India led science for 2,000 years, but can it lead in AI and Quantum? Myntra founder Mukesh Bansal weighs in

For over two millennia, India led the world in science, mathematics, and astronomy. Thinkers like Aryabhata, S.N. Bose, and Ramanujan made fundamental contributions. In the 20th century, Nobel laureates like CV Raman, S. Chandrasekhar, and Abdus Salam continued that legacy. But today, India is far from the frontier of cutting-edge science.

Myntra and CureFit founder Mukesh Bansal is raising the alarm. “For 2,000 years, India led the world in science, mathematics, and astronomy,” he wrote on X. “Yet today, we heavily depend on the US and China for cutting-edge technologies like AI, GPUs, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech, and new blockbuster drugs.”

‘A Manhattan Project for Indian Science’

Bansal argues that a handful of global firms dictate the future of innovation while India struggles to make an impact. To reclaim leadership, he calls for a large-scale, government-backed initiative similar to the Manhattan Project. His vision includes:

• Increasing R&D investment to 1.5–2% of GDP (from the current 0.6%).
• Creating a strong deep-tech startup ecosystem with close industry-academia collaboration.
• Revamping STEM education to ignite a passion for science and mathematics in young minds.
• Encouraging researchers and faculty to launch companies and commercialise their innovations.
• Investing in long-term research to drive breakthrough discoveries and original intellectual property.

“India has the talent,” Bansal asserts. “Now, we need bold leadership, decisive reforms, and a moonshot mindset.”

‘Where Are India’s Nobel Laureates?’

Bansal questions why India has produced so few Nobel laureates in recent decades despite its rich scientific history. “For 2,000 years, India led the world in science, mathematics, and astronomy. In the 20th century, pioneers like CV Raman, S. Chandrasekhar, Abdus Salam, S.N. Bose, and Ramanujan shaped global scientific thought. Three of these got the Nobel, and S.N. Bose’s work is enshrined in Bose-Einstein condensate and bosons (all force particles in nature),” he said.

He also acknowledged the role of institutions such as IISc, TIFR, IITs, and BARC in laying the foundation for India’s R&D ecosystem. “Visionaries like Homi Bhabha, Satish Dhawan, and APJ Abdul Kalam pushed the boundaries of what was possible with limited resources,” Bansal added.

The Urgency of Reform

Bansal warns that without immediate action, India will remain reliant on foreign breakthroughs. “A handful of global firms are shaping the future of innovation,” he said. “If ever there was a time for a Manhattan Project for Indian science and tech, it is now.”

He envisions a future where India creates 100 original-IP unicorns and produces a new wave of Nobel laureates. “The dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’ critically depends on this,” he said. “The time to act is now.”

Despite its dominance in IT services, India has very few globally recognised product companies in deep-tech fields. Bansal, an investor in Hyderabad-based space-tech startup Skyroot Aerospace, believes this must change.

India’s scientific and technological future is at a crossroads. Without bold reforms, the nation risks being left behind. But with the right investments, policies, and mindset, India could once again lead the world in science and innovation.