Techno-Capitalism and India’s Strategic Tech Challenge

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Context:

The ideological and strategic shift in U.S. technological policy under Donald Trump and its long-term implications for India’s digital and innovation landscape.

Historical Evolution of Tech Cooperation

SITE and Scientific Internationalism: The 1975 Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) marked a milestone in India-US tech collaboration, reflecting Cold War-era ideals of scientific cooperation and developmental outreach.
Post-Nuclear Test Stagnation: India’s 1974 nuclear test strained bilateral tech relations, stalling collaborations due to U.S. non-proliferation concerns, which took decades to repair.
Rebuilding Trust via ICET (2023): The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET), launched in 2023, symbolises renewed efforts to bolster strategic tech partnerships between India and the U.S.

Rise of Techno-Capitalism in the U.S.

Private Sector Dominance: In the U.S., private firms like SpaceX have overtaken public institutions like NASA in technological dominance, transforming the state’s role from controller to enabler.
Trump’s Techno-Strategic Shift: Donald Trump’s policies aggressively promote deregulated AI development, digital infrastructure, and stablecoins to ensure U.S. dominance in the tech domain.
The ‘Tech Broligarchy’ Model: The emerging alliance between Silicon Valley elites and the U.S. state — termed “tech broligarchy” — prioritises geopolitical leverage over democratic or idealistic motivations.

Implications and Strategic Concerns for India

India’s Hybrid Tech Model: India remains caught between the U.S. model of private-led innovation and China’s state-driven approach, with its domestic ecosystem lacking scale and cohesion.
Vulnerability of Indian IT Sector: AI-driven automation and U.S. visa restrictions under Trump threaten India’s IT outsourcing model and digital workforce stability.
Strategic Overhaul Required: India must increase investment in R&D, mobilise private sector innovation, and equip its regulatory frameworks to thrive in a rapidly evolving global tech order.

Practice Question

Discuss the implications of techno-capitalism and rising digital nationalism in major economies for India’s technology sector. In this context, critically evaluate India’s preparedness to sustain digital competitiveness and strategic autonomy. (250 words)

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