India hot-spot of digital innovation: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India is the hot-spot of digital innovation across all sectors.

Inaugurating the World Congress on Information Technology via video conference the prime minister asserted that India is and will continue to remain the most tech-friendly population in the world.

"Today, India is the hot-spot of digital innovation, across all sectors. We not only possess a growing number of innovative entrepreneurs, but also a growing market for technology innovation," Prime Minister Modi said.

"We were and we remain one of the most tech-friendly populations in the world," he added.

Stressing on the importance of digitisation, the prime minister pointed that technology has become a medium to create a seamless, integrated world.

Technology has shortened the geographical distance between nations, which were a barrier for collaborating for a better future, the prime minister said.

The Prime Minister also traced the journey of Digital India and said that the step taken by the government has brought digital inclusion for digital empowerment aided by the digital infrastructure for digital delivery of services.

"Leveraging technology in such a holistic manner was unthinkable some years ago. We have successfully completed this life-cycle in the last three-and-a-half years," the Prime Minister said.

"This has been possible through a change in public behaviour and processes," he added.

Prime Minister Modi even credited the people for the overwhelming success of Digital India and said that it has now not only remained merely a Government initiative but has become 'a way of life.'

"While most Government initiatives depend on a Government push, Digital India is succeeding because of the people's pull," he said.

Discussing 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' initiatives taken by the Centre, Prime Minister Modi said that the nation has shown incredible progress in the technology sector.

He further hailed the disruptive technologies such as Block-chain and the Internet of Things and said that it would have a profound impact on the way of living.

"Skilling citizens for the workplace of the future are now a global imperative. In India, we have launched the National Skill Development Mission to prepare our children and youth for a productive and bright future," he said.

Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the conference would serve a mutual benefit to investors, innovators, think-tanks and other stakeholders from across the world.

The event was organsied in India for the first time in partnership with NASSCOM, WITSA and the Government of Telangana.