India’s digital revolution accelerates under Modi, transforming governance and society

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary use of technology has spurred a nationwide digital revolution, enhancing public services, financial inclusion, and India’s global technological stature, rooted in inclusive growth and sustainable innovation.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fundamentally redefined technology as India’s greatest equaliser, transforming the way citizens access government services, financial systems, and digital infrastruct...

ure. His vision, rooted in the philosophy of antyodaya—focusing on the upliftment of the last person in the queue—has translated into a sprawling digital revolution that permeates every level of Indian society.

This journey of transformation began in Gujarat, where Modi served as Chief Minister. There, innovative schemes like Jyotigram revolutionised rural electrification, providing 24×7 power supply to rural industries. This initiative not only boosted rural economic activity but also slowed groundwater depletion by scheduling farm electricity use. Another pioneering project was the installation of solar panels on the Narmada canal, which produced clean energy while reducing water evaporation. These efforts embodied Modi’s approach of leveraging technology to solve multiple interconnected problems simultaneously—combining sustainable energy generation with water conservation.

The focus on digitisation continued with systems such as e-Dhara, which digitised land records, and SWAGAT, a video conferencing platform allowing citizens direct access to the Chief Minister. Online tenders streamlined governance by reducing corruption and enhancing transparency, contributing to a renewed public trust.

Taking this regional success to the national stage in 2014, PM Modi catalysed the development of India Stack—one of the world’s most inclusive digital public infrastructures—anchored by the JAM trinity of Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar digital identity, and mobile connectivity. These initiatives brought over 53 crore previously unbanked Indians into the formal economy for the first time, enabling secure savings, direct receipt of government benefits, and easier access to credit. Aadhaar’s 142 crore registrations facilitate seamless identity verification, while the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has saved the government over ₹4.3 lakh crore by eliminating intermediaries and leakages.

Meanwhile, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) revolutionised digital payments across India. With over 55 crore users, UPI now processes more real-time digital transactions monthly than giants like Visa globally, boasting more than 20 billion transactions in a single month as of mid-2025. This fast, convenient system connects everyone from street vendors to corporate executives and has extended beyond India’s borders, with adoption in over seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, and France.

PM Modi also introduced PRAGATI, a governance monitoring platform that connects the Prime Minister directly with officials overseeing infrastructure projects, ensuring accountability and timely course correction on delays. This real-time project management approach enhances governance efficiency with immediate impact on citizen services.

Agricultural and healthcare sectors have also benefitted from technology’s infusion. For instance, Haryana farmer Jagdev Singh uses AI-driven apps to access weather and soil data, making informed crop decisions. The PM-KISAN scheme digitally delivers direct income support to 11 crore farmers. Similarly, DigiLocker stores over 57 crore users’ official documents digitally, easing access and reducing reliance on physical paperwork for everything from driving licences to tax returns.

India’s strides in space technology under Modi’s leadership have been historic, showcasing indigenous capability and global competitiveness. The Mars Orbiter Mission proved Indian engineering excellence with a budget smaller than many Hollywood films, while Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to achieve a soft lunar landing on the Moon’s South Pole. ISRO’s record-breaking launch of 104 satellites in one mission and the upcoming manned Gaganyaan mission further underscore this progress.

The Covid-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge which India met through technological innovation. The CoWIN platform orchestrated the world’s largest and most transparent vaccination drive, administering over 200 crore doses with precision and fairness, avoiding black markets and misuse.

Alongside, the government has been nurturing a manufacturing ecosystem critical to the nation’s technological future. India is advancing beyond assembly to the design and development of advanced semiconductor chips, boasting over 20% of the world’s chip designers. Investment in fabs, packaging facilities, and supporting chemical and materials industries are creating a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, positioning India as an emerging global technology hub.

Infrastructure development has been similarly technology-driven. The PM Gati Shakti portal uses GIS mapping to synchronise projects across multiple transport sectors, eliminating delays caused by poor coordination. Iconic projects such as the Statue of Unity and the Chenab bridge showcase modern engineering and technology, transforming local economies and boosting regional connectivity.

India’s digital journey is also marked by a nuanced approach to artificial intelligence (AI). Rather than rigid regulations that might hinder innovation, the government fosters a techno-legal framework combining investment in AI safeguards with academic and research support, ensuring responsible deployment while encouraging growth.

This comprehensive digital transformation, emphasising inclusivity and accessibility, resonates at the human level. Whether it is a farmer in a remote village or a high-level executive in an urban centre, technology works equally for all, breaking down hierarchies and fostering economic participation. The UPI system, now accepted in numerous countries, and the G20 endorsement of Digital Public Infrastructure reflect India’s emergent role as a global leader in digital democracy.

Prime Minister Modi’s vision, merging deep technological understanding with a commitment to equitable growth, has demonstrably transformed Indian governance and society over the past decade. From his early experiments in Gujarat to national reforms and global leadership, technology has become the key grammar of governance—offering India a leapfrog into a future marked by opportunity, inclusion, and innovation.

Source: Noah Wire Services