Why in news?
India’s Independence Day speech in August 2025 placed emphasis on becoming a leader in deep‑technology by 2047. Observers argued that achieving this ambition requires dismantling the bureaucratic and regulatory legacy left behind by the colonial administration. They pointed out that while India excels in digital payments and mobile connectivity, its dependence on imported semiconductors, defence hardware and advanced electronics shows that the steel frame of governance must be re‑formed.
Colonial roots and present challenges
The phrase “steel frame” refers to the Indian Civil Service created by the British in the nineteenth century. This bureaucracy was designed to maintain order and extract revenue, not to encourage invention. After independence, the same hierarchical rules and red tape continued. Entrepreneurs and scientists now face outdated regulations, slow approvals and risk‑averse officials. For example, India processes billions of digital payments every month, yet imports most of its chips and jet engines because licensing, land acquisition and procurement procedures are cumbersome.
Reforms needed
- Human capital management: Recruit specialists and scientists into the civil service through lateral entry. Provide public servants with training in emerging technologies and performance‑linked promotions.
- Regulatory transformation: Modernise laws that govern telecommunications, data protection, intellectual property and defence procurement. Simplify licensing and promote self‑certification to encourage start‑ups.
- Judicial efficiency: Fast‑track commercial and patent disputes through special courts or tribunals so that investors have confidence to innovate.
- Global leadership: Increase public funding for research and development to at least 1 % of GDP, incentivise private venture capital and protect indigenous inventions abroad.
Significance
Removing colonial‑era obstacles will allow India to build its own semiconductor fabs, advanced defence systems and deep‑tech start‑ups. Reforming the steel frame is not about abandoning rules but about adopting flexible governance that encourages risk‑taking. A responsive civil service, modern regulations and strong judicial support are essential if India hopes to lead the next technological wave.