'From trust to empowerment': PM Modi reflects on 10 years of Digital India, highlights tech-led transformation

PM Modi's blog marks 10 years of Digital India, showcasing how inclusive tech, digital infrastructure, and platforms like UPI and ONDC have transformed governance, empowered citizens, and positioned India as a global leader in digital innovation.

Image Credit : narendra modi linkedin

1. Digital India began with trust

PM Modi flipped the old belief that Indians couldn't handle tech. The Digital India mission, launched in 2015 on July 1, was built on faith in people's ability to adapt and use technology to close gaps, not widen them.

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2. From limited reach to deep access

In 2014, India had just 25 crore internet connections. Today, it has over 97 crore. High-speed connectivity now reaches even remote villages and forward military posts like Galwan and Siachen.

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3. India Stack powers digital backbone

UPI, Aadhaar and other components of India Stack are now global case studies. UPI alone processes over 100 billion annual transactions, while DBT has transferred Rs 44 lakh crore directly to citizens, saving Rs 3.48 lakh crore in leakages.

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4. EV to every village: fibre-first

Over 42 lakh km of Optical Fibre Cable has been laid, 11 times the Earth-Moon distance. This digital highway is connecting the remotest corners of India with education, telemedicine, and services.

Image Credit : X (PM Modi)

5. GeM and ONDC democratise commerce

Platforms like Government e-Marketplace and ONDC are connecting small sellers to big buyers. From bamboo artisans in Nagaland to Banarasi weavers, businesses now reach markets directly without digital monopolies.

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6. Digital tools fix land issues

Through SVAMITVA, over 6.47 lakh villages have been mapped, and 2.4 crore+ property cards issued, bringing long-awaited clarity and ownership to millions of rural families previously stuck in uncertainty.

Image Credit : X (PM Modi)

7. DPI becomes India’s export model

CoWIN, DigiLocker, FASTag and PM-WANI are now benchmarks for Digital Public Infrastructure. India’s G20 push has led to a global DPI repository and a $25M fund to help other countries adopt similar models.

Image Credit : PM Modi, X

8. AI skill, talent and compute boom

India now ranks in the top 3 global startup ecosystems and is seeing a surge in AI talent. The $1.2B India AI Mission gives global GPU access at record-low prices, just $1 per GPU hour.

Image Credit : X/UpasnaMohapatra

9. From digital governance to leadership

India is shifting from internal adoption to global digital influence. With initiatives like ‘India for the world’ and people-first AI, the country is shaping tech policy and infrastructure well beyond its borders.

Image Credit : X/UpasnaMohapatra

10. Digital India: now a people’s movement

What began as a government mission is now a mass movement. Citizens, startups, and MSMEs have taken ownership, using digital tools to uplift themselves and others, fueling AatmaNirbhar Bharat from the grassroots up.