India@75: How a bold 2007 vision reshaped the nation's future

India@75 began as a bold vision for the country’s future, first proposed by Professor C.K. Prahalad in 2007. He imagined an India that would achieve economic strength, technological progress, and moral leadership by 2022. The initiative has since gained wide backing from governments, businesses, and citizens alike. In 2008, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) embraced Prahalad’s idea and produced the National Vision Document: India@75 – The People’s Agenda. This document outlined ten key areas, grouped into seven broad themes, to guide the nation’s development. To turn the vision into action, CII established the India@75 Foundation, an Apex Council, and a dedicated operations team.

A distinctive logo was created to represent the initiative, featuring people in seven colours forming a Charkha—a symbol of unity and progress. The National Volunteering Grid (NVG) was also launched to encourage public involvement in India@75 projects. Since 2014, National Volunteering Week has been held every January, from the 18th to the 24th, to boost participation. Key projects under India@75 include Skillpedia, which focuses on skill development, and Project Roshni, aimed at expanding outreach. These efforts have increased volunteering hours and community engagement across the country. The theme of CII’s 2019 Annual Meeting, *India 5.0: India@75 and Beyond*, further reinforced the long-term goals of the initiative.

India@75 has grown into a collaborative movement with support from governments, corporations, and civil society. Its structured approach—through vision documents, volunteering drives, and targeted projects—has set measurable steps toward national progress. The initiative continues to shape policies and actions aimed at building a stronger India by its 75th year of independence.