By The Indus Zone Media Tech Desk | November 8, 2025 | Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu Calls for India’s 10-Year ‘Tech Resilience Mission
India’s Overreliance on US Tech Worries Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu
Zoho Corporation’s founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has sparked a national conversation on India’s heavy dependence on the United States for key technology platforms. In a viral social media post, Vembu urged the government to launch a 10-year “National Mission for Tech Resilience”, emphasizing that India’s digital future must not remain vulnerable to foreign control.
Vembu’s remarks came in response to industrialist Harsh Goenka’s hypothetical scenario: What if the US suddenly bans India from using American tech platforms like Google, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), X (Twitter), or ChatGPT? Goenka’s thought experiment, though speculative, raised serious concerns about India’s digital sovereignty.
“Our Dependency Runs Deeper Than Apps” — Vembu Warns
Reacting to Goenka’s post, Vembu wrote,
“I agree. And we have a lot more such tech dependency beyond the app level — OS, chips, fabs… it goes deeper and deeper.”
India’s booming IT and software industry, contributing nearly 8% to the GDP and employing millions, still runs on a foundation built in the US. From Android and iOS operating systems to Intel and Nvidia chips powering data centers, American ecosystems form the invisible backbone of India’s digital economy.
Even the latest AI innovations—like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and other generative tools—originate from the US, leaving India at a technological crossroads if geopolitical tensions were to escalate.
Why Vembu’s Warning Matters
Global tensions, trade restrictions, and data sovereignty debates have shown how fragile tech dependencies can be. A sudden ban, as Goenka suggested, could cripple India’s e-commerce, banking, governance, and communication sectors, much like the US-China tech decoupling of 2020 that disrupted global supply chains.
Vembu cautioned that without a strategic plan, India could face similar vulnerabilities.
“We need a 10-year ‘National Mission for Tech Resilience’. It can be done,” he asserted.
He compared the proposed initiative to India’s successful space and nuclear programs, both of which achieved self-reliance through long-term national commitment and indigenous innovation.
Zoho’s Push for Made-in-India Tech Ecosystem
Vembu’s own company, Zoho, has been a frontrunner in building homegrown alternatives to foreign technologies. The firm has introduced locally developed software tools, POS machines, and the Arattai messaging app, which aims to rival WhatsApp with enhanced privacy and secure messaging. The app’s upcoming end-to-end encryption feature will further bolster its credibility as a reliable Indian alternative.
Zoho Mail has also received recognition from several government leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for promoting data localization and secure communication within India.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
While many praised Vembu’s vision for a self-reliant digital India, others expressed doubts about the feasibility of such a massive transformation within a decade. Supporters hailed him as a visionary who understands India’s tech vulnerabilities, while critics questioned the nation’s current infrastructure, R&D investment, and policy readiness to support a tech revolution of that scale.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Tech Future
Sridhar Vembu’s statement isn’t just a warning—it’s a call to action. As India continues to rise as a global tech hub, the need to reduce dependency on US platforms, invest in indigenous innovation, and develop homegrown hardware and software ecosystems has never been more urgent.
Whether India takes up Vembu’s 10-year mission could define the nation’s technological independence for generations to come.
