India’s foreign exchange reserves saw a healthy rise this week, with gold reserves increasing by $342 million, taking the total forex tally to $699.736 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The increase signals a strengthening economic buffer as India accelerates initiatives across technology and infrastructure.
Scindia pushes for India’s global leadership in 6G innovation
In a parallel development aimed at bolstering India’s technological self-reliance, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia chaired a key meeting with the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) in Bengaluru. During the session, the Minister outlined an ambitious roadmap to position India as a global powerhouse in next-generation telecom innovation.
“For the first time in history, India is playing a defining role in shaping global telecom standards,” Scindia said, crediting the momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Anusandhan, Atmanirbharta, and Make in India – Make for the World.”
India is eyeing a 10% share in global 6G patents, supported by Rs 239 crore in R&D funding across 111 cutting-edge projects. Scindia also noted that:
- 99% of mobile phones sold in India are now manufactured domestically
- Import substitution for telecom equipment has reached 60%
- India has developed indigenous 4G and 5G technology stacks
Describing the Bharat 6G Alliance as a force “akin to a million GPUs working in unison,” Scindia lauded the efforts of its seven expert working groups and over 80 active members. The alliance spans vital domains such as Spectrum, Devices, Green Technologies, Applications, and more.
The Minister urged all stakeholders to take full ownership of the 6G mission. “In PM Modi’s India, the government is not in the driver’s seat — you are,” he said, encouraging a three-to-four-year roadmap with monthly milestones and bi-annual reviews to ensure consistent progress.
This week’s session builds on the momentum of the first joint meeting of all seven working groups, held in September 2024, also chaired by Scindia. The Bharat 6G Alliance is expected to play a pivotal role in building a resilient, innovation-driven, and globally competitive telecom ecosystem.
