Strategic Debate: Indian Data Called ‘Key Asset’ in US–China Power Contest

Amid discussions around the annual budget, a new development has emerged — a trade deal between India and the United States. The speaker argues that in the global contest between the US and China, Indian data is one of the most valuable strategic assets. With China possessing a data pool of 1.4 billion people, India’s population and its vast digital footprint represent immense economic and geopolitical leverage in the 21st century. According to the argument presented, data — reflecting people’s behavior, preferences, imagination, and consumption patterns — has become a critical resource in the digital economy. The claim is that any negotiation with the United States should have positioned Indian data as a central bargaining tool, ensuring equal partnership, protection of energy security, and safeguards for Indian farmers. However, criticism is directed at the reported provisions of the trade deal. The speaker alleges that India has relaxed digital trade rules, removed data localization requirements, allowed free data flow to the US, limited digital taxation, and avoided mandatory source code disclosure. These steps are portrayed as weakening India’s control over its most valuable 21st-century asset — data — and potentially compromising long-term strategic interests.