Fourth time around: How India stands in the emerging digital-physical world

India's contribution to the so-called 4thIR may not really 'leave the world stunned', but its move from 'local solution' to 'global application' could be seen as a good early sign, writes T N Ninan

Speaking earlier this week at the inauguration of something called the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4thIR), the prime minister said that India’s contribution to 4thIR would leave the world “stunned”. He added that India was moving from “local solution” to “global application”. Now, the world is not easily “stunned” when the everyday reality is rapid developments in the broad area of 4thIR. Put that down to Narendra Modi bombast. But he may have a point that is worth exploring.
 
4thIR is an umbrella term that includes everything from the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to 3D