Introduction:

The fourth Industrial Revolution describes the present technological age ongoing in 21st century that has come up since the first such revolution took place in 18th century. Industry 4.0 is a complex cyber-physical system which synergies production with digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Analytics, Machine Learning and Cloud computing. A pilot project for ushering in Industry 4.0 in the country has been launched at the Modern Coach Factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae barelli district.

Body:

Industrial Revolution 4.0 can help in transforming India by:

• Alleviating poverty
• Better and low-cost healthcare
• Enhancing farmer’s income
• Providing new technology and equipment to farmers
• Strengthening infrastructure, improving connectivity
• Improve ease of living and ease of doing business

India’s preparedness to embrace IR 4.0:

• India has become the fourth country in the world where World Economic Forum has opened its centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution. Hence, India is preparing for a massive digital and technological transformation.
• The centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution works as a network that includes USA, China and Japan.
• The centre would be based in Maharashtra and it has selected drones, artificial intelligence and block chain as the first three project areas.
• NITI Aayog will coordinate the partnership on behalf of the government and the work of the centre among multiple ministries.
• The Department of Science and Technology has recently launched a programme ‘Intermediary Cyber Physical Systems’ (ICPS) to foster and promote R&D in AI.
• Google at the fifth edition of its annual Google for India event announced that it is setting up a research lab focused on artifical intelligence (AI) and its applications in India. The company’s AI lab — Google Research India — is based in Bengaluru
• The NITI Aayog has drawn up a plan for creating an institutional framework for artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. It has circulated a cabinet note to provide Rs 7,500 crore in funding for creation of cloud computing platform called AIRAWAT and research institutes.
• A national artificial intelligence (AI) programme, will see the formation of a task force under Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan to identify projects and initiatives in which to implement the AI technology.
• The policy will also include a national artificial intelligence centre on which will be the department that will anchor the project.
• The proposed policy and the centre could finally see the light of day as the finance ministry has cleared the NITI Aayog’s Rs 7,500-crore plan.

Conclusion:

Schemes like Skill India, Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission and Digital India are developing youths to use new technologies. India’s diversity, demographic potential, fast growing market size and digital infrastructure have the potential to make India a global hub for Research and Development.