
India set to be global leader in 6G by 2030: Minister
New Delhi: The government on Wednesday emphasised the groundbreaking potential of 6G technology, describing it as '100 times more powerful' than its predecessor 5G. Speaking to IANS on the sideline of 'Bharat 6G 2025 International Conference and Exhibition' here, Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State (MoS) for Rural Development and Communications, outlined the immense capabilities of 6G, which will offer much faster speeds, lower latency and a complete transformation of connectivity.
The minister acknowledged the challenges related to 5G, such as high data usage and limited available spectrum, but assured that these hurdles are part of the inherent nature of evolving technology.
'5G has been hugely successful, and 6G will be a completely different network, 100 times more powerful, with latency reduced to sub-milliseconds,' he told IANS.
The minister reaffirmed the government's vision, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2023, to make India a global leader in 6G by 2030.
The minister stressed that 6G will be a game-changer, with built-in AI that will revolutionise industries and everyday life
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Farm reset: Government says agriculture sector reshaped in 11 years, budget surged five-fold since 2013 & crop output jumped
A surge in budget allocation and sustained policy focus over the past 11 years has led to a wide-ranging transformation in India's agricultural sector, the Centre said on Saturday, crediting flagship schemes with driving output, procurement, and farmer support to new highs. In an official statement, the government said its agri reforms have empowered farmers and repositioned India on the path from food security to global agricultural leadership. The transformation, it said, has focused on inclusive development — covering smallholders, women-led groups, allied sectors, and traditional practices such as millet farming. 'Over the past eleven years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India's agricultural sector has undergone a profound transformation, rooted in the philosophy of Beej Se Bazaar Tak (seed to market),' the statement said, quoted PTI. Budgetary support for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has risen nearly five times — from Rs 27,663 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,37,664.35 crore in 2024-25. Foodgrain output also recorded an increase from 265.05 million tonnes in 2014-15 to an estimated 347.44 million tonnes in 2024-25. The government said it has sharply increased minimum support prices (MSP) for key crops. Wheat MSP rose from Rs 1,400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs 2,425 per quintal in 2024-25, while the paddy MSP increased from Rs 1,310 to Rs 2,369 per quintal between 2013-14 and 2025-26. Since its launch in 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme has disbursed Rs 3.7 lakh crore to over 110 million farmers. Separately, about Rs 10 lakh crore in credit has been sanctioned to 7.71 crore farmers under the Kisan Credit Card initiative. Crop procurement volumes have seen a sharp uptick. Kharif procurement between FY15 and FY25 totalled 787.1 million tonnes, compared with 467.9 million tonnes in the previous decade. MSP procurement of pulses jumped from 1.52 lakh tonnes (2009–2014) to 8.3 million tonnes (2020–2025), while oilseeds procurement has grown multifold over the same period. The Centre highlighted additional measures such as investments in modern irrigation, digital agri-marketplaces, tech-led solutions, and credit support. Allied sectors like dairy and fisheries have also expanded during the period. 'As India enters Amrit Kaal, its empowered farmers stand ready to lead the nation from food security to global food leadership,' the government said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
India's agri sector transformed by five-fold budget surge over 11 years: Govt
India's agricultural sector has undergone a "profound transformation" over the past 11 years through various government schemes and increased budgetary allocations, empowering farmers to lead the nation from food security to global food leadership , the government said on Saturday. The transformation has focused on inclusivity by supporting small farmers, women-led groups and allied sectors while positioning India as a global agricultural leader, according to an official statement. "Over the past eleven years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India's agricultural sector has undergone a profound transformation, rooted in the philosophy of Beej Se Bazaar Tak (seed to market)," the government said. Budget estimates for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare have risen from Rs 27,663 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,37,664.35 crore in 2024-25, an increase of nearly five times, it added. Also Read: Onion prices rise 20% in past two weeks as rains damage crop Live Events India's foodgrain production grew from 265.05 million tonnes in 2014-15 to an estimated 347.44 million tonnes in 2024-25, showing strong growth in agricultural output. The government has also increased minimum support prices (MSP) significantly. MSP for wheat rose from Rs 1,400 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs 2,425 per quintal in 2024-25, while paddy prices increased from Rs 1,310 per quintal in 2013-14 to Rs 2,369 per quintal in 2025-26. Under the PM-KISAN scheme launched in February 2019, the government has disbursed Rs 3.7 lakh crore to more than 110 million farmers. The Kisan Credit Card scheme has provided about Rs 10 lakh crore in credit to 7.71 crore farmers. Procurement data shows improvement across crops. Kharif crop procurement totalled 787.1 million tonnes between FY15 and FY25 compared to 467.9 million tonnes in the previous decade from 2004-05 to 2013-14. Pulses procurement at MSP increased significantly from 1,52,000 tonnes during 2009-2014 to 8.3 million tonnes during 2020-2025, while oilseeds procurement at MSP increased multifold over the past 11 years. The government's approach has focused on modern irrigation, credit access, digital marketplaces and agri-tech innovations while reviving traditional practices like millet cultivation and natural farming. Allied sectors, including dairy and fisheries, are also expanding. "As India enters Amrit Kaal, its empowered farmers stand ready to lead the nation from food security to global food leadership," the statement said.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
India-Central Asia Dialogue IV: A strategic opportunity
The IV India–Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, held on June 6, 2025, may well be remembered as more than just another diplomatic milestone. It represents a broader transformation in India's foreign policy, one that blends counterterrorism resolve with regional integration, historic ties with digital futures, and diplomacy with defense. In short, it marks India's assertion of strategic agency across Eurasia's contested heartland. Speaking at the opening session of the IV India-Central Asia Dialogue, external affairs minister S Jaishankar thanked Central Asian counterparts for their solidarity in condemning the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed India's intent to deepen 'a partnership defined by shared aspirations, shared opportunities, and common challenges.' That message is not rhetorical. It reflects India's new doctrine of regional presence. With Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India had established a 'new benchmark' in counter-terrorism policy. In the wake of that operation, the Dialogue reinforces India's intention to convert tactical clarity into strategic connectivity. India's ambitions in Central Asia are not new. But they have never been this consolidated or strategically framed. The dialogue reinforced India's identity as a trusted development partner, one that is investing in connectivity corridors, health infrastructure, digital public goods, and high-impact community development projects. India's approach is scaffolded by the C5+1 framework, which allows it to engage multilaterally with the five republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, while also managing bilateral dynamics. The format is fast maturing into a platform for everything from counterterror cooperation to fintech coordination. India's broader objective? India aims to establish itself as a reliable geopolitical competitor in a region dominated by China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russia's military-economic complex. In this crowded field, India isn't trying to outbuild China or out-arm Russia but to compete as an equally strong partner to Central Asia by offering transparent, sustainable, and sovereign-friendly alternatives. The Dialogue also put connectivity back in the spotlight. India recommitted to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port, inviting more active participation from Central Asian nations. Kazakhstan's proposal to develop the eastern branch of INSTC was welcomed as a strategic bridge between India and Eurasia. Economic diplomacy gained new dimensions with the promotion of trade in national currencies and the creation of a Joint Working Group on financial connectivity. The goal is not just trade; it's institutional connectivity. Add to that the growing potential for rare earth cooperation, another arena India is stepping into with confidence. The establishment of the India–Central Asia Digital Partnership Forum signals a digital leap forward. With Uzbekistan hosting the first edition, India aims to export elements of India Stack and help build Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) across the region. Unlike China's surveillance-heavy tech model, India's approach emphasises open access, transparency, and interoperability. While security and infrastructure issues dominate headlines, India's Central Asia playbook is quietly being reinforced by soft power. Indian students, tourists, and cultural institutions are increasingly visiting cities like Tashkent and Almaty. The Dialogue acknowledged these people-to-people bonds, expanding youth exchanges and educational ties. However, air connectivity remains a bottleneck. Pakistan's airspace restrictions continue to complicate direct flight routes, making low-cost carriers like IndiGo unviable in the region. Currently, only Uzbekistan Airways and Air Astana offer direct connections, neither of which are affordable or frequent enough to catalyse tourism or business travel. For New Delhi to realise its soft power potential, it must solve this airspace access challenge, either diplomatically or by developing alternative corridors via Iran and the Gulf. What sets Central Asia apart today is its growing regionalism. In contrast to the non-functional SAARC in South Asia, Central Asia is increasingly resolving disputes through diplomacy. This interstate regional cohesion makes it far more receptive to external partnerships, and India must adapt its foreign policy to this new regional logic of Central Asia. This shift adds value to the C5+1 format of India's dialogue with Central Asia. The 4th India-Central Dialogue's focus on health care, sustainable energy, counter-radicalisation, and climate cooperation reflects this shift. India's development experiences, such as UPI for financial inclusion, Ayushman Bharat for health care, and its leadership in climate coalitions like ISA and GBA, are now being actively exported to Central Asian partners. The IV India-Central Asia Dialogue was a pivotal moment in strategic affairs. As global power dynamics transition toward multipolarity, India's strategic role in Central Asia will significantly influence its ambitions throughout Eurasia. The dialogue transcends mere diplomatic formality; it serves as a strategic instrument for transforming India's engagement with a region that has historically been significant to its foreign policy objectives and is increasingly vital. From counterterrorism to connectivity, from Op-Sindoor to digital diplomacy, India is showing it has the will and the tools to redefine its presence in Eurasia. This process is no longer about catching up with China or balancing Russia. It's about anchoring a values-based, development-driven, sovereign-respecting framework of engagement. The next India–Central Asia Summit, slated for later in 2025, will offer a platform to elevate this vision to the leadership level. India has arrived at the Silk Road with a new doctrine and a new direction. The challenge now is to make this new normal last. This article is authored by Kamakshi Wason, global COO, Tillotoma Foundation.