The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has said that ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is not just India’s goal; it is humanity’s opportunity.
Delivering the ‘Nitte Vinaya Hegde Oration 2026’ on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat – Vision for 2024’, organised by Nitte (a deemed-to-be university) in Mangaluru on Tuesday, she said a developed, stable, democratic, pluralistic India; the world’s largest democracy; the civilisational bridge between east and west and between global north and the south is not just good for India, it is good for the entire planet.
Shared national responsibility
Stating that ‘Viksit Bharat’ is not the responsibility of the Government alone, she said it is the national partnership between the Union, States, local governments, entrepreneurs, industry, academia, professionals, civil society and every citizen. The Government can build the platform, but the energy, ideas and the discipline of 140 crore Indians will build the ‘Viksit Bharat’ and the nation, she said.
“India has 900 million people under the age of 35, which is 65 per cent of the population. This is the largest concentration of young human potential in the history of our species. These young people are watching us. They are ambitious. They have dreams in their hearts,” she said.
India’s role on the global stage
Highlighting India’s importance on the global stage, Sitharaman said that when India is strong, peace prevails. When India is prosperous, global supply chains are more resilient. When India leads the world, it has a model of development that is not extractive, not colonial, not zero-sum. It has a model that is rooted in the oldest wisdom of traditions, she said.
Stating that India is not standing on the sidelines of global affairs, she said: “We are helping shape solutions on trade, technology, climate, security, and supply chains, and development. ‘Vishwa Mitra’ means being a trusted partner while putting India’s interest first.”
India-first approach in uncertain times
In a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment where all forms of unpredictability exist, India is putting its interests above all and making sure Indians don’t suffer for one thing or another, even if it is a matter that the country imports 100 per cent. So, the Prime Minister and the Government of India are making sure that Indians put India first and do not get agitated over any issue, she said.
Neighbourhood and ‘Vishwa Mitra’ vision
While putting India’s interest first, India is not forgetting its immediate neighbourhood. It is helping them and is sure that the immediate neighbourhood, particularly those land-locked countries, are taken care of. Though some of them are not landlocked, and if they request, India stands by them not as a big brother but making sure that its neighbourhood is looked at as ‘Vishwa Mitra’. “We stand as their friend,” she said.
Confidence to lead and support the global south
A ‘Viksit Bharat’ must have the confidence to work for the world. “Because in Bharat should have the confidence. Speak for the global south, protect citizens, and help write the rules that will shape the future,” she said.
Published on April 28, 2026