Presented before policymakers, industry leaders, and global institutions, the report placed India’s AI journey within a national development framework rather than a purely technological race.

Grounded in economic modelling and real-world pilots, the study projected that artificial intelligence could contribute nearly USD 550 billion to India’s economy across five priority sectors—agriculture, education, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing—by 2035 at a nominal level.

The Davos platform amplified the message that India’s AI strategy is being shaped not only around efficiency and growth, but also around inclusion, governance, and institutional readiness.

In doing so, the report positioned India as a potential global benchmark for how emerging economies can deploy AI at scale while embedding it into public systems and everyday economic activity.

The economic case for AI-led development

PwC’s projections are rooted in sector-specific modelling that maps AI adoption to productivity gains, cost efficiencies, and improved service delivery.

The estimated USD 550 billion contribution is not concentrated in a single industry but distributed across sectors that directly affect livelihoods and social outcomes.

Agriculture stands to benefit from data-driven crop advisories and waste reduction. Education systems can leverage AI to improve governance and learning outcomes. Energy networks can use intelligent systems to improve efficiency and reduce losses. Healthcare can accelerate disease detection and monitoring. Manufacturing can enhance quality control and process optimisation.

By placing these sectors at the centre of its analysis, the report framed AI as a multiplier for existing development priorities rather than a standalone digital initiative.

The emphasis on nominal value also highlighted the scale at which AI could integrate into India’s real economy over the next decade.

The 3A2I framework: A system-level playbook

At the core of AI Edge for Viksit Bharat is PwC’s proprietary 3A2I framework, designed as a national, system-level approach to AI deployment.

Rather than focusing narrowly on algorithms or platforms, the framework treats AI as an interconnected “central nervous system” for development.

The first pillar, Access, focuses on ensuring the availability of data, digital infrastructure, and skilled talent. This reflects the understanding that AI systems are only as effective as the ecosystems in which they operate.

The second pillar, Acceptance, emphasises trust, transparency, and ethical safeguards, recognising that public confidence is essential for widespread adoption.

The third pillar, Assimilation, addresses the integration of AI into real workflows, ensuring that systems move beyond pilots into routine use.

Once these foundations are established, the framework advances toward large-scale Implementation and long-term Institutionalisation.

This phase focuses on governance structures, policy alignment, and continuous learning mechanisms that allow AI systems to evolve alongside societal needs.

The framework’s design reflects an intent to embed AI into institutions rather than treat it as a transient technological upgrade.

Leadership perspectives from Davos

Speaking at the launch, Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson of PwC in India, described AI as a nation-building force rather than a purely technological leap.

He highlighted that AI offers India the ability to reimagine growth beyond traditional GDP metrics, aligning innovation with a people-first development lens.

His remarks underscored the report’s central thesis: that investments in infrastructure, talent, and governance can allow innovation and equitable development to advance together.

The report was unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whose address provided a practical view of how AI is already being integrated into governance.

He highlighted the state’s AI-based applications for farmers, available in Marathi, which are being used to understand crop cycles and guide pesticide usage.

He also pointed to AI-enabled platforms such as MAITRI for industrial investments, where automation and data-driven processes are enhancing ease of doing business.

These examples illustrated how AI frameworks discussed at Davos are being translated into operational tools at the state level.

Sectoral pilots demonstrating tangible impact

The report drew on multiple real-world pilots to demonstrate AI’s applied value. In agriculture, AI-enabled crop advisories have delivered double-digit efficiency gains by providing timely, localised guidance.

In the energy sector, smart metering systems using AI have flagged power theft cases with high accuracy, improving financial discipline. In healthcare, AI-driven tuberculosis detection tools have significantly improved notification rates, strengthening disease surveillance.

These pilots were presented not as isolated successes, but as evidence of scalability.

PwC’s analysis suggested that even modest expansion of such applications could translate into hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings or productivity gains.

The focus on pilots also reinforced the framework’s emphasis on assimilation—embedding AI into operational workflows rather than confining it to experimental stages.

A notable feature of the report was its effort to broaden the global conversation on AI outcomes.

Through the AI Edge framework, PwC defined five tangible results that India should expect from AI deployed at scale: operational excellence, sustainability, good governance, resilience, and financial discipline.

This framing moved the discussion beyond narrow efficiency metrics to include transparency, environmental stewardship, system reliability, and inclusive value creation.

By linking AI outcomes to governance and sustainability, the report aligned technological deployment with public accountability.

This approach resonated with Davos discussions that increasingly emphasise responsible innovation and long-term societal impact.

India’s position in the global AI landscape

Speakers at the launch highlighted that India’s AI trajectory is not framed as an effort to catch up with advanced economies, but as an opportunity to set a distinct benchmark.

By aligning technology with human development goals, India’s approach demonstrates how emerging economies can scale AI responsibly while addressing structural needs.

Entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath, commenting on the broader business environment, noted improvements in policy stability and the overall direction of economic reforms.

Such stability, the report suggested, is critical for long-term AI investments that require consistent regulatory and institutional support.

The Davos unveiling repeatedly emphasised collaboration between government, industry, academia, and civil society.

The report positioned AI as an ecosystem-level transformation rather than a sectoraldisruption. Continuous learning, adaptive governance, and shared responsibility were presented as essential elements of India’s AI journey.

As India advances toward its Viksit Bharat vision, AI Edge for Viksit Bharat framed the current moment as a decisive inflection point.

With structured frameworks, demonstrable pilots, and policy alignment, the report argued that India is well placed to shape an AI ecosystem that scales responsibly and inclusively.