Finance Minister urges Indian firms to prioritize resilience, governance and innovation

At an AIMA event, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharoman urged Indian industry to move beyond size and develop institutions that combine scale with durability, superior quality, robust governance and deep tech capabilities. She noted that India's market potential can only be realized through effective execution and highlighted the low private-sector R&D share compared with OECD, China and the United States. Sitharaman advocated higher R&D investment, more intellectual property creation, and practical training for founders and family businesses on governance and succession.

She stressed constructive dialogue with regulators and warned that a narrow focus on urban elites would undermine structural growth. Finally, she pointed to new private-sector opportunities in sectors such as space and nuclear energy.