New Delhi: G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, an IAS officer of 1980 batch from Kerala cadre, on Monday said that India’s economy is poised to reach nearly $30 trillion by 2047, driven by its young demographic, rapid urbanisation, and ambitious infrastructure development goals.
He made the remarks while speaking on the sidelines of a session at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) event held in the national capital.
Young Demographics a Key Advantage
Kant emphasised India’s demographic dividend as a significant asset in the coming decades.
“The demographics are very young. The Western part of the world is ageing and Japan has already aged, even China is ageing. India is just 28 and even when we become 100, the average age will be 35 years. It is a country of baby boomers,” he said.
India, currently a $4 trillion economy, has recently become the fourth largest economy globally, and is on track to significantly expand its economic footprint over the next two decades.
India Needs 500 New Cities to Handle Urban Growth
Highlighting the need for sustainable urbanisation, Kant said around 5 million people will enter urban spaces every year, making it essential to build 500 new cities across the country.
“You need to create two new Americas in the next five decades. You need to create a Chicago every five years in India. That is the challenge for India,” he explained.
Aviation Push: Targeting 400 Airports
Kant also spoke about India’s ambitions to become a global aviation hub.
“India’s ambition is to create 400 airports,” he said, noting that the country currently has over 150 operational airports.
He urged Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India to become global players and compete with airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways by expanding their long-haul international operations.
“We believe in competing in the marketplace,” Kant added.
India’s Long-Term Growth Vision
Amitabh Kant’s vision ties closely with India’s broader goals of becoming a developed economy by its centenary year of independence in 2047. Infrastructure, demographic strength, and sustainability remain central pillars of this ambition.
About G20 Sherpa
In the G20, a Sherpa is a senior government official who acts as a personal representative of their country’s leader. They are responsible for preparing for the G20 summit, negotiating agendas, and ensuring their leader’s priorities are addressed. The term “Sherpa” is derived from the Nepalese Sherpa people, who guide mountaineers, reflecting the Sherpa’s role in navigating complex international diplomacy.
About G20
The Group of Twenty (G20) is a forum for international economic cooperation that was established in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis. It brings together 19 countries and the European Union, representing about two-thirds of the global population, 75% of global trade, and 85% of the world’s GDP.
