31st March 2025 witnessed a very unique event where 17 geniuses from across the country came to Mumbai to discuss India@2047 and how they would shape the future of the country. The brightest minds between the age group of 14-18, are part of the Lodha Genius Programme. In a two hour long chat with Abhishek Lodha, they discussed their vision of India at its 100th year of Independence and also how to retain talent in the country.
Up until now, India@2047 conversation has been limited to bureaucrats, politicians, technocrats and even industrialists, most of whom would have reached certain age by 2047. The event, which was held at World Towers, had the future of country discuss India@2047. The event had children from all strata of the society and from different parts of the country. All the participants are geniuses in their own right, who want to grow up and become researchers, scientists and be part of the change.
The Lodha Genius Programme is a multi-year educational programme that is fully funded and nurtures India’s brightest young minds from Grade 9 to their early career. The programme provides the students with a unique blend of immersive science and mathematics curriculum, practical life skills courses, sustained and regular support from mentors and exclusive access to prestigious internship opportunities.
The programme complements all major examination boards, enabling students to take their studies further and to understand the career paths available to them in their chosen fields. When a student joins the Lodha Genius Programme, they become a member of an exclusive community that grows into a strong, supportive network of mentors and peers as they progress in their studies and careers.
The Programme is a joint initiative between Lodha Foundation and Ashoka University. It is funded by Lodha Foundation. In the past three years, the Foundation has supported over 200 students achieve their potential and continues to work with them closely to take our nation forward.
The Foundation’s core goal is to enable India to become a developed nation by 2047. To realize this vision, the Foundation focuses on three key areas:
- Education & Innovation excellence for India’s most capable minds
- Environment
- Indian Culture
Quotes on the vision of India@2047 (from the event):
Abhishek Lodha, Managing Director and CEO of Macrotech Developers (Lodha):
“Working in close collaboration with the most talented youth of our country, the Lodha Foundation hopes to makes a significant contribution to achieve the goal of India as a developed nation by 2047. We define developed nation status as strong achievement on 3 key indicators: a. GDP per capita b. Happiness and Life Satisfaction ratings c. Environmental Performance Rating. This holistic vision of development, wherein the most capable and gifted serve the rest of society to the fullest, is deeply rooted in the Indian ethos of ‘Parokar
Parmo Dharma’ – Service to others is the highest duty. This is my dream and vision of India@2047 and I am certain that the bright minds will be able to make this happen in the next two decades.”
Anshveer Bindra, Lodha Genius Programme Cohort 2024
“By 2047, I envision an India that is not merely participating in global scientific discourse but leading it, setting the agenda, defining the great questions, and pioneering the most profound breakthroughs of the century. I do not want India to compete with the best; I want India to be the best—better than anything the world has ever seen.
But for this to happen, we must first recognize where the world has failed. Science today, particularly in large economies, is often viewed through the lens of utility. Research is funded based on immediate applications, short-term profitability, and technological spin-offs. This is a fundamental mistake. The most revolutionary discoveries in human history did not arise because someone was looking for profit; they arose because someone was curious.
There was a time when quantum mechanics was seen as an abstract, philosophical puzzle—strange mathematical formalism describing things we could never hope to see. No one imagined it would lead to semiconductors, lasers, or the entire digital world we now live in. General relativity was formulated to understand the nature of gravity, not to make GPS satellites work with extreme precision. When Maxwell unified electricity and magnetism, he had no intention of creating the wireless communication systems that now connect the entire world.
The pattern is clear: the greatest scientific revolutions are never driven by immediate goals. They come from the pursuit of understanding itself. And yet, most of the world has lost sight of this. Research is increasingly tied to short-term economic outcomes, suppressing the kind of deep, fundamental exploration that leads to real transformation.
India has a chance to take a different path. If we choose to invest in curiosity-driven research, if we choose to fund the kind of science that does not have an immediate return but pushes the boundaries of what is possible, we will not just catch up with global scientific leaders—we will surpass them. We will create the world’s most powerful research ecosystem, one that does not just refine old ideas but generates new paradigms of thought.”
Alethia Rodrigues, Lodha Genius Programme Cohort 2023 and 2024
“By the time of 2047, I imagine India, as a developed country unique to its own kind, that is a leader in most fields known to mankind. One title or phrase that always echoes in my mind, when thinking about such questions is Homegrown technology, one that drives our aerospace, defense and space industries- where we’re not just launching satellites but leading deep-space exploration missions.
Beyond technological advancements, I also hope for an India, where education is implemented through a broad array of lenses beyond just textbook learning- a learning similar to the kind we received at Lodha Genius Program. I believe that, like how my interest was fueled by the experiences I had pertaining to my field through the course of these two years, developing a sheer passion and ability to go beyond conventional thought processes, would motivate young minds to tackle real-world problems.
Being someone currently experiencing this dilemma, I believe, one very crucial thing India lacks today is educational capacity. Therefore, for my vision of India in another decade of years, something I dream of, is an India that is an educational hub, with competent universities, where students don’t have to go abroad for opportunities, but have the world looking to us for expertise. With increased R&D investments and funds allocated to the research sector, India has the scope to foster a revolutionary education system that propels innovations and scientific investigations.”
Sadhika Naorem, Lodha Genius Programme Cohort 2024
“In 2047, I envision an India where, alongside conventional education, skill-based learning is also emphasised. I believe that students should be exposed to a whole spectrum of jobs, and be made to learn the skills that are applied in each. They should be made aware of job creation possibilities, be able to think outside the box and even have a start-up based on their own unique talents and abilities. School should be an enabling environment that hones their abilities, so that in the future, they aren’t just job seekers but job providers too. In 2047, I want India to be a global superpower—not merely in terms of science and technology, but in terms of humanitarian values.
Patience, humility, acceptance for all, etc. should be ingrained in us from the very beginning. And I envision a future where initiatives like Lodha Genius Programme are a part of school itself, and are not required separately. LGP is, without a doubt, an excellent initiative, but its benefits are only available to a microscopic percentage of students. If this exposure can be integrated into school systems, then not only will the student populace benefit, but India as a whole can grow.”
Yaadvi Chopra, Lodha Genius Programme Cohort 2024
“By 2047, India will have established itself as a global leader in achieving the SDGs and will have reduced poverty to nearly half of its current level, fostering a more inclusive and prosperous society. I envision India as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, where poverty is eradicated through large-scale job creation. With a thriving startup ecosystem and strong government-industry collaboration, India will be the birthplace of groundbreaking businesses that drive economic growth and social change. Investment in technology, education, and sustainable industries will ensure that every citizen has access to good healthcare facilities, quality education, financial stability, and a high standard of living. Through proper skill development and a vast entrepreneurial pool, India will not only retain its brightest minds but also attract global talent, making it a leader in innovation and prosperity.”
Yash Varshney, Lodha Genius Programme Cohort 2024
In 2047, a century hence, I want to see an India that is prosperous, self-reliant, and yet sorry for its own. My vision about the future of India is founded on three simple pillars- empowered individuals, sustainable communities, and intellectual resilience which I aim at contributing to during my journey from now until 2047. Despite technology paving the way for progress, I still believe that it is people at the end of the day who shall make the difference toward total upliftment. I dream of enlightened classrooms where critical thinking and emotional intelligence have made holistic education beyond the reach of a subject or syllabus-the textbooks and tests become non-sensorial. To me, leadership is not all about technical know-how, but empathy with strong emotional quotient and depth of thought and reflection. Enabling spaces for students to realize their expression, argumentation, and real-world problem solving is a part of my ambition to contribute to a future where Indian youth has both intellectual resilience and the necessary empathy to lead with compassion. I envision India in 2047 as a care-oriented innovator and resilient society-a society in which technology and growth touch on human-centeredness. My contribution will be minimal but will focus on those things that will have long-term impacts that I can make through nurturing people, promoting sustainability, and building a bridge between communities, urban and rural.
