Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has raised concerns over India's rapidly growing population, labelling it as one of the greatest threats to the country's sustainability. Speaking at the convocation ceremony of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology in Prayagraj, Murthy highlighted the lack of focus on population control since the Emergency era, warning that this neglect could jeopardise the nation's future.
"India faces significant challenges related to population, per capita land availability, and healthcare facilities," Murthy said during his address. He highlighted the disparity between India and other large nations, pointing out that countries such as the US, Brazil, and China enjoy far higher per capita land availability. "Since the Emergency period, we have not paid enough attention to population control, and this oversight puts India at risk of becoming unsustainable," he warned.
Murthy, who has previously expressed skepticism about India's ambition to compete with China as a global manufacturing hub, reiterated his concerns during the 'ELCIA Tech Summit 2024'. He cautioned against India prematurely branding itself as a "global leader" in manufacturing, stressing that China has already solidified its position as the "factory of the world."
With China boasting six times the GDP of India, Murthy argued it was overly ambitious to claim India could soon rival China's manufacturing dominance.
While lauding India's IT sector for its success in exports, Murthy pointed out that the country's manufacturing industry requires a stronger domestic focus and substantial government support. He called for improvements in public governance, urging the government to enhance its responsiveness and reduce bureaucratic barriers that hinder industrial growth.
"For manufacturing, domestic contributions are more critical, and the government plays a significant role. However, response time, transparency, accountability, speed, and excellence in public governance still need significant improvements in India," he said.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Murthy credited his success to the sacrifices of the previous generation, including his parents, siblings, and teachers. He clarified the importance of one generation paving the way for the next, saying, "The progress I have made is a testament to the sacrifices of my parents and mentors, and their efforts were not in vain."