Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said amidst a global lockdown, owing to the Covid pandemic, India’s tech industry has shown its resilience.
“The pandemic was a bend in the path, not the end. The amount of tech adaption that would not have happened in the decade happened in just a few months,” he said at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
At the peak of COVID-19 lockdown, it was a technology that ensured India’s poor received quick and proper assistance, he said.
“The scale of this relief has few parallels. If India is successfully operating the world’s largest healthcare scheme, it is due to a big role of technology,” he added.
India as a country is uniquely positioned to leap ahead in the information era with the best minds and the biggest markets available with India, Modi said.
“Can we make a conscious effort to take our product level, innovation to the next level? A framework level mindset has the potential to build an ecosystem of multiple successful products,” he said.
Technology is setting the pace for defense sector to evolved, Modi said.
“Earlier wars was determined by who had better elephants and horses. Then came the era of firepower. Now, technology is playing a very important role in global conflicts. From software to drones to UAVs, technology is redefining the defence sector,” he said.
India’s Fintech industry is doing very well and millions of people are doing transactions without any fear because of people’s trust, which is to be preserved and made stronger, Modi said.
“A sound data governance framework is also our priority,” he said.
India has a clear advantage when it comes to innovation because of the talent of the Indian youth and their zeal to innovate, Modi said.
“The potential of our youth and the possibilities of technology are endless. It is time we give our best and leverage them,” he said.
Mod said the number of Internet connections in India has recently crossed the 750 million milestones and half of that number have joined in the last four years only.
“As per a report, the number of Internet connections recently crossed 750 million milestones. Do you know that over half of this number joined in the last four years only,” he said.
India’s governance model is ‘Technology First, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian government is providing support to India’s vibrant startup community, whose skill and success are now world-famous, he said.
Modi said ‘work from anywhere’ has become the norm and is going to stay.
“We’ll see a high amount of tech adaption in education, health, shopping and more,” he added.
Modi said achievements of the Industrial era are in the rearview and India is now in the middle of the Information era.
“Future is coming sooner than anticipated. We should quickly set the bygone era’s thinking aside. In the Information Era, the first mover doesn’t matter, the best mover does. Anyone can make a product anytime that disrupts all existing equations of the market,” he said.
In the Industrial era, boundaries mattered, but the Information era is all about going beyond boundaries, he added.
Modi said the central government has used the power of data analytics to ensure better service delivery and efficiency.
Using technology on such a large scale has brought about several life-changes for the citizens, he said.
“The benefits are for everyone to see. Our government has successfully created a market for digital and tech solutions but it has made technology a key part of all schemes,” he added.
Modi said it is because of technology that his government is able to help the poor build their homes at an unprecedented scale, speed and transparency.
“Today, when we’re able to provide electricity to almost all households, technology has played a key role,” he said.
“When it comes to technology, the way ahead lies in learning and growing together. Inspired by that approach, a number of incubation centers are opening in India,” he added.
