India no longer has the luxury of ‘copy-pasting’ development models from other countries: KTR

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and former Minister K.T. Rama Rao emphasised that over the past decade, India has made remarkable progress in building strong physical and digital infrastructure.

India has been ahead of many developed nations in adopting telecommunications technologies such as 3G, 4G and 5G, but now the country was now at a critical juncture and no longer has the luxury of ‘copy-pasting’ development models from other countries.

Participating in a Fireside Chat at the prestigious Columbia University in New York, Mr. Rama Rao shared his insights on India’s economic trajectory, artificial intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship, unemployment and the evolving global job landscape.

Highlighting the disruptive impact of Artificial Intelligence, Mr. Rama Rao warned “The threat from AI is real and imminent. Governments and societies are not fully prepared for this transition.”

Speaking on India’s startup ecosystem, Mr. Rama Rao highlighted Hyderabad as a model of success. He explained that the city’s growth as an innovation hub is driven by a strong ecosystem comprising incubators, co-working spaces, mentors and investors, which has led to the emergence of several unicorn startups. “Fostering entrepreneurship requires more than policies, it demands a comprehensive and collaborative ecosystem that nurtures innovation at scale.”

Mr. Rama Rao described India’s large youth population as both a strength and challenge. He noted that unemployment cannot be addressed merely by creating opportunities, but requires building a skilled workforce aligned with industry needs.

He called for a mindset shift among youth, encouraging them to become entrepreneurs and job creators rather than relying solely on employment opportunities. The event witnessed participation from Columbia University students, intellectuals and members of the Indian diaspora.