Key Points
- Industry leaders call for focus on execution over AI adoption on National Technology Day 2026
- Sophos warns identity security now the critical enterprise perimeter in AI-first environments
- Vertiv says India's AI future depends on data centre infrastructure decisions made now
India’s technology sector must shift focus from artificial intelligence adoption to disciplined execution, trusted infrastructure and cybersecurity resilience, industry leaders said on National Technology Day 2026, marking the anniversary of the country’s 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran.
Executives from data infrastructure, business process outsourcing and cybersecurity firms used the occasion to outline priorities they said would define India’s competitiveness over the next decade — moving beyond digital transformation rhetoric to capability building across data centres, AI deployment, semiconductor supply chains and enterprise security.
AI deployment must be measurable and accountable
Akshay Chhabra, chairman and managing director, 1Point1 Solutions, said the national conversation has shifted from whether to adopt AI to how to deploy it effectively.
“The key challenge is execution. How do you embed AI into live operations across geographies and languages in ways that are measurable, accountable, and trusted by those who rely on it?” Chhabra said.
He added that across the company’s delivery centres in India and the Americas, AI now functions as the core operating layer rather than a pilot project. Applications include automated resolution systems, real-time quality assurance, live agent assistance and brand compliance monitoring.
“India’s competitive advantage in the next decade will depend on organisations that combine technological expertise with the discipline to deploy it responsibly and at scale,” Chhabra said.
Infrastructure decisions will determine AI outcomes
AS Prasad, vice president of product management, Vertiv, said India’s AI ambitions will succeed or fail based on infrastructure investments being made now.
“The next decade of AI will be won in the infrastructure layer — in the power systems, the cooling architecture, and the data centre design decisions being made right now,” Prasad said.
He noted that 27 years after the 1998 nuclear tests, the stakes have scaled alongside the ambition. “The only question worth asking is whether we are engineering boldly enough for what is coming,” he added.
Identity emerges as the new security perimeter
Sunil Sharma, managing director and vice president of sales for India and SAARC, Sophos, warned that cybersecurity must be treated as foundational infrastructure as enterprises accelerate AI adoption.
“In an AI-first, hyper-connected world, the threat landscape is evolving rapidly. From deepfakes to automated attacks and AI-driven vulnerability discovery, attackers are operating at unprecedented speed and scale,” Sharma said.
He added that identity has emerged as the critical security perimeter. “Securing access, validating trust and ensuring visibility across systems is now critical to enterprise security,” Sharma said.
Organisations are shifting from compliance-led approaches to resilience-led strategies where they are prepared not just to defend but to adapt and recover in real time, he noted.
National Technology Day commemorates 11 May 1998, when India conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and scientist APJ Abdul Kalam.
Your Questions, Answered
What is National Technology Day and why is it celebrated on 11 May?
National Technology Day marks 11 May 1998, when India conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran, Rajasthan, under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and scientist APJ Abdul Kalam. The day celebrates India's technological achievements and self-reliance.
What did industry leaders say about AI adoption in India on National Technology Day 2026?
Industry executives said India must shift from AI adoption to disciplined execution. They emphasised measurable deployment, trusted infrastructure, skilled talent and responsible innovation as priorities for the next decade.
Why is data centre infrastructure critical for India's AI ambitions?
Vertiv's AS Prasad said India's AI future depends on infrastructure decisions being made now, including power systems, cooling architecture and data centre design. These investments will determine whether AI workloads can run at the required speed and scale.
What cybersecurity challenges did industry leaders highlight for AI-driven enterprises?
Sophos warned that deepfakes, automated attacks and AI-driven vulnerability discovery are creating threats at unprecedented speed. Identity has emerged as the new security perimeter, requiring organisations to adopt resilience-led strategies rather than compliance-led approaches.
