New Delhi, June 26 -- We followed the world in 4G, we marched with the world in 5G, but we will lead the world in 6G. That's a refrain one always gets to hear from the Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, at industry meets, press conferences and discussion groups. In November last year, in an interaction with a Delhi newspaper, the minister's claims became grander: India would be leading the 6G pack and setting the standards for 6G worldwide.

How does one view such statements? Political propaganda, wilful ignorance, or an implacable belief that India cannot but be the leader in this field, despite evidence to the contrary? Let's take 5G first. India launched this on October 1, 2022, three years after South Korea kicked...