Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target of Vikshit Bharat — fully-developed India — by 2047, aiming for all-inclusive and sustainable development across the country.
While it is an ambitious target, if achieved, India could overtake Germany and Japan to become the third-largest economy, with a projected GDP of $40-50 trillion, retired Major General Dr Gajinder Singh Chandel told Sputnik India.
India should become a permanent member of an expanded UN Security Council by 2047, Chandel, who was presented with the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India and who has served in UN peacekeeping missions, argued.
The 'international community' cannot ignore the rightful presence of the world's largest and most populous democracy, the veteran asserted.
"Traditionally, India has a history of research and innovation, which has received significant support in recent decades," Chandel explained. "As a result, the number of engineering and technology institutes has increased manifold. The government has also opened centres of excellence to promote research and innovation."
Indians are making significant contributions in fields such as pharmaceuticals, space, defence, ICT and agriculture, he said, stressing that over the next two decades India is poised to emerge as a global leader in technology.
India has left its cultural mark across Asia, particularly in East Asia, with religion and trade carrying Indian influence far and wide, Chandel noted.
Buddhism is a gift from India to the entire world, he said, adding that the Indian diaspora, cinema and religious organisations like International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) are promoting Indian culture globally.
India’s development model focuses on empowering citizens through universal high-quality education, inclusiveness — as demonstrated by the Modi Government’s Act East Policy — the creation of high-quality infrastructure such as roads, railways, air and sea ports, the pundit highlighted.
It also centres on massive digitisation initiatives like UIDAI and UPI and policy reforms to ensure ease of doing business and opportunities for skill enhancement, he stressed.
"India’s greatest strengths are its vibrant democracy and its multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic identity," Chandel said. "If the world has anything to learn from India, it should be tolerance and the ability to assimilate diverse cultures."