India must focus on building its own resilience rather than seeking validation from foreign powers, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal said on Independence Day. He argued that the country's biggest challenge is not choosing a single perfect policy but creating enough flexibility to withstand an increasingly uncertain global environment. Sanyal said India's debates over entrepreneurship, global opportunities and moving beyond its colonial legacy are closely connected.

According to him, these discussions reflect a broader effort by a country with significant unrealised potential to establish its position in a rapidly changing world. The assumptions and certainties that shaped previous decades, he said, can no longer be taken for granted. “The issues you have raised are actually not unconnected,” Sanyal said, describing them as part of the same challenge facing India. He said the country had spent decades building itself while navigating constraints, but now had an opportunity to unlock its potential as global economic and geopolitical conditions undergo major changes.

The uncertainty, he argued, extends well beyond geopolitical tensions in regions such as Iran and the Gulf. Artificial intelligence is already capable of reshaping supply chains, businesses and entire industries, creating new opportunities as well as disruptions. At the same time, India has a demographic advantage that Sanyal said could remain significant for the next 25 to 30 years. That demographic window, however, is not unlimited. India will need to create enough economic opportunities to absorb its expanding working-age population and convert its demographic strength into sustained growth.

Also Read: PM Modi Responds To Netanyahu’s I-Day Greeting, Highlights Enduring India-Israel Friendship

Sanyal's assessment suggests that the country's ability to adapt to changing circumstances will be crucial to making the most of this period. He also questioned the idea that governments can develop a single grand strategy capable of accurately predicting how the global environment will evolve. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted economic forecasts and policy assumptions around the world, demonstrated how quickly unexpected events can alter the trajectory of economies and industries.

Instead, Sanyal advocated flexibility and “optionality” — maintaining enough choices to respond when circumstances change. This approach can apply not only to domestic economic policy but also to India's international relationships. By maintaining engagement with different global groupings and major economies, India can avoid becoming overly dependent on any single strategic or economic partner. India's expanding network of trade relationships is another example of this strategy. Wider access to international markets can provide Indian companies with more opportunities while reducing dependence on individual markets.

Such diversification can become increasingly important as supply chains are reshaped by geopolitical tensions, technological advances and changes in global trade policy. Sanyal's broader argument is that India's future should be shaped by confidence in its own capabilities rather than by the desire for approval from other countries. Building resilient institutions, strengthening domestic capacity and retaining the ability to change course when necessary could be more valuable than attempting to predict every future crisis.

As India marked its Independence Day, the discussion highlighted the country's changing economic and geopolitical position. With artificial intelligence transforming industries, global alliances evolving and India's demographic window gradually narrowing, Sanyal's message was that adaptability will be essential. For India, the objective may not be to predict the future perfectly, but to ensure it is prepared for whichever version of the future arrives.

Also Read: Report Links Russian Escort To Fatal Trash Bin Bomb Targeting Ukrainian Defector