India’s digital dividend: The strategic roadmap towards becoming a global digital leader

KPMG in India at Davos 2025: Advancing India’s Digital Leadership

The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum has convened in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20–24, 2025, bringing together global leaders from government, business, and civil society, alongside renowned scientific and cultural thinkers. This year’s theme, “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” sets the stage for meaningful dialogues on the future of innovation and progress.

KPMG in India, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), hosted a dynamic panel discussion, “The Digital Dividend: Fusing Technology, Talent, and a Collaborative Ecosystem in a Multistakeholder World.” The session explored the critical intersection of digital transformation, workforce adaptation, and multistakeholder collaboration. Panelists delved into how businesses, governments, and civil society can harness the digital dividend to create a future-ready workforce that is both inclusive and efficient.

Launch of India’s Digital Dividend Report

A key highlight of the event was the launch of “India’s Digital Dividend: The Strategic Roadmap Towards Becoming a Global Digital Leader." This insightful report outlines the essential steps required to position India as a frontrunner in the global digital economy. The report was unveiled in the presence of:

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State in the Education Department, Government of India,
Bill Thomas, Global Chairman, KPMG International, and
Yezdi Nagporewalla, CEO, KPMG in India.

This strategic roadmap underscores the importance of leveraging digital transformation, fostering talent development, and promoting collaboration across sectors to solidify India’s position as a global digital leader.

India’s digital dividend: The strategic roadmap towards becoming a global digital leader

Fusing technology, talent and collaboration can bolster resilience and promote inclusive growth in this technology-driven era

Download the report (3.72 MB)

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Digital transformation has become a driving force that innovates industries and reshuffles the approaches to governance. Over 50 per cent of leaders foresee fluctuations in the political, climatic and technological spheres, the need for flexible strategies is evident for inclusivity and resilience.

India’s rise in the digital arena is visible in pioneering projects such as Aadhaar and Digital India, which highlight the country's dedication to promote inclusiveness and improving digital accessibility for all residents. By concentrating on reskilling its workforce via initiatives such as Skill India, India is proactively preparing its populace for the future of work in fields such as AI, robotics, among others, establishing itself as a digital transformation leader.

India is laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth and a prominent position in the global digital environment by investing in digital infrastructure and cultivating a collaborative culture.

The world is grappling with an array of rapid technological shifts, from the rise of AI to evolving regulation. This report highlights the key role India is playing in tackling these challenges, leveraging its digital assets to drive growth, foster innovation, and build a more inclusive society. India’s strong progress has created the potential for the country to become a true digital powerhouse.

Bill Thomas

Global Chairman and CEO

KPMG International

India's rapid digital transformation is propelling the nation toward Viksit Bharat ambition. By leveraging strategic investments in frontier technologies including AI, alongside the power of a skilled and agile workforce, India is setting new benchmarks in the global digital economy. India’s vision of inclusive growth, where technology bridges divide, empowers citizens, and drives innovation at scale is becoming a reality and India is poised to not only lead the development but also shape a sustainable, digital-first world.

Yezdi Nagporewalla

CEO

KPMG in India

India’s digital renaissance

India’s digital revolution
- 1.38 billion Aadhar cards issued
- High speed internet connectivity access to over 950 million subscribers.

Digital India
- Internet connectivity in over 644,000 villages
- USD1.6 billion UPI transactions as of FY23-24.

Skill evolution by 2030
- Approximately 40 per cent job roles expected to evolve by 2030
- Skill India to train 400 million people across varied capabilities.

Leadership and investment
- Investment of USD1.2 billion in the IndiaAI mission
- Corpus of USD12 billion investment in sunrise technologies.

India is boldly charting its course towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, where innovation, resilient governance and ethical leadership converge to drive sustainable growth, empowering the nation to lead on the global stage in the digital age

Riding the wave of emerging technologies

Empowering its workforce with AI and digital skills

A model for collaboration and innovation

A vision for robust governance and ethical AI

This report explores the transformative strength of integrating technology, talent and collaboration in reshaping India’s digital and economic landscape. Digital transformation has become a driving force that innovates industries. This report highlights how India, with its dynamic workforce, technological advancements and collaborative frameworks, is uniquely positioned to navigate through complexities and drive growth in the digital age.

Technology serves as the backbone of this transformation, enabling businesses to innovate, predict disruptions and adapt rapidly. From initiatives such as Digital India to the integration of AI across industries, India is leveraging emerging technologies not just to survive but to thrive amidst global headwinds.

Talent plays an equally crucial role in this journey. The report delves into the efforts to future-proof the workforce by emphasising on upskilling, inclusivity and innovation. India’s youthful population, with its adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit, is driving a cultural shift toward continuous learning.

Collaboration, the third key element, serves as a unifying force that blends with technology and talent. The report details the formulation of innovative and inclusive ecosystems through partnerships between the government, private sector and academia. Also, open innovation, a model that invites ideas and expertise from diverse external sources, offers Indian businesses a transformative approach to solving complex challenges and unlocking new opportunities.

A comprehensive guide to understanding how the fusion of technology, talent and collaboration can help India and the world overcome uncertainties and create a blueprint for resilient, inclusive growth.