“India Aims for $8 Trillion Economy by 2035 with 1 Million Startups”

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During the Arkam Annual Meet 2025, themed ‘The Great Unlock India in 2035’, visionary entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani, known for his role in founding Infosys, electrified the audience with his bold proclamation that by 2035, India would be home to a million startups. Nilekani’s words resonated with the crowd, inspiring them to take action towards this ambitious goal.

Nilekani painted a roadmap towards achieving an $8 trillion economy within the next decade, emphasizing the pivotal role that India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem would play in this economic transformation. With a projected 8% economic growth rate, Nilekani predicted that the number of startups in India would skyrocket to a million by 2035, signaling a new era of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

The digital revolution, spearheaded by India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and widespread adoption of AI technology, is expected to fuel this unprecedented economic expansion. Nilekani highlighted how platforms like Meesho are empowering small-scale sellers to access a nationwide customer base, showcasing the democratizing effect of technology on commerce.

India’s DPI has paved the way for rapid startup proliferation by streamlining entry barriers, promoting financial inclusivity, and simplifying regulatory compliance. Nilekani stressed that technological advancements are enabling small businesses to integrate into the formal economy, catalyzing their growth and enabling them to leverage platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, and Account Aggregators (AA).

In a rapidly digitizing landscape, where fintech innovations like UPI have gained widespread traction, Nilekani emphasized the importance of making benefits and credentials portable to foster economic mobility and formalize the informal sector. As India moves towards a digital-first economy, with AI playing a pivotal role in catalyzing growth, Nilekani predicts that the convergence of startups, AI, DPI, and energy decentralization will lead to a historic economic transformation.

Looking ahead, Nilekani envisions a future where energy trading becomes as seamless and ubiquitous as financial transactions, with millions of small-scale energy producers participating in an open marketplace. This convergence of entrepreneurial spirit, technological innovation, and sustainable energy practices could pave the way for an $8 trillion economy and a renaissance in entrepreneurship in India.