Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his keynote address at the NDTV World Summit, emphasized the unwavering dedication of his government towards India’s future. Addressing the summit, he responded to those who question why he continues to work tirelessly despite India’s numerous achievements over the past decade. He highlighted that while India has made significant strides, such as becoming the world’s fifth-largest economy, building 12 crore toilets, and providing 16 crore homes with gas connections, the journey is far from over.
The Prime Minister made it clear that these accomplishments, though notable, are merely milestones along the way to fulfilling the broader dreams and aspirations of a rapidly growing and young nation. He pointed out that with one of the youngest populations in the world, India possesses immense potential that can propel it to even greater heights. For this reason, there can be no room for complacency or rest. The government, he said, is committed to ensuring that India’s full potential is realized.
Modi stressed that India is adopting a forward-looking approach, focusing less on comparing current progress with past achievements and more on the country’s future goals. He mentioned that it is time to move beyond the traditional practice of contrasting one’s work with that of previous administrations. Instead, the metric for success should be driven by what India aims to accomplish in the future. The Prime Minister underscored that India’s vision for development by 2047, which will mark 100 years of independence, is deeply rooted in this forward-thinking mindset.
Reflecting on global challenges over the past five years, Modi acknowledged that events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, rising inflation, unemployment, and ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and West Asia, have caused widespread concern. However, despite these adversities, India has emerged as a beacon of hope on the global stage. He proudly stated that amid global uncertainties, India stands strong, with many people now referring to this as the ‘India Century.’ Despite facing its own set of challenges, India remains optimistic, and the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the nation will continue to shine brightly in the coming years.
One of the key themes of Modi’s speech was India’s unique role in showing the world how democratic values and digital innovation can not only coexist but thrive together. He explained that while India did not have the first-mover advantage during the early days of the internet revolution, the country has since carved out its own digital path, offering an inclusive and scalable model that the rest of the world can learn from. He contrasted India’s digital push with that of other countries, where private companies primarily led the charge, often resulting in limited benefits. India, by comparison, has created a model where the government plays a central role in democratizing technology.
The Prime Minister cited several examples of how India has successfully harnessed technology for the public good, highlighting the seamless integration of systems like Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and mobile connectivity. This integration, he noted, has created a robust and efficient mechanism for fast, transparent, and leakage-free service delivery. One of the standout successes of this digital framework is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has revolutionized the fintech landscape in India.
Modi took pride in the fact that over 500 million digital transactions are conducted through UPI on a daily basis, not by major corporations but by everyday Indians – small shopkeepers, street vendors, and others. This, he said, is a testament to how India’s digital infrastructure has empowered the common man. Instead of technology being a privilege for the few, it has been made accessible to the masses, fostering economic growth at the grassroots level.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Modi’s address was a rallying call for India to continue its journey towards development with renewed vigor and optimism. He reiterated that while significant progress has been made, the true measure of success lies in achieving the country’s long-term vision of development and prosperity. His message was clear: India’s best days lie ahead, and the government’s relentless efforts are focused on making the nation’s dreams a reality.
