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July 2026 1
NITIसंधान
July 2026
Quarterly newsletter by Research and Networking (R&N) Division of NITI Aayog
India's aspiration to become a developed
nation by 2047 will be underpinned by its ability
to build globally competitive technology
ecosystems, foster innovation, and harness
digital transformation for inclusive growth.
The research featured in this edition reflects
NITI Aayog's continued commitment to
shaping policies that strengthen India's
innovation capacity and future readiness.
Future of India's Semiconductor Industry presents a strategic roadmap
to build resilient domestic capabilities and position India as a trusted
global hub across the semiconductor value chain. Ease of Doing
Research & Development in India recommends institutional and
regulatory reforms to create an enabling environment for scientific
research, innovation, and knowledge creation. Complementing
these efforts, DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat outlines a forward-looking
framework to leverage Digital Public Infrastructure as a foundational
public good for accelerating productivity, expanding opportunities,
and delivering citizen-centric services at scale.
Together, these studies reaffirm NITI Aayog's commitment
to evidence-based policymaking that advances innovation,
competitiveness, and inclusive development in pursuit of the vision
of Viksit Bharat @2047.
India's journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047
demands a policy framework that reinforces
institutional capacity, unlocks new drivers
of economic growth, and harnesses the
nation's enduring civilisational strengths. The
research presented in this edition reflects
NITI Aayog's commitment to advancing
evidence-based policy discourse that
supports India's long-term development aspirations.
The reports featured herein address critical dimensions of this
transformation. Moving Towards Effective City Government
proposes a governance framework to strengthen India's million-
plus cities as efficient, accountable, and financially empowered
centres of growth. Unlocking Growth in the Tourism and Hospitality
Sector identifies structural reforms to enhance competitiveness
and position tourism as a strategic pillar of economic development.
Divya Bharat – A Window to the Soul of India showcases the
country's unparalleled cultural and natural heritage, while the
Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global outlines a
comprehensive pathway for establishing Ayurveda as a globally
credible, evidence-based healthcare system.
Collectively, these studies reaffirm NITI Aayog's endeavour to foster
informed policymaking that is inclusive, forward-looking, and
aligned with the vision of a developed India.
Scan this QR to access
previous editions of
NITIसंधान
Message from
Vice Chairperson
From the desk of
the CEO
About Research and Networking
Division
NITI Spotlight: Ideas, Impact, Insights
The Research & Networking Division envisions to position
NITI Aayog as a facilitator of the high impact research
studies across India and an enabler for National and
International level partnerships. The division oversees the
development of a robust pipeline of research studies,
evolves a multi-pronged dissemination strategy and
fosters a networking mechanism amongst relevant
stakeholders from the policy research ecosystem.
Ms Anna Roy
(Programme Director, R&N Division, NITI Aayog)
E-mail at pdresearch-niti@gov.in
Launched on 18 June 2026, the NITI TARA
(Toolkit for Analysis, Review & Action)
initiative strengthens evidence-based
planning and monitoring at the grassroots
through real-time, data-driven decision-
making. Integrating geospatial mapping
and digital analytics, it supports Aspirational Districts
and Blocks in identifying development gaps, prioritising
interventions, and enhancing programme implementation
through technology-enabled governance.
Research Publications this Quarter
Edited by: Ms Chaheti Singh Sisodia (Young Professional, R&N Division, NITI Aayog)
Email: chahetisingh.s@niti.gov.in
Ms Nidhi Chhibber
CEO, NITI Aayog
Mr Ashok Kumar Lahiri
Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog
• Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global
• Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector
• Trade Watch- Quarterly (January - March [Q4] FY26)
• Future of India's Semiconductor Industry
• Ease of Doing Research & Development in India
• School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy
Roadmap for Quality Enhancement
• Moving Towards Effective City Government: A Framework for Million-
Plus Cities
• DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat: A Strategic Roadmap to
Enable Non-linear Inclusive Socio-economic Growth
• Divya Bharat- A Window to the Soul of India
• Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of
Jammu and Kashmir
• From Borrowers To Builders: Women and India's
Evolving Credit Market
Scan this QR
to access NITI
Publications
July 2026 2
July 2026
Ms. Debjani Ghosh
Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog,
Chief Architect - NITI Frontier
Tech hub
Future of India’s Semiconductor Industry
S
emiconductors
are now central to
India’s economic
growth, national security
and technological
sovereignty. They
power the systems that
will shape the future
economy - artificial
intelligence, telecom,
electric mobility, defence,
energy, healthcare,
advanced manufacturing and digital public infrastructure. For India, building a resilient
semiconductor ecosystem is therefore not only an industrial priority, but a strategic
requirement for Viksit Bharat 2047. India’s demand is expected to cross USD 200 billion
by 2035. However, nearly 90-95 per cent of current demand is met through imports.
This creates exposure to global supply disruptions, large foreign exchange outflows and
dependence on external sources for technologies that are critical to defence, digital
systems and economic competitiveness.
Voice of our
Researchers
India’s semiconductor demand is projected to accelerate
sharply alongside electronics production
Vision 2035: The roadmap sets out an ambitious Vision
for India’s semiconductor sector by 2035, positioning
the country as a significant force in the global
semiconductor landscape. It aims to capture 10–13 per
cent of the global semiconductor market and build
a USD 120–150 billion domestic industry by 2035. The
vision envisages India emerging as a leading hub for
advanced packaging and
OSAT services, a major supplier of wide-bandgap and
compound semiconductor technologies, and a global
centre for frontier semiconductor design, supported by
the creation of more than 100 advanced semiconductor
design IPs. It also proposes a phased strengthening of
domestic capabilities, increasing chip self-sufficiency to
15–25 per cent of national demand by 2030 and 35–50
per cent by 2035, while achieving 55–70 per cent value-
chain self-sufficiency. Collectively, these ambitions aim
to strengthen India’s technological resilience, deepen
domestic value creation and position the country as a
trusted and strategically important node in the global
semiconductor system.
The five strategic pillars: To guide India’s
semiconductor journey towards the vision 2035, the
roadmap is built around five mutually reinforcing
pillars:Pioneering, Policy and Investment, Production,
People and Partnership. Together, they focus on
building innovation capacity,mobilising long-term
capital, creating reliable production ecosystems,
developing skilled talent and forging outcome-oriented
partnerships with trusted countries.
Policy relevance: With ISM 2.0 marking the next phase of
India’s semiconductor journey, this roadmap provides
a timely framework for moving from early momentum
to sustained capability-building. It highlights the
need for strategic clarity, disciplined execution, stable
policy, long-term capital, talent pipelines and trusted
partnerships. Its core message being, India must
convert semiconductors from a strategic vulnerability
into a source of national strength, economic resilience
and global influence. Self-
reliance does not mean making
every chip in India immediately;
it means ensuring that a larger
share of semiconductor value
flows through India - through
design, IP, packaging, materials,
manufacturing and strategic
partnerships.
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report
The roadmap’s five-pillar strategy for strengthening India’s
semiconductor ecosystem
July 2026 Trade Watch- Quarterly
January - March [Q4] FY2026
Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global
Economics and Finance - I Division
Amid evolving global challenges, trade policy uncertainty
has emerged as a key source of risk. Global growth is
expected to slow in 2026 due to continued rising uncertainty
in trade, investment, and supply chains. UNCTAD projects the
world merchandise
trade growth rate to fall from 4.7% in 2025 to between
1.5% and 2.5% for 20264. Against this challenging external
environment, India’s total trade (merchandise and services)
performance recorded a 5.4% y-o-y increase during April–
March FY’202526, supported by growth in both exports and
imports. During this period, total trade reached $1.84 tn,
compared with $1.74 tn in the same period last year. India’s
total exports witnessed a growth of 4.2%, reaching $860.1 bn,
while imports grew by 6.5%, reaching $979.4 bn between
April–March FY’2025-26.
Health and Family Welfare Division
The primary objective of this study is to accelerate Ayurveda’s
international expansion by evaluating its current global footprint
and identifying the systemic regulatory, institutional, and perceptual
barriers to its growth. It provides an evidence-driven roadmap to
transition Ayurveda from a fragmented, wellness-focused system
into a credible, regulation-ready component of global healthcare
through coordinated, system-oriented strategies.
Analysis shows that while recognition exists in nearly thirty
countries and exports reached $2.16 billion by 2023, the system
faces significant hurdles in high-value markets. Outcomes are
currently constrained by a heavy reliance on dietary supplement
classifications rather than formal medical recognition, which
limits Ayurveda's integration into national health systems and
reimbursement frameworks.
Recommendations follow a three-pillar framework: Availability,
Acceptability, and Propagation. Key measures include prioritising
trade geography diversification and shifting up the value
chain, upgrading manufacturing to WHO-GMP standards, and
establishing International Centres of Excellence. This phased
strategy targets the formal integration of Ayurveda into at least
twenty national health systems by 2047.
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report
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report
July 2026
3
July 2026 4
Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector
Ease of Doing Research & Development in India
Tourism & Culture Division
India's tourism sector stands at a critical inflexion point
where vast potential meets significant structural hurdles.
This landmark report identifies the regulatory and procedural
barriers that increase the cost and complexity of doing
business in this sector. The study reveals that performance
gaps are driven by multi-layered regulatory systems and entry
frictions that deter high-value international arrivals.
To unlock growth, the report recommends transitioning toward
a predictable, visitor-centric ecosystem through administrative
rationalisation. Key proposals include liberalising building
standards, adopting Auto-DCR for automated permit issuance,
and consolidating ancillary hotel services into a single health
trade license. Furthermore, the roadmap suggests a strategic
shift toward a 90-day, multiple-entry Tourist Visa-on-Arrival
framework for targeted countries. By streamlining approvals
and easing entry processes, India can attract sustained capital
investment and effectively solidify its position as a premier,
competitive global tourism destination.
Science & Technology Division
India's research and development ecosystem stands at
a pivotal inflection point, characterized as an innovation
overperformer despite historically low relative investment.
National expenditure on research remains stagnant at
approximately 0.65% of GDP, with a heavy reliance on public
funding sources. This report introduces the ‘Removing Obstacles,
Promoting Enablers’ framework to systematically address
persistent systemic frictions. Primary challenges identified in
the study include cumbersome grant application processes,
weak postdoctoral ecosystems, and fragmented institutional
administration. Administrative rigidities frequently compel
researchers to dedicate significant time to non-scientific
tasks rather than core innovation. Key recommendations
advocate for raising R&D investment to 2% of GDP and
establishing professional R&D offices to streamline institutional
management. Furthermore, implementing a unified digital
architecture aims to significantly reduce proposal processing
delays. Unlocking India's scientific potential is essential for
achieving the vision of a knowledge-driven economy by 2047..
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report
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report
July 2026 School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for
Quality Enhancement
Education Division
This report presents a decadal temporal
analysis of India's school education
system, charting a policy roadmap for
quality enhancement aligned with the
National Education Policy 2020 and the
vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Drawing
on empirical evidence from UDISE+,
NAS, PARAKH, and ASER, it examines
trends across three core dimensions:
access, equity and inclusion, and quality,
supported by State-wise heat maps
that convey improvements across
geographies over time.
India has achieved near-universal
access at the primary and upper primary
stages. GER at the secondary level stands
at 78.7%, while higher secondary GER
increased from 46.37% in 2014-15 to 58.4% in 2024-25. Dropout
rates have declined across all levels during this period, indicating
improvements in retention and continuity.
The report also highlights gains in inclusion and infrastructure. Girls’
GER improved from 89.98% to 92.5% at upper primary, 75.5% to 80.2%
at secondary, and 45.9% to 60.9% at higher secondary. Accessibility
for CwSN improved with ramps rising from 59.77% to 79.1%. Functional
electricity expanded from 55.96% to 91.9%, computers from 26.42%
to 64.7%, and internet connectivity from 8.05% to 63.5%. In absolute
terms, this conveys that improved infrastructure has benefited
several crores of students within the last decade.
The report presents 33 policy recommendations under 13 subthemes
across systemic and academic domains, covering school system
restructuring, infrastructure, digital integration, governance,
leadership, SMCs, teacher deployment and
their professional development, equity,
dropout prevention, pedagogy, assessment,
foundational learning, student well-being
and holistic development, vocational
education, ECCE and AI in pedagogy. Each
recommendation includes phased roadmaps,
institutional responsibilities and measurable
indicators for reform.
Authors:
Dr Sonia Pant,
Programme Director;
Dr Shashank Shah, Senior Specialist;
Ms Nisha Sharma, Consultant;
Ms Tarini Gupta, Consultant
Managing Urbanisation Division
India's journey towards becoming
a $30 trillion economy by 2047 will
require transformative reforms in urban
governance to effectively manage rapid
urbanisation and growing climate risks.
This report proposes a comprehensive
governance framework centred on a
directly elected Mayor with a fixed five-
year term to ensure stable leadership
and a strong democratic mandate.
It recommends transitioning to an
empowered Mayor-in-Council system,
enabling portfolio-based governance
and greater collective accountability.
To improve service delivery, the report
advocates bringing state-controlled
parastatals responsible for key urban functions, such as water
supply and public transport, under the direct oversight of city
governments. It also emphasises strengthening urban fiscal
sustainability by empowering State Finance Commissions
and enhancing municipal own-source revenue to reduce
dependence on grants. As a phased strategy, these reforms are
proposed for India's 46 cities with populations exceeding one
million, which together house over 115 million
people and serve as the country's principal
engines of economic growth. Successful
implementation in these cities would create
scalable models for nationwide urban
transformation.
July 2026
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report
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report
5
Moving Towards Effective City Government: A Framework for Million-Plus Cities
July 2026 6
DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat: A Strategic Roadmap to Enable Non-linear Inclusive Socio-
economic Growth
Frontier Tech Hub Initiative
As India aims to achieve a $30 trillion economy by 2047, the
primary objective of this strategic roadmap is to transition
it from foundational digital inclusion toward livelihood-
led, productivity-driven growth through Digital Public
Infrastructure (DPI) 2.0. This framework seeks to widen human
possibility by building shared digital foundations that empower
citizens across every district.
The study targets eight high-impact sectoral transformations
designed to dismantle
structural bottlenecks.
Expected outcomes
include scaled market
expansion for MSMEs,
improved livelihoods for
smallholder farmers, and
the delivery of universal
health coverage and
learner-centric education.
These shifts are intended
to ignite a “hockey-
stick” effect, transforming
every citizen into an active
participant in India’s
inclusive prosperity.
Recommendations
advocate for phased
execution through
2-year iterative cycles,
initially prioritizing
agriculture and MSMEs.
The strategy identifies critical imperatives
like aggregating demand through
decentralized district programs and scaling
tech entrepreneurship. Finally, four strategic
unlocks—data, AI, human capacity, and
digital transactions—are deployed to
enable the non-linear growth essential for
reaching national economic targets.
Communication and Tourism & Culture Division
The publication presents a vision for positioning India's rich
civilisational, cultural, spiritual and natural heritage as a
catalyst for sustainable tourism-led development. The report
aims to showcase lesser-known destinations, strengthen
destination-based storytelling, and promote community-
led tourism that generates livelihoods while preserving local
traditions and ecosystems. It advocates moving beyond
conventional sightseeing to offer immersive experiences
rooted in India's diverse cultural landscape.
The report concludes
that tourism can
become a major driver
of inclusive economic
growth by integrating
heritage conservation,
local entrepreneurship,
digital innovation
and improved visitor
infrastructure. It recommends developing thematic tourism
circuits, strengthening last-mile connectivity, enhancing
digital promotion, encouraging public-private-community
partnerships, building capacities of local stakeholders, and
adopting sustainable destination management practices.
The report also emphasises branding India's unique cultural
assets, improving the quality of tourist services, and ensuring
that tourism benefits are widely shared among local
communities while safeguarding the country's tangible and
intangible heritage.
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report
Divya Bharat- A Window to the Soul of India
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report
July 2026 7
Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir
Agriculture Technology Division
The publication provides a strategic framework to transform
the Union Territory into a globally competitive, climate-resilient
horticulture hub aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The study
assesses the current status of horticulture, identifies opportunities
for crop diversification and cluster-based development, and
proposes measures to strengthen infrastructure, market
linkages, value chains, innovation, and sustainable production.
It seeks to address challenges related to productivity, post-
harvest management,
quality planting material,
exports, and institutional
coordination.
The report concludes
that J&K's diverse agro-
climatic conditions offer
immense potential for
high-value horticulture,
provided reforms are
implemented through
a coordinated, phased
approach. It recommends institutional restructuring, orchard
rejuvenation, expansion of cold-chain and logistics infrastructure,
promotion of climate-resilient and natural farming practices,
strengthened research and Centres of Excellence, enhanced
farmer producer organisations, digital extension services, and
greater participation of women and youth. These interventions
aim to improve productivity, value addition, exports, farmer
incomes, and long-term sustainability while positioning J&K as a
leading horticultural economy by 2047.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform Initiative, Data
Management & Analysis Division
The report examines how expanding access to formal
credit is enabling Indian women to transition from financial
inclusion to entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Prepared
jointly by the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP),
TransUnion CIBIL, and MicroSave Consulting, the report
analyses credit trends alongside qualitative evidence to
assess women’s evolving role in India’s financial ecosystem.
It highlights the rapid growth in women’s credit participation,
driven by digital financial infrastructure, improved credit
access, and increasing entrepreneurial aspirations.
The report concludes
that women now hold
a credit portfolio of
₹76 lakh crore - 26
per cent of India’s
total system credit -
with credit exposure
growing 4.8 times since 2017, signalling a structural shift
in economic participation. It recommends strengthening
credit literacy, expanding access to business-purpose
finance, leveraging alternative and digital data for credit
assessment, developing gender-responsive financial
products, promoting digital financial inclusion, and
fostering ecosystem partnerships among government,
financial institutions, and industry. These measures aim to
help women progress from borrowers to business builders,
enhancing entrepreneurship, employment generation, and
inclusive economic growth.
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report
From Borrowers To Builders: Women and India's Evolving Credit Market
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report
July 2026 8
Skill Development, Labour & Employment Division
Advancing Non-Traditional Livelihoods (NTLs) is critical
to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by expanding
women's participation in high-growth sectors such as Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and green
energy. The study highlights a persistent pipeline challenge, with
women accounting for only 12.65 per cent of Industrial Training
Institute (ITI) enrolments. Their participation in technical trades
such as motor mechanics remains as low as 2.7 per cent.
The paper notes that addressing barriers to women's labour
force participation could increase India's economic output by
up to 12 per cent. While initiatives such as NAVYA and Lakhpati
Didi are equipping women with skills in drone operation and
solar installation, the study emphasises the need to scale these
efforts through a life-cycle
approach. It recommends
early exposure to non-
traditional careers from
around age 10, sustained
career counselling,
and stronger industry-
linked apprenticeships.
By addressing structural
barriers across the
education-to-employment
continuum, India can build
a future-ready and more
inclusive workforce.
States’ Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers
Skill Development, Labour
& Employment Division
The framework positions
States as central actors in
building structured, safe,
and demand-responsive
international mobility
ecosystems aligned with
global labour market
opportunities and India’s
broader Viksit Bharat@2047
aspirations.
India’s international mobility
potential is supported by
strong demographic and
migration trends. Nearly
65% of India’s population is
below 35 years, while the
working-age population is
projected to peak at 65.05%
by 2030. At the same time,
several countries continue
to face significant labour
shortages, including nearly 105 lakh vacancies in Europe, 72 lakhs
in the United States, and 27 lakhs in the GCC region, creating
substantial opportunities for skilled Indian workers.
International mobility generates significant economic benefits
through remittances. India is the world’s largest recipient
of remittances, receiving USD 137.67 billion in 2024 (World
Bank, 2025), equivalent to nearly 3.5% of GDP. India’s overseas
workforce of 18.5 million migrants and a diaspora of around 35
million contribute substantially to household incomes, foreign
exchange reserves, and local economic development.
The States’ Framework for Advancing International Mobility
outlines a comprehensive state-level circular mobility
architecture. Drawing on best practices and institutional
learnings from Indian States and international models, it
provides a roadmap for developing resilient, worker-centric, and
demand-responsive mobility ecosystems.
Authors:
Dr. Sonia Pant, Programme Director
Dr. Sakshi Khurana, Senior Specialist
Arnavi Sagar, Young Professional
Girls and Women at the Centre: Advancing Non-Traditional Livelihoods in India
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full report
WORKING PAPERS THIS QUARTER
NITIसंधान
July 2026
Quarterly newsletter by Research and Networking (R&N) Division of NITI Aayog
India's aspiration to become a developed
nation by 2047 will be underpinned by its ability
to build globally competitive technology
ecosystems, foster innovation, and harness
digital transformation for inclusive growth.
The research featured in this edition reflects
NITI Aayog's continued commitment to
shaping policies that strengthen India's
innovation capacity and future readiness.
Future of India's Semiconductor Industry presents a strategic roadmap
to build resilient domestic capabilities and position India as a trusted
global hub across the semiconductor value chain. Ease of Doing
Research & Development in India recommends institutional and
regulatory reforms to create an enabling environment for scientific
research, innovation, and knowledge creation. Complementing
these efforts, DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat outlines a forward-looking
framework to leverage Digital Public Infrastructure as a foundational
public good for accelerating productivity, expanding opportunities,
and delivering citizen-centric services at scale.
Together, these studies reaffirm NITI Aayog's commitment
to evidence-based policymaking that advances innovation,
competitiveness, and inclusive development in pursuit of the vision
of Viksit Bharat @2047.
India's journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047
demands a policy framework that reinforces
institutional capacity, unlocks new drivers
of economic growth, and harnesses the
nation's enduring civilisational strengths. The
research presented in this edition reflects
NITI Aayog's commitment to advancing
evidence-based policy discourse that
supports India's long-term development aspirations.
The reports featured herein address critical dimensions of this
transformation. Moving Towards Effective City Government
proposes a governance framework to strengthen India's million-
plus cities as efficient, accountable, and financially empowered
centres of growth. Unlocking Growth in the Tourism and Hospitality
Sector identifies structural reforms to enhance competitiveness
and position tourism as a strategic pillar of economic development.
Divya Bharat – A Window to the Soul of India showcases the
country's unparalleled cultural and natural heritage, while the
Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global outlines a
comprehensive pathway for establishing Ayurveda as a globally
credible, evidence-based healthcare system.
Collectively, these studies reaffirm NITI Aayog's endeavour to foster
informed policymaking that is inclusive, forward-looking, and
aligned with the vision of a developed India.
Scan this QR to access
previous editions of
NITIसंधान
Message from
Vice Chairperson
From the desk of
the CEO
About Research and Networking
Division
NITI Spotlight: Ideas, Impact, Insights
The Research & Networking Division envisions to position
NITI Aayog as a facilitator of the high impact research
studies across India and an enabler for National and
International level partnerships. The division oversees the
development of a robust pipeline of research studies,
evolves a multi-pronged dissemination strategy and
fosters a networking mechanism amongst relevant
stakeholders from the policy research ecosystem.
Ms Anna Roy
(Programme Director, R&N Division, NITI Aayog)
E-mail at pdresearch-niti@gov.in
Launched on 18 June 2026, the NITI TARA
(Toolkit for Analysis, Review & Action)
initiative strengthens evidence-based
planning and monitoring at the grassroots
through real-time, data-driven decision-
making. Integrating geospatial mapping
and digital analytics, it supports Aspirational Districts
and Blocks in identifying development gaps, prioritising
interventions, and enhancing programme implementation
through technology-enabled governance.
Research Publications this Quarter
Edited by: Ms Chaheti Singh Sisodia (Young Professional, R&N Division, NITI Aayog)
Email: chahetisingh.s@niti.gov.in
Ms Nidhi Chhibber
CEO, NITI Aayog
Mr Ashok Kumar Lahiri
Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog
• Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global
• Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector
• Trade Watch- Quarterly (January - March [Q4] FY26)
• Future of India's Semiconductor Industry
• Ease of Doing Research & Development in India
• School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy
Roadmap for Quality Enhancement
• Moving Towards Effective City Government: A Framework for Million-
Plus Cities
• DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat: A Strategic Roadmap to
Enable Non-linear Inclusive Socio-economic Growth
• Divya Bharat- A Window to the Soul of India
• Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of
Jammu and Kashmir
• From Borrowers To Builders: Women and India's
Evolving Credit Market
Scan this QR
to access NITI
Publications
July 2026 2
July 2026
Ms. Debjani Ghosh
Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog,
Chief Architect - NITI Frontier
Tech hub
Future of India’s Semiconductor Industry
S
emiconductors
are now central to
India’s economic
growth, national security
and technological
sovereignty. They
power the systems that
will shape the future
economy - artificial
intelligence, telecom,
electric mobility, defence,
energy, healthcare,
advanced manufacturing and digital public infrastructure. For India, building a resilient
semiconductor ecosystem is therefore not only an industrial priority, but a strategic
requirement for Viksit Bharat 2047. India’s demand is expected to cross USD 200 billion
by 2035. However, nearly 90-95 per cent of current demand is met through imports.
This creates exposure to global supply disruptions, large foreign exchange outflows and
dependence on external sources for technologies that are critical to defence, digital
systems and economic competitiveness.
Voice of our
Researchers
India’s semiconductor demand is projected to accelerate
sharply alongside electronics production
Vision 2035: The roadmap sets out an ambitious Vision
for India’s semiconductor sector by 2035, positioning
the country as a significant force in the global
semiconductor landscape. It aims to capture 10–13 per
cent of the global semiconductor market and build
a USD 120–150 billion domestic industry by 2035. The
vision envisages India emerging as a leading hub for
advanced packaging and
OSAT services, a major supplier of wide-bandgap and
compound semiconductor technologies, and a global
centre for frontier semiconductor design, supported by
the creation of more than 100 advanced semiconductor
design IPs. It also proposes a phased strengthening of
domestic capabilities, increasing chip self-sufficiency to
15–25 per cent of national demand by 2030 and 35–50
per cent by 2035, while achieving 55–70 per cent value-
chain self-sufficiency. Collectively, these ambitions aim
to strengthen India’s technological resilience, deepen
domestic value creation and position the country as a
trusted and strategically important node in the global
semiconductor system.
The five strategic pillars: To guide India’s
semiconductor journey towards the vision 2035, the
roadmap is built around five mutually reinforcing
pillars:Pioneering, Policy and Investment, Production,
People and Partnership. Together, they focus on
building innovation capacity,mobilising long-term
capital, creating reliable production ecosystems,
developing skilled talent and forging outcome-oriented
partnerships with trusted countries.
Policy relevance: With ISM 2.0 marking the next phase of
India’s semiconductor journey, this roadmap provides
a timely framework for moving from early momentum
to sustained capability-building. It highlights the
need for strategic clarity, disciplined execution, stable
policy, long-term capital, talent pipelines and trusted
partnerships. Its core message being, India must
convert semiconductors from a strategic vulnerability
into a source of national strength, economic resilience
and global influence. Self-
reliance does not mean making
every chip in India immediately;
it means ensuring that a larger
share of semiconductor value
flows through India - through
design, IP, packaging, materials,
manufacturing and strategic
partnerships.
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The roadmap’s five-pillar strategy for strengthening India’s
semiconductor ecosystem
July 2026 Trade Watch- Quarterly
January - March [Q4] FY2026
Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global
Economics and Finance - I Division
Amid evolving global challenges, trade policy uncertainty
has emerged as a key source of risk. Global growth is
expected to slow in 2026 due to continued rising uncertainty
in trade, investment, and supply chains. UNCTAD projects the
world merchandise
trade growth rate to fall from 4.7% in 2025 to between
1.5% and 2.5% for 20264. Against this challenging external
environment, India’s total trade (merchandise and services)
performance recorded a 5.4% y-o-y increase during April–
March FY’202526, supported by growth in both exports and
imports. During this period, total trade reached $1.84 tn,
compared with $1.74 tn in the same period last year. India’s
total exports witnessed a growth of 4.2%, reaching $860.1 bn,
while imports grew by 6.5%, reaching $979.4 bn between
April–March FY’2025-26.
Health and Family Welfare Division
The primary objective of this study is to accelerate Ayurveda’s
international expansion by evaluating its current global footprint
and identifying the systemic regulatory, institutional, and perceptual
barriers to its growth. It provides an evidence-driven roadmap to
transition Ayurveda from a fragmented, wellness-focused system
into a credible, regulation-ready component of global healthcare
through coordinated, system-oriented strategies.
Analysis shows that while recognition exists in nearly thirty
countries and exports reached $2.16 billion by 2023, the system
faces significant hurdles in high-value markets. Outcomes are
currently constrained by a heavy reliance on dietary supplement
classifications rather than formal medical recognition, which
limits Ayurveda's integration into national health systems and
reimbursement frameworks.
Recommendations follow a three-pillar framework: Availability,
Acceptability, and Propagation. Key measures include prioritising
trade geography diversification and shifting up the value
chain, upgrading manufacturing to WHO-GMP standards, and
establishing International Centres of Excellence. This phased
strategy targets the formal integration of Ayurveda into at least
twenty national health systems by 2047.
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July 2026
3
July 2026 4
Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector
Ease of Doing Research & Development in India
Tourism & Culture Division
India's tourism sector stands at a critical inflexion point
where vast potential meets significant structural hurdles.
This landmark report identifies the regulatory and procedural
barriers that increase the cost and complexity of doing
business in this sector. The study reveals that performance
gaps are driven by multi-layered regulatory systems and entry
frictions that deter high-value international arrivals.
To unlock growth, the report recommends transitioning toward
a predictable, visitor-centric ecosystem through administrative
rationalisation. Key proposals include liberalising building
standards, adopting Auto-DCR for automated permit issuance,
and consolidating ancillary hotel services into a single health
trade license. Furthermore, the roadmap suggests a strategic
shift toward a 90-day, multiple-entry Tourist Visa-on-Arrival
framework for targeted countries. By streamlining approvals
and easing entry processes, India can attract sustained capital
investment and effectively solidify its position as a premier,
competitive global tourism destination.
Science & Technology Division
India's research and development ecosystem stands at
a pivotal inflection point, characterized as an innovation
overperformer despite historically low relative investment.
National expenditure on research remains stagnant at
approximately 0.65% of GDP, with a heavy reliance on public
funding sources. This report introduces the ‘Removing Obstacles,
Promoting Enablers’ framework to systematically address
persistent systemic frictions. Primary challenges identified in
the study include cumbersome grant application processes,
weak postdoctoral ecosystems, and fragmented institutional
administration. Administrative rigidities frequently compel
researchers to dedicate significant time to non-scientific
tasks rather than core innovation. Key recommendations
advocate for raising R&D investment to 2% of GDP and
establishing professional R&D offices to streamline institutional
management. Furthermore, implementing a unified digital
architecture aims to significantly reduce proposal processing
delays. Unlocking India's scientific potential is essential for
achieving the vision of a knowledge-driven economy by 2047..
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July 2026 School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for
Quality Enhancement
Education Division
This report presents a decadal temporal
analysis of India's school education
system, charting a policy roadmap for
quality enhancement aligned with the
National Education Policy 2020 and the
vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Drawing
on empirical evidence from UDISE+,
NAS, PARAKH, and ASER, it examines
trends across three core dimensions:
access, equity and inclusion, and quality,
supported by State-wise heat maps
that convey improvements across
geographies over time.
India has achieved near-universal
access at the primary and upper primary
stages. GER at the secondary level stands
at 78.7%, while higher secondary GER
increased from 46.37% in 2014-15 to 58.4% in 2024-25. Dropout
rates have declined across all levels during this period, indicating
improvements in retention and continuity.
The report also highlights gains in inclusion and infrastructure. Girls’
GER improved from 89.98% to 92.5% at upper primary, 75.5% to 80.2%
at secondary, and 45.9% to 60.9% at higher secondary. Accessibility
for CwSN improved with ramps rising from 59.77% to 79.1%. Functional
electricity expanded from 55.96% to 91.9%, computers from 26.42%
to 64.7%, and internet connectivity from 8.05% to 63.5%. In absolute
terms, this conveys that improved infrastructure has benefited
several crores of students within the last decade.
The report presents 33 policy recommendations under 13 subthemes
across systemic and academic domains, covering school system
restructuring, infrastructure, digital integration, governance,
leadership, SMCs, teacher deployment and
their professional development, equity,
dropout prevention, pedagogy, assessment,
foundational learning, student well-being
and holistic development, vocational
education, ECCE and AI in pedagogy. Each
recommendation includes phased roadmaps,
institutional responsibilities and measurable
indicators for reform.
Authors:
Dr Sonia Pant,
Programme Director;
Dr Shashank Shah, Senior Specialist;
Ms Nisha Sharma, Consultant;
Ms Tarini Gupta, Consultant
Managing Urbanisation Division
India's journey towards becoming
a $30 trillion economy by 2047 will
require transformative reforms in urban
governance to effectively manage rapid
urbanisation and growing climate risks.
This report proposes a comprehensive
governance framework centred on a
directly elected Mayor with a fixed five-
year term to ensure stable leadership
and a strong democratic mandate.
It recommends transitioning to an
empowered Mayor-in-Council system,
enabling portfolio-based governance
and greater collective accountability.
To improve service delivery, the report
advocates bringing state-controlled
parastatals responsible for key urban functions, such as water
supply and public transport, under the direct oversight of city
governments. It also emphasises strengthening urban fiscal
sustainability by empowering State Finance Commissions
and enhancing municipal own-source revenue to reduce
dependence on grants. As a phased strategy, these reforms are
proposed for India's 46 cities with populations exceeding one
million, which together house over 115 million
people and serve as the country's principal
engines of economic growth. Successful
implementation in these cities would create
scalable models for nationwide urban
transformation.
July 2026
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Moving Towards Effective City Government: A Framework for Million-Plus Cities
July 2026 6
DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat: A Strategic Roadmap to Enable Non-linear Inclusive Socio-
economic Growth
Frontier Tech Hub Initiative
As India aims to achieve a $30 trillion economy by 2047, the
primary objective of this strategic roadmap is to transition
it from foundational digital inclusion toward livelihood-
led, productivity-driven growth through Digital Public
Infrastructure (DPI) 2.0. This framework seeks to widen human
possibility by building shared digital foundations that empower
citizens across every district.
The study targets eight high-impact sectoral transformations
designed to dismantle
structural bottlenecks.
Expected outcomes
include scaled market
expansion for MSMEs,
improved livelihoods for
smallholder farmers, and
the delivery of universal
health coverage and
learner-centric education.
These shifts are intended
to ignite a “hockey-
stick” effect, transforming
every citizen into an active
participant in India’s
inclusive prosperity.
Recommendations
advocate for phased
execution through
2-year iterative cycles,
initially prioritizing
agriculture and MSMEs.
The strategy identifies critical imperatives
like aggregating demand through
decentralized district programs and scaling
tech entrepreneurship. Finally, four strategic
unlocks—data, AI, human capacity, and
digital transactions—are deployed to
enable the non-linear growth essential for
reaching national economic targets.
Communication and Tourism & Culture Division
The publication presents a vision for positioning India's rich
civilisational, cultural, spiritual and natural heritage as a
catalyst for sustainable tourism-led development. The report
aims to showcase lesser-known destinations, strengthen
destination-based storytelling, and promote community-
led tourism that generates livelihoods while preserving local
traditions and ecosystems. It advocates moving beyond
conventional sightseeing to offer immersive experiences
rooted in India's diverse cultural landscape.
The report concludes
that tourism can
become a major driver
of inclusive economic
growth by integrating
heritage conservation,
local entrepreneurship,
digital innovation
and improved visitor
infrastructure. It recommends developing thematic tourism
circuits, strengthening last-mile connectivity, enhancing
digital promotion, encouraging public-private-community
partnerships, building capacities of local stakeholders, and
adopting sustainable destination management practices.
The report also emphasises branding India's unique cultural
assets, improving the quality of tourist services, and ensuring
that tourism benefits are widely shared among local
communities while safeguarding the country's tangible and
intangible heritage.
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Divya Bharat- A Window to the Soul of India
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July 2026 7
Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir
Agriculture Technology Division
The publication provides a strategic framework to transform
the Union Territory into a globally competitive, climate-resilient
horticulture hub aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The study
assesses the current status of horticulture, identifies opportunities
for crop diversification and cluster-based development, and
proposes measures to strengthen infrastructure, market
linkages, value chains, innovation, and sustainable production.
It seeks to address challenges related to productivity, post-
harvest management,
quality planting material,
exports, and institutional
coordination.
The report concludes
that J&K's diverse agro-
climatic conditions offer
immense potential for
high-value horticulture,
provided reforms are
implemented through
a coordinated, phased
approach. It recommends institutional restructuring, orchard
rejuvenation, expansion of cold-chain and logistics infrastructure,
promotion of climate-resilient and natural farming practices,
strengthened research and Centres of Excellence, enhanced
farmer producer organisations, digital extension services, and
greater participation of women and youth. These interventions
aim to improve productivity, value addition, exports, farmer
incomes, and long-term sustainability while positioning J&K as a
leading horticultural economy by 2047.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform Initiative, Data
Management & Analysis Division
The report examines how expanding access to formal
credit is enabling Indian women to transition from financial
inclusion to entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Prepared
jointly by the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP),
TransUnion CIBIL, and MicroSave Consulting, the report
analyses credit trends alongside qualitative evidence to
assess women’s evolving role in India’s financial ecosystem.
It highlights the rapid growth in women’s credit participation,
driven by digital financial infrastructure, improved credit
access, and increasing entrepreneurial aspirations.
The report concludes
that women now hold
a credit portfolio of
₹76 lakh crore - 26
per cent of India’s
total system credit -
with credit exposure
growing 4.8 times since 2017, signalling a structural shift
in economic participation. It recommends strengthening
credit literacy, expanding access to business-purpose
finance, leveraging alternative and digital data for credit
assessment, developing gender-responsive financial
products, promoting digital financial inclusion, and
fostering ecosystem partnerships among government,
financial institutions, and industry. These measures aim to
help women progress from borrowers to business builders,
enhancing entrepreneurship, employment generation, and
inclusive economic growth.
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From Borrowers To Builders: Women and India's Evolving Credit Market
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July 2026 8
Skill Development, Labour & Employment Division
Advancing Non-Traditional Livelihoods (NTLs) is critical
to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by expanding
women's participation in high-growth sectors such as Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and green
energy. The study highlights a persistent pipeline challenge, with
women accounting for only 12.65 per cent of Industrial Training
Institute (ITI) enrolments. Their participation in technical trades
such as motor mechanics remains as low as 2.7 per cent.
The paper notes that addressing barriers to women's labour
force participation could increase India's economic output by
up to 12 per cent. While initiatives such as NAVYA and Lakhpati
Didi are equipping women with skills in drone operation and
solar installation, the study emphasises the need to scale these
efforts through a life-cycle
approach. It recommends
early exposure to non-
traditional careers from
around age 10, sustained
career counselling,
and stronger industry-
linked apprenticeships.
By addressing structural
barriers across the
education-to-employment
continuum, India can build
a future-ready and more
inclusive workforce.
States’ Framework: Advancing International Mobility for Skilled Workers
Skill Development, Labour
& Employment Division
The framework positions
States as central actors in
building structured, safe,
and demand-responsive
international mobility
ecosystems aligned with
global labour market
opportunities and India’s
broader Viksit Bharat@2047
aspirations.
India’s international mobility
potential is supported by
strong demographic and
migration trends. Nearly
65% of India’s population is
below 35 years, while the
working-age population is
projected to peak at 65.05%
by 2030. At the same time,
several countries continue
to face significant labour
shortages, including nearly 105 lakh vacancies in Europe, 72 lakhs
in the United States, and 27 lakhs in the GCC region, creating
substantial opportunities for skilled Indian workers.
International mobility generates significant economic benefits
through remittances. India is the world’s largest recipient
of remittances, receiving USD 137.67 billion in 2024 (World
Bank, 2025), equivalent to nearly 3.5% of GDP. India’s overseas
workforce of 18.5 million migrants and a diaspora of around 35
million contribute substantially to household incomes, foreign
exchange reserves, and local economic development.
The States’ Framework for Advancing International Mobility
outlines a comprehensive state-level circular mobility
architecture. Drawing on best practices and institutional
learnings from Indian States and international models, it
provides a roadmap for developing resilient, worker-centric, and
demand-responsive mobility ecosystems.
Authors:
Dr. Sonia Pant, Programme Director
Dr. Sakshi Khurana, Senior Specialist
Arnavi Sagar, Young Professional
Girls and Women at the Centre: Advancing Non-Traditional Livelihoods in India
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