Digital decade: India's journey from inclusion to tech innovation

Ten years ago, we embarked on a bold journey into uncharted territory with great conviction.

 

While decades were spent doubting the ability of Indians to use technology, we changed this approach and trusted the ability of Indians to use technology.

 

While decades were spent thinking that use of technology will deepen the gap between the haves and the have-nots, we changed this mindset and used technology to eliminate the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

 

When the intent is right, innovation empowers the less empowered. When the approach is inclusive, technology brings change in the lives of those on the margins. This belief laid the foundation for Digital India — a mission to democratise access, build inclusive digital infrastructure, and opportunities for all.

 

 

In 2014, internet penetration was limited, digital literacy was low, and online access to government services was scarce. Many doubted whether a country as vast and diverse as India could truly go digital.

 

Today, that question has been answered not just in data and dashboards, but in the lives of 1.4 billion Indians. From how we govern, to how we learn, transact, and build, Digital India is everywhere.

 

Bridging the digital divide

 

In 2014, India had around 250 million internet connections. Today, that number has grown to over 970 million. Over 4.2 million kilometres of optical fibre cable equivalent to 11 times the distance between Earth and the Moon now connects even the most remote villages.

 

India’s 5G rollout is among the fastest in the world, with 481,000 base stations installed in just two years. High-speed internet now reaches urban hubs and forward military posts alike, including Galwan, Siachen, and Ladakh.

 

India Stack, which is our digital backbone, has enabled platforms like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which now handles 100+ billion transactions a year. Around half of all real-time digital transactions happen in India.

 

Through Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT), over ₹44 trillion has been transferred directly to citizens, cutting out middlemen and saving ₹3.48 trillion in leakages.

 

Schemes like SVAMITVA have issued 24 million-plus property cards and mapped 647,000 villages, ending years of land-related uncertainty.

 

Democratising opportunity for all

 

India’s digital economy is empowering micros, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small entrepreneurs like never before.

 

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a revolutionary platform which opens a new window of opportunities by providing a seamless connection with huge market of buyers and sellers.

 

The Government E-Marketplace (GeM) enables the common man to sell goods and services to all arms of the government. This not only empowers the common man with a huge market but also saves money for the government.

 

Imagine this: You apply for a Mudra loan online. Your creditworthiness is assessed through an account aggregator framework. You get your loan and start your venture. You register on GeM, supply to schools and hospitals, and then scale up via ONDC.

 

ONDC recently crossed 200 million transactions, with the last 100 million in just six months. From Banarasi weavers to bamboo artisans in Nagaland, sellers are now reaching customers nationwide, without middlemen or digital monopolies.

 

GeM has also crossed ₹1 trillion gross merchandise value in 50 days, with 2.2 million sellers, including over 180,000 women-led MSMEs, which have fulfilled orders worth ₹46,000 crore.

 

Digital Public Infrastructure: India’s global offering

 

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) from Aadhaar, CoWIN, DigiLocker, and Fastag to PM-WANI and One Nation One Subscription is now studied and adopted globally.

 

CoWIN enabled the world’s largest vaccination drive, issuing 2.2 billion QR-verifiable certificates. DigiLocker, with 540 million users, hosts over 7.75 billion documents, securely and seamlessly.

 

Through our G20 presidency, India launched the Global DPI Repository and a $25 million Social Impact Fund, helping nations across Africa and South Asia adopt inclusive digital ecosystems.

 

Startup power meets Aatmanirbhar Bharat

 

India now ranks among the top-three startup ecosystems in the world, with over 180,000 startups. But this is more than a startup movement; it is a tech renaissance.

 

India is doing extremely well when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) skill penetration and AI talent concentration among our youth.

 

Through the $1.2 billion India AI Mission, India has enabled access to 34,000 graphics processing unit (GPUs) at globally unmatched prices at less than $1/GPU hour, making India not just the most affordable internet economy, but also the most affordable compute destination.

 

India has championed humanity-first AI. The New Delhi Declaration on AI promotes innovation with responsibility. We are establishing AI centres of excellence across the country.

 

The road ahead

 

The next decade will be even more transformative. We are moving from digital governance to global digital leadership, from India-first to India-for-the-world.

 

Digital India has not remained a mere government programme, it has become a people’s movement. It is central to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and to making India a trusted innovation partner to the world.

 

To all innovators, entrepreneurs, and dreamers: The world is looking at India for the next digital breakthrough.

 

Let us build what empowers. Let us solve what truly matters. Let us lead with technology that unites, includes, and uplifts.

 

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The writer is the Prime Minister of India