Digital India Turns 10 as a People's Movement Empowering Innovation
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that Digital India has evolved into a people-driven movement, central to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
- With initiatives like UPI, DBT, ONDC, and eNAM, India has transitioned from digital governance to becoming a global digital innovation leader.
- From empowering 1.7 crore farmers through eNAM to leading nearly half of the world’s real-time digital payments via UPI, Digital India has transformed services, access, and inclusion across the country.
As the ‘Digital India’ initiative marks a decade of transformative impact, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hailed it as more than just a government programme calling it a 'people’s movement' that has become the foundation of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
In a post on X, Sitharaman emphasized that the initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, has bridged the digital divide by bringing internet access to remote areas and digitizing government services. “Scan. Pay. Done. India’s UPI revolution powers nearly half of the world’s real-time digital transactions", she noted.
Prime Minister Modi, in a post on LinkedIn, reflected on the decade-long journey, stating, “Ten years ago, India embarked on a bold journey into uncharted territory with great conviction. While decades were spent doubting Indians' ability to use technology, we trusted their potential and they delivered”. He also called on global innovators and entrepreneurs, saying, “The world is looking at India for the next digital breakthrough”.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal added that initiatives such as UPI, DBT, GeM, ONDC, and SVAMITVA have elevated India from digital governance to a position of global digital leadership. “When the intent is right, innovation empowers the less empowered”, he quoted from the Prime Minister’s vision.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted the agricultural transformation brought by eNAM, which now connects over 1.7 crore farmers to buyers across 1,400+ mandis. “With Rs 4 lakh crore in trade, the impact is real”, he stated.
As ‘Digital India’ completes 10 years, its influence spans from fintech and e-governance to agriculture and entrepreneurship establishing India as a global digital force driven by innovation, inclusion, and empowerment.
