In remarks reported by The Hindu, former scientific advisor Dr. R. A. Mashelkar says India should focus on developing deep-tech and AI-driven innovations that are affordable and competitive in global markets. He argues that such efforts should lead to technologies and solutions that benefit large numbers of people. Mashelkar also highlights India’s public procurement approach as a key obstacle to innovation. He contends that procurement policies that prioritize the “lowest bidder” over novel or improved technological capabilities hinder technological advancement and reduce incentives for indigenous innovation. The comments link policy design to the pace at which domestic research and development can translate into scalable products and services. Overall, his position is that improving procurement and aligning it more closely with innovation outcomes would help India strengthen its technological base, accelerate adoption of advanced technologies, and expand homegrown capacity in areas such as AI and other deep technologies.