THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI

. Director, IIM (Lucknow), Prof. Manmohan Prasad Ji,

. Faulty Members,

. Distinguished   Guests   and   my   dear   students   of   IIM Lucknow.

India is, today, at an important point, in its development journey. As we look towards 2047- the centenary of our Independence, the question before us, is not simply, how large our economy, can become, or how advanced, our technology can be.

The larger question is, what kind of nation, we want India to be, and what role, each generation, particularly our young people, will play, in building it.

India @2047, is a vision of a developed, and confident India, but it is also a vision, that places people, at its centre. Our young population, will be one of our greatest strengths, in this journey.

The challenge before us, is to ensure, that this demographic strength, is translated into knowledge, skills, employment, entrepreneur, and leadership.

There are encouraging signs, in this direction. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, India’s Worker Population Ratio, for those aged 15, and above, increased from 46.8 per cent

in 2017-18, to 57.4 per cent in 2025, while the unemployment rate declined, from 6 per cent to 3.1 per cent.

Among young people, between 15 and 29, the Worker Population Ratio, also increased significantly, while youth unemployment declined. These changes point towards, a growing participation of young Indians, in the workforce.

But the employment story, is not only, about numbers. It is also about, the kind of opportunities, we are creating, and the capabilities, that our young people, are developing.

The employ ability, of young graduates, has also increased, and this is an important shift, because the economy of the future, will demand more than, academic qualifications.

It will require practical skills, adaptability, digital literacy, communication, problem-solving, and the ability, to keep learning.

This brings us to the larger question, of what India’s growth, should look like, as we move towards 2047.

In his Independence Day address, this year, our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, presented the idea of Sapt Dhara, seven streams of strength, that can give India, greater momentum, in the years ahead. These include manufacturing, agriculture, and food production, technology, and innovation, Gati Shakti, defence power, the green and blue economy, and India’s soft power. Importantly, the Prime Minister, linked this framework,

with the need, to fully harness, the potential of India’s youth, for nation-building.

This is a useful way, of looking, at the role of young Indians. Our young people, should not simply be, beneficiaries of these seven streams. They should be the people, who drive them.

Take manufacturing. India has an opportunity, to become a trusted part, of global supply chains, but this will require us, to develop capabilities, across the entire value chain, from components, and design, to advanced manufacturing, and finished products.

For young Indians, this creates opportunities, far beyond traditional factory employment. It means opportunities, in engineering, product design, research, robotics, electronics, logistics, entrepreneurship, and advanced manufacturing. The ambition should be, not simply, to make products in India, but increasingly to design, develop, and innovate, in India.

The same is true of agriculture, and food production. India has enormous strengths, in agriculture, but the opportunity ahead lies, in connecting our farms, more effectively with processing, technology, branding, and global markets. Young people can play an important role here, through agritech, food processing, supply-chain innovation, and new approaches, to sustainable agriculture.

Technology and innovation, however, will perhaps be among, the most important drivers, of India’s future.

The Prime Minister has emphasised, that India should not remain, merely a market, for new technologies, but should become a hub, of innovation. AI, quantum technology, space, robotics, semiconductors, cybersecurity and next-generation communications, are opening areas of opportunity, that were barely visible, to previous generations. He has also set the goal, of taking Made-in-India, 6G, to every corner of the world.

This is where, the imagination of young Indians, becomes particularly important.

A student developing an application, that helps farmers, use water more efficiently, a researcher, working on a new medical technology, an entrepreneur, building a cybersecurity platform, or

an engineer, working on space or semiconductor technologies may each, be solving a specific problem. But together, these efforts strengthen, India’s technology and economic capabilities.

Innovation, therefore, should not be understood, only in terms of large laboratories, or technology companies. It can emerge from a university, a start-up, an MSME, a village, a farm or even a classroom. Sometimes innovation, is simply the ability, to look at an old problem, and ask whether, there is a better way, of solving it.

There is also, a strong connection, between infrastructure and opportunity. Gati Shakti is not, simply about, building roads, railways,  airports,  ports,  or  logistics  networks.  It  is  about

connecting, these systems, so that people, goods, and businesses, can move more efficiently.

The same principle applies, to the green and blue economy. India’s transition towards, renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy storage, green mobility, and sustainable manufacturing, will create new areas of employment, and innovation. Our coastline, also provides opportunities, in fisheries, coastal tourism, maritime industries, and ocean technology. These are, not only environmental priorities. They are, emerging economic sectors, in which young Indians, can play a leading role.

The seventh stream, India’s soft power, is equally important. India’s culture, yoga, Ayurveda, handicrafts, cinema, animation, 

gaming, digital content, and creative industries, are increasingly part of how the world experiences, India. Young Indians are, already taking Indian creativity, to global audiences.

But as we think, about growth, we must also remember, that development, has to improve the lives, of ordinary citizens.

Nation-building, cannot be measured, only through GDP, technology or infrastructure. It must also be measured, through opportunity, dignity, and the ability of citizens, to improve their quality of life.

This is particularly important, for our young people. A demographic advantage becomes, a national advantage only, when young Indians, have access to good education,healthcare,

skills, and opportunities. We therefore, need an ecosystem, in which young people, can experiment, take risks, build enterprises, conduct research, and, importantly, learn from failure.

Our educational institutions, have a particularly important role, in this process. Universities, should not only, prepare students. For examinations, or employment. They should encourage, curiosity, critical thinking, research, and entrepreneurship. Industry must create opportunities, for young talent, to gain practical experience. And public institutions, must continue, to create an environment, in which innovation, and enterprise, can flourish.

Leadership, will ultimately determine, how effectively, we use these opportunities.

Leadership today, is not limited to, holding public office, or heading a large organisation. It is also the willingness, to take responsibility, to build, something new, to solve, a problem in one’s community, and to contribute, to society. It requires confidence, but also humility. It requires ambition, but also, a sense of responsibility.

The generation, that will shape India, in 2047, will also inherit, a world facing challenges, very different, from those of previous generations.  Climate  change,  energy  security,  artificial