New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said India's linguistic and socio-cultural diversity is a major strength in the age of artificial intelligence, and solutions developed in the country can be scaled globally, particularly in regions such as Africa and Latin America.

Addressing Google's 'Lab to Impact' event here, Pradhan described technology as a strategic driver of national transformation and said artificial intelligence could add nearly USD 1.7 trillion to India's economy by 2035.

“AI is not only about economic value. It is about national capability and whether we create technology or merely consume it. A 'Viksit Bharat' cannot be built on borrowed ideas; it must rest on original research, institutional confidence and the ability to solve problems at scale,” he said.

Referring to emerging technologies, Pradhan said the swadeshi spirit in innovation means that data, language and research priorities are shaped by Indian realities, even as the country remains a global collaborator.

“India's diversity is often seen as a challenge, but in AI it is a strength. If AI systems can work for India, they can work for the world,” he said.

The minister said solutions built for Indian farmers, healthcare workers and students have the potential for adoption in other developing regions, underscoring India's shift towards becoming a global technology shaper.