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At the Dataquest Leadership Conclave 2025, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, and IT, took center stage to throw a direct challenge to big tech companies.
The challenge came in response to a question from CP Gurnani, former CEO of Tech Mahindra, who pointed out how the U.S. once halted Android shipments to China, underscoring the need for India to build its own foundational AI and operating system to ensure technological sovereignty.
Vaishnaw, while addressing a question posed by CP Gurnani, he emphasized that India’s technology industry must move beyond providing services and take bold steps to create its own foundational technology, including AI models, operating systems, and semiconductor advancements.
"Time has come when India must become a product nation. We have demonstrated our capability in software services, but now I challenge big tech companies—Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and others—to take the lead in developing India’s own operating system for mobile and computing. The government will provide full support to make this happen."
This bold statement was met with enthusiasm and applause from the industry leaders in attendance, as it set the tone for India’s ambition to become a global technology powerhouse.
The Need for a Sovereign Operating System
During the discussion, Gurnani highlighted how India had already demonstrated its technological capabilities, citing its low-cost Moon mission success compared to Western nations. He stressed that beyond AI, India must also focus on building foundational OS solutions for its digital future.
“We all know that one day the U.S. stopped Android shipments to China. This means we need not only foundational AI, but also a foundational operating system for everything we have in India. How do we turn the AI mission into a foundational OS mission?”
Vaishnaw responded with his bold call to action, making it clear that the government is prepared to provide the necessary support, resources, and policies to facilitate this vision.
India’s Shift from Services to Product Innovation
India has long been a global leader in IT services, with companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro playing a pivotal role in outsourcing and software development. However, Vaishnaw’s challenge marks a strategic shift, urging these firms to transition into product development, particularly in OS and AI infrastructure.
His remarks align with India’s broader technology self-reliance strategy, ensuring that the country is not dependent on foreign tech ecosystems for critical digital infrastructure.
With government backing and industry collaboration, this initiative could lay the foundation for India's own OS ecosystem, much like China’s HarmonyOS and other sovereign technology initiatives.
A Defining Moment for India’s Tech Industry
Vaishnaw’s challenge to TCS, Infosys, and Wipro is more than just a call for innovation, it is a defining moment that could reshape India's technology industry. If India successfully develops its own AI-powered operating system, it would significantly reduce dependence on global tech giants and position itself as a true digital superpower.
“Time has come for India to become a product nation. The government will provide full support to make this happen.”
The question now is—will India's tech giants take up the challenge?