In a significant development for India's technology landscape, experts at a symposium held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) have identified Extended Reality (XR) as the next major technological wave, poised to follow the current surge in Artificial Intelligence. The event, which took a major step towards establishing India as a global leader in XR technologies, was detailed in a press release issued on Friday, November 29, 2025.
Positioning India at the Forefront of Immersive Tech
The symposium served as a crucial platform for aligning national efforts with the goal of technological self-reliance. A key outcome highlighted was the acceleration of India's drive towards an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' specifically in the domain of immersive systems. This focus on developing indigenous capabilities in Extended Reality is expected to reduce dependency on foreign technology and create a self-sustaining ecosystem for innovation and manufacturing within the country.
What is Extended Reality (XR)?
Extended Reality is an umbrella term that encompasses Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). These technologies blend the physical and digital worlds, creating immersive experiences that have applications far beyond entertainment. From revolutionizing medical training and remote education to transforming architectural design and retail, the potential of Extended Reality is vast and largely untapped.
The timing of this push is strategic. As the world continues to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence, the convergence of AI with XR is set to unlock even more powerful and intelligent immersive applications. The insights from the IIT-Madras symposium underscore a national readiness to not just adopt, but to lead in this next phase of digital evolution.
The Road Ahead for India's Tech Ecosystem
By identifying XR as a priority, India is laying the groundwork for a new frontier of technological advancement and economic growth. This initiative promises to foster a new generation of startups, create high-skilled jobs, and position the nation as a hub for cutting-edge research and development in immersive technologies. The collective effort from academia, industry, and the government, as catalyzed by events like this symposium, is crucial for turning this vision into a reality.
