India Fast-Tracks 6G & AI Revolution: Union Minister Manohar Lal Unveils Vision 2047 at IISF Panchkula

₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund, responsible AI in power & housing, and a giant leap towards 6G – Minister calls on scientists and students to turn innovation into societal good

Chandigarh/Panchkula, December 8, 2025: Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, declared that India is firmly on course to become a global leader in 6G, Artificial Intelligence and deep-tech innovation, as he addressed the panel discussion ‘New Age Technologies – Vision 2047’ on the third day of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025 in Panchkula, Haryana.

Delivering the chief guest address, the Minister underlined that the time has come for scientists, researchers and students to take the lead in responsibly deploying emerging technologies for the larger benefit of society.

“Science has shrunk the world. Today we can see and speak to anyone, anywhere. Now Artificial Intelligence is the defining technology of the future,” Shri Manohar Lal said, adding that AI, when used ethically, can solve complex challenges across sectors.

He spotlighted two ministries under his charge:

• Energy: AI-powered smart metering and demand-side management can drastically cut costs and losses in the power sector.
• Housing & Urban Affairs: AI-driven building design can create homes that naturally stay warm in winter and cool in summer, improving energy efficiency and living comfort.

The Minister highlighted the Government of India’s landmark ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund under the National Research Foundation (NRF), designed to fuel private-sector breakthroughs in AI, quantum computing, clean energy, biotechnology and other strategic areas. Professional fund managers will channel capital into deep-tech startups, positioning India as a self-reliant global innovation hub by 2047.

“We have successfully rolled out 5G. Now the country is rapidly moving towards 6G,” he announced, drawing loud applause from the packed auditorium.

Expressing happiness over IISF returning to Haryana (after Faridabad), Shri Manohar Lal said the festival’s core mission is to bridge academia and industry on one platform. He also praised Haryana’s growing ecosystem of innovation and research in educational institutions.

During an interactive session, the Minister answered questions from students and later visited the science exhibition on campus.

The session was attended by Dr. V. Narayanan (Secretary, Department of Space), Dr. Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM), Dr. Shantanu Bhattacharya (Director, CSIR-CSIO) and other distinguished panelists.

With Vision 2047 in sight, the message from Panchkula was clear: India is not just adopting new-age technologies – it is racing to lead them.

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