A decade of Digital India

Ten years ago, we started a journey with full confidence in an area where no one had gone before. Where for decades it was doubted whether Indians would be able to use technology or not, we carried forward that thought and believed in the ability of Indians to use technology. Where for decades it was only thought that the use of technology would further deepen the gap between the rich and the poor, we eliminated that gap through technology. When the intention is right, innovation empowers the deprived. When the approach is inclusive, technology brings change in the lives of the marginalized. That belief became the foundation of Digital India. A mission that began with the mission to democratise access, make digital digital infrastructure accessible, inclusive and provide opportunities for all.

In 2014, internet penetration was limited, digital literacy was low and access to government services online was extremely limited. Many doubted whether a country as vast and diverse as India could truly go digital. Today, this question is answered not in data and dashboards, but through the lives of 1.4 billion Indians. From governance to education, transactions and manufacturing, Digital India is everywhere. In 2014, India had around 250 million internet connections. Today, this number has grown to over 970 million. Over 42 lakh kilometres of optical fibre cables, 11 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, are now connecting even the remotest villages. India’s 5G rollout is one of the fastest in the world, with 4.81 lakh base stations installed in just two years. High-speed internet now extends from urban centres to forward military posts like Galwan, Siachen and Ladakh. India Stack, our digital backbone, has enabled platforms like UPI, which now processes over 100 billion transactions annually. Nearly half of the total real-time digital transactions in the world take place in India. Over Rs 44 lakh crore has been transferred directly to citizens through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), eliminating the role of middlemen and plugging leakages of Rs 3.48 lakh crore. Schemes like SVAMITVA have issued over 2.4 crore property cards and mapped 6.47 lakh villages, ending years of land uncertainty. India's digital economy is now empowering more MSMEs and small entrepreneurs than ever before. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDRY), a revolutionary platform, opens up new windows of opportunities by providing direct connectivity to a vast marketplace of sellers and buyers. Government e-Marketplace allows the common man to sell goods and services to all departments of the government. This not only provides a huge market to the common citizen but also saves money for the government.

Imagine you apply for a Mudra loan online. Your creditworthiness is assessed through the Account Aggrometer Framework. You get the loan, you start your business. You register on Government e-Marketplace, supply to schools and hospitals and then scale it up through ONDC. ONDC has recently crossed the 20 crore transaction mark with the last 10 crore happening in just six months. From Banarasi weavers to Bos craftsmen of Nagaland, sellers are now reaching customers across the country without middlemen. Government e-Marketplace crossed Rs 1 lakh crore Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in 50 days, with 22 lakh sellers, including over 1.8 lakh women-run SSMEs, delivering goods worth Rs 46,000 crore. India’s Global Contribution India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) such as Aadhaar, CoWIN, DigiLocker, FASTag, PM-WANI, and One Nation One Subscription are now being read and adopted globally. CoWIN enabled the world’s largest vaccination drive, leading to issuance of 220 crore QR-verified certificates. DigiLocker, which has 54 crore users, is hosting over 775 crore documents in a secure and seamless manner. India launched the Manobala DoPI Repository and a $25 million Social Impact Fund during its G20 Presidency to enable countries in Africa and South Asia to adopt inclusive digital ecosystems.
India is now among the top three startup ecosystems in the world, with over 1.8 lakh startups. But this is not just a startup movement, it is a technology renaissance. India is making great strides in AI skills and AI talent among the youth.

Under the $1.2 billion India AI Mission, India has secured access to 34,000 GPUs at a price that is the lowest globally – less than a dollar per GPU penta, making India not just the cheapest internet economy but also the most affordable computing hub. India has championed humanity-first AI. The New Delhi Declaration on AI promotes responsible innovation. AI Centres of Excellence are being set up across the country.

The next decade will be even more transformative. We are moving beyond digital governance to global digital leadership. From India First to India for the World. Digital India is no longer just a government programme, it has become a people's movement. It is central to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and making India a trusted innovation partner of the world. With all the innovators, entrepreneurs, and dreamers, the world is looking to India for the next digital revolution. Let us build what empowers. Let us create solutions that truly matter. Let us lead with technology that Unites, Includes, and Uplifts.