From UPI to Aadhaar and now ONDC, India is spearheading the development of large-scale digital applications that reflect not only the nation's formidable tech talent but also its capacity for groundbreaking technological innovations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol, emphasized how India's technological journey has evolved.
“For a long time, India was globally known for its tech talent. Today, it is known for both its tech talent and tech prowess, especially in digital public infrastructure," PM Modi told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview. He pointed out that several initiatives and platforms launched over the past nine years have had a cascading impact on the nation's economy. However, he underscored that India's tech revolution extends beyond economic implications, leaving a profound imprint on society.
PM Modi stressed that, for India, technology serves as a means to empower individuals, bridge the gap for the underserved, and extend growth and welfare to the farthest corners—a truly human-centric model. He highlighted the transformative influence of the Jan Dhan – Aadhaar – Mobile (JAM) Trinity, empowering even the most disadvantaged individuals, securing their rights from any potential infringement. PM Modi further lauded the role of technology in aiding the government's outreach to millions during the pandemic, providing essential support that will be etched in memory.
As foreign dignitaries converge on India for the G20 Summit, PM Modi revealed their astonishment at witnessing street vendors accepting payments via QR codes through UPI. India's remarkable presence is exemplified by its contribution to nearly half of the world's real-time digital transactions. Notably, other nations express a keen interest in affiliating with the UPI system, to the extent that Indians now have the option to utilize UPI for payments even beyond India's borders.
Also Read: PM Modi's full interview with Moneycontrol
His interaction with Moneycontrol happened on the same day when National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) MD and CEO Dilip Asbe said India may soon touch 100 billion Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions a month.
PM Modi also said lakhs of small entrepreneurs are getting the benefit of having a level playing field in becoming a part of public procurement through the Government e-Marketplace. Meanwhile, during the pandemic, it was a tech platform COWIN which helped take over 200 crore vaccine doses to the people, free of cost. “We also made the platform open-source for the whole world to use,” he added.
The Prime Minister also listed out several other tech initiatives that have made the life of the common man much easier and is also leading to a global impact.
For instance, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a futuristic initiative that will revolutionise the tech field by creating a level playing field on digital platforms for a number of different stakeholders, he said.
The nonprofit ONDC sets out to dismantle the e-commerce platform monopoly. Within this extensive aggregator network, when a buyer initiates a product search, the displayed results will encompass various e-commerce platforms and their listings. This will enable buyers to seamlessly compare prices, features, and discounts, all within a single, convenient view.
“Drones empowering people with property rights through SWAMITVA scheme, our surge to over a century of unicorns – there are a number of other such achievements that we can discuss. But the important thing is the impact this is having on the world,” he added.
Also Read | PM Modi says global central banks must coordinate in the battle against inflation: Moneycontrol Exclusive
PM Modi said after looking at India, countries of the Global South are excited about the opportunity of empowering the poor at a much faster rate, without any leakages, due to technology. This will give momentum to their growth.
“Further, having been recognised for our abilities in the tech domain, India’s vision for the future of global technology is being welcomed at various global platforms. For example, during our G20 Presidency, a framework to govern digital public infrastructure has been adopted by the Digital Economy Ministers, laying the foundations for the One Future Alliance.”
The Prime Minister also mentioned that whether it is crypto or cyber terrorism, India’s call for global cooperation on approaching tech-related issues is seen as credible. It’s because it is a nation that has a deep experience in innovation and adoption of technology in the public domain.
First Published: Sept 6, 2023 10:10 AM IST
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