India has experienced transformative growth since the year 2000, when much of its infrastructure and economic systems were still developing. At the turn of the millennium, India was navigating the early phases of liberalisation, increasing access to basic services, and laying foundations for industrial development.
Over the past two decades, the country has pursued ambitious public and private investments to strengthen connectivity, expand energy capacity, modernise ports and airports, build urban and rural infrastructure, and foster human capital growth. Today, India stands at the cusp of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047’ driven by a youthful population, pervasive digital adoption, and an expanding role in global trade and manufacturing.
India’s demographic advantage is extraordinary, with nearly 50% of its population under the age of 25, creating a dynamic and future-ready workforce for emerging industries. The digital revolution has empowered over 900 million internet users, driving growth in e-commerce, e-governance, digital education, and vibrant innovation ecosystems. As India rises as a global hub for advanced manufacturing, technology services, and sustainable solutions, it opens a horizon of shared prosperity, to partner in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and opportunity-rich future.India now boasts one of the world’s largest road networks — more than 6.3 million kilometres as of March 2025, with about 146,000 km of National Highways linking the nation’s cities and rural regions. This is a substantial expansion from approximately 91,000 km in 2014, a more than 60% increase in 11 years. New high-speed corridors have also grown from just over 90 km in 2014 to nearly 2,500 km, enhancing long-distance travel and freight movement.
India’s major ports handled about 855 million tonnes of cargo in FY2024-25, reflecting stronger trade activity and increased throughput efficiency. Upgrading port capacity and reducing turnaround times are central priorities under the Sagarmala programme, fostering quicker cargo movement and strengthening linkages to hinterland markets.
The civil aviation network has expanded significantly: over 160 operational airports now serve domestic and international routes. The regional connectivity initiative UDAN has operationalised more than 619 routes across 88 airports, improving access for remote regions and promoting tourism and business connectivity.
Indian Railways continues to be a backbone of mobility and freight transport.
In FY2024-25, it achieved record freight loading of over 1.61 billion tonnes, ranking among the world’s top freight rail networks. Passenger traffic also remains robust with 715 crore travellers carried. Moreover, over 99% of the broad-gauge network is electrified, cutting fuel dependency and improving efficiency.
Rapid urbanisation has driven investments in affordable housing, mass transit systems, sanitation, smart city frameworks, and urban utilities. These projects are reshaping metropolitan landscapes and improving liveability while supporting job creation and urban economic growth.
India’s total installed power generation capacity stands at around 476 GW (mid-2025), with a growing share from non-fossil sources. The country added a record 31.25 GW of renewable capacity in the current year, predominantly from solar, signalling rapid expansion in cleaner energy. India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth.
Strategic industrial corridors, such as the Delhi-Mumbai and Chennai-Bangalore corridors, are accelerating manufacturing and logistics linkages. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) continue to attract foreign direct investment and support export-oriented units across electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and automotive sectors, strengthening India’s global trade footprint.
Significant progress in education access, vocational training, and hospital infrastructure underpins improvements in national health indices and workforce quality. Digital literacy and skills programmes further empower India’s young population to contribute to emerging industries such as fintech, AI, pharmaceuticals, and renewable technologies.
The PM Gati Shakti initiative integrates planning across ministries to streamline logistics, reduce costs, and accelerate infrastructure delivery across roads, railways, ports, and airports. This multimodal master plan enhances efficiency and propels India’s competitiveness in global supply chains.
India’s evolution from basic infrastructure needs in 2000 to broad connectivity, energy diversification, industrial competitiveness, and digital adoption in 2025 is a testament to sustained development. As India marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, it offers vast opportunities for international collaboration, trade, innovation, and investment, inviting Kiwi, Māori, diaspora, and global partners to contribute to and benefit from its growth story. -Dr M M Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland