India plans to unveil a new “rail tech” policy in the coming weeks to boost domestic manufacturing of next-generation railway technology and equipment. Under the proposed framework, the Railway Board is expected to offer partial funding, technical support, and access to testing facilities to manufacturers. The policy is part of the government’s rail modernisation drive and aims to reduce dependence on imported railway technology, including from China.“A new Rail Tech policy will give much needed impetus to innovation for mass transport,” a senior official told ET, noting that is would encourage collaboration between domestic firms and research institutions. India’s imports of railway and tramway locomotives, rolling stock, and equipment stood at about Rs 6,098 crore in FY25, with locomotive components forming the bulk of the import basket, reflecting reliance on imported sub-systems.Trade data and project reports for 2024–25 estimate that around 55% of railway component imports are for Indian Railways, with 45% for metro and rapid rail systems. Imports account for a limited share of India’s overall railway component requirements. The FY27 Union Budget allocated Rs 52,108.73 crore for rolling stock capital expenditure, up from Rs 50,007.77 crore this fiscal year, primarily for new locomotives, coaches, including Vande Bharat train sets, and wagons as part of fleet modernisation.The government’s proposed rail technology policy builds on the Indian Railway Innovation Policy launched in June 2022, which offered grant support of up to Rs 1.5 crore on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis for startups and smaller companies to develop functional prototypes. The earlier policy focused on improving safety, efficiency, and maintenance, and provided innovators with ownership of their solutions, access to a secure testing environment, and assured procurement for successful low-cost technologies.India plans to be entirely self-sufficient in building seven new bullet train networks, the railway minister said. Currently, China dominates India’s railway equipment imports, followed by Germany and Austria for engineering systems, and the US and Japan for specialised propulsion and signalling components.

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 12:47 IST

Christian Eich of Genpact highlights India’s rapid AI adoption, stressing that workforce adaptability, not just technology, will drive competitive advantage in supply chain.

AI Impact Summit 2026 begins today in India

A senior supply chain executive has spotlighted the growing visibility of artificial intelligence adoption in India, arguing that the real competitive edge lies not in AI itself, but in how quickly professionals learn to work alongside it.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Christian Eich, Vice President Supply Chain and Partner at Genpact, reflected on the rapid pace of AI integration during a visit to India. “Let’s face it, AI will replace some jobs. But it’s also reshaping roles, creating new ones, and raising the bar on skills,” he wrote, adding that the key differentiator will be how fast people adapt to the technology.

AI company leaders are arriving in India to mark their presence in AI Impact Summit 2026, which is happening between February 16-20, 2026.

AI Momentum Becomes Increasingly Visible In India

Eich noted that while jobs in India are not directly comparable to those in other regions, the momentum around AI adoption is “striking” and increasingly visible. His comments align with broader industry observations that India is emerging as a major hub for AI experimentation and deployment, particularly in technology services and global capability centers.

India’s large digital workforce, expanding startup ecosystem, and growing enterprise investment in automation have accelerated the shift. From AI-powered customer service platforms to advanced analytics in supply chains and manufacturing, the technology is being embedded across functions rather than confined to pilot projects.

Skills, Not Software, As The Real Differentiator

Eich emphasized that AI’s impact goes beyond generating social media content or creative avatars — uses that have become common in professional networks. Instead, he challenged professionals to consider how they are deploying AI tools in daily workflows to improve productivity and decision-making.

As head of the European Supply Chain Managed Services & Analytics practice at Genpact, Eich leads initiatives focused on AI-enabled operating models designed to enhance cost efficiency and agility. His remarks reflect a growing consensus among transformation leaders that workforce upskilling and human-machine collaboration will define the next phase of enterprise AI adoption.

The message is clear: the technology itself may be widely accessible, but the ability to harness it effectively could determine who leads — and who lags — in the evolving labor market.

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