India's Digital Industrial Policy Needs Coherence for Sovereignty

Imagine countries are building new kinds of factories that don't make physical things, but run on computer code in places like data centers.

For a long time, India has been good at helping other countries with these digital factories, like providing services or building the basic 'rails' for things to run on.

But other countries often 'own the trains' that use these rails.

This means India is a big user of technology but doesn't control much of the important parts, like the computer chips or the smart ideas behind them.

The article argues that for India to be truly strong in the future, it needs a new plan, or 'industrial policy,' for these digital factories.

This plan should focus on building India's own important digital parts, like computer chips and the 'thinkers' who create new ideas.

It also means making sure India's own data isn't easily taken or controlled by others.

The government needs to help create places where smart people can invent and build things without relying too much on other countries.

This is like building a strong house that can't be easily shaken by storms or other people's rules.

It's about making sure India can lead in the digital world, not just follow.