Summit
Chennai, March 28, 2025: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu addressed the All India Research Scholars Summit (AIRSS)-2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, where he emphasised India's future in artificial intelligence, green energy, and digital innovation. The four-day summit brought together leading researchers, academics, and industry leaders to foster collaboration and excellence in science and technology.
Introduced by Professor V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, as the visionary behind the transformation of Cyberabad, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu commended the institution’s contribution to India’s technological progress. He praised its support for startups like Agnikul Cosmos and Mindgrow Technologies, which he said have positioned India at the forefront of global innovation in space and semiconductor technologies.
Reflecting on India's economic evolution, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu recalled the era of a mixed economy before liberalisation and noted the pivotal role of the 1992 reforms. He stated that his recommendations on telecom deregulation had helped accelerate digital development. Citing his 1990s meeting with Bill Gates, he explained how this led to Microsoft’s establishment in Hyderabad, and he highlighted the global success of Indian leaders such as Satya Nadella.
He described India’s digital achievements through initiatives such as Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), stating that by December 2024, the country recorded 1,673 crore UPI transactions valued at more than USD 2.4 trillion. He projected that India, currently the world’s fifth-largest economy, could rise to first or second position by 2047.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu discussed the global Indian presence, saying that Indians were leading in Silicon Valley, NASA, and Wall Street, and predicted that by 2047, they would be the most influential community worldwide. He stressed that India leads in AI adoption, with 65% of Indians using AI compared to the global average of 30%, and urged students to focus on real-time AI applications and emerging technologies like quantum computing.
He announced the establishment of a “Quantum Valley” in Amaravati in partnership with IIT Madras. He recalled his role in developing Hyderabad’s Hi-Tech City in 1995 and urged the academic community to focus on practical innovations in AI. He said Andhra Pradesh is collaborating with IIT Madras, IBM, TCS, and the Government of India to advance deep technology development.
On the digital infrastructure front, he revealed that Google would be setting up a data center in Andhra Pradesh and that a submarine cable from Singapore to Visakhapatnam would enhance global digital connectivity. He also spoke about demographic challenges, noting falling fertility rates in southern India and advocating for balanced population growth and skilled migration.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s leadership in renewable energy, stating that solar power now costs Rs 2 per unit, as he had predicted. He noted that India aims to produce 500 gigawatts of green energy within five years, with 160 gigawatts expected from Andhra Pradesh. He stated that the state would attract Rs 10 lakh crore in green energy investments and create 7.5 lakh jobs. He mentioned that NTPC was setting up a green hydrogen facility, and that Reliance was investing in bioenergy. He also announced plans to install rooftop solar panels in 2 million homes over the next two years.
On policy and governance, he underscored the importance of stability, cautioning against the risks of erratic policymaking. He advocated for stronger public-private partnerships in education and urged greater philanthropic involvement. He said Andhra Pradesh’s IT policy had transformed the state’s development and emphasised the need for cooperation between policymakers and technocrats.
He concluded by encouraging students to adopt artificial intelligence more broadly, pointing out that 60% of Indians are already using AI. He called for nationwide innovation using historical data and real-time analytics. He shared a light-hearted anecdote about a smart ring he wears to monitor his daily health, highlighting the potential of AI in everyday life.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu assured young entrepreneurs and researchers that Andhra Pradesh offers a conducive environment for innovation and proof-of-concept development. He expressed optimism about India’s growth trajectory, asserting that technological leadership and effective governance could lead the country to sustained double-digit economic growth and global leadership by 2047.