Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that technology has become a powerful tool for transforming governance and empowering even the most underprivileged. As the government marks over a decade in office, a comprehensive overview of its digital initiatives shows how far India has come—from boosting UPI payments and expanding Aadhaar to launching satellites and supporting rural digital literacy.
Young Indians driving digital payments revolution
Citing the National Statistical Office’s Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom 2025, nearly 99.5% of Indians aged 15 to 29 years who can make online banking transactions are now able to use UPI for digital payments. This reflects a dramatic shift in digital financial inclusion, especially among youth. PM Modi, in a post on X, said the government has significantly improved service delivery and transparency through technology, crediting the younger generation for spearheading much of this digital transformation.
The IT ministry-led MyGovIndia posted a thread titled “Tech it to the top,” summarising key achievements of the past decade. Among the most striking highlights was a 2,500-fold increase in UPI transaction volumes over eight years, and the global expansion of UPI into over seven countries, including a recent rollout in France.
Digital governance and technological innovation on the rise
Alongside UPI, the government highlighted the success of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, which has facilitated the transfer of over ₹44 lakh crore across 322 schemes. The system reportedly saved ₹3.48 lakh crore by eliminating leakages. Aadhaar has now become a cornerstone of digital identity, covering more than 1.4 billion people.
In technology innovation, drone applications have seen an upswing, particularly in rural India. Initiatives like “Drone Didis” have enabled rural women to become drone operators, while drones have also played roles in operations like Sindoor. Over 550 Indian drone companies have emerged, and more than 14,000 individuals have been trained under the SwaYaan programme.
In AI, India is developing homegrown solutions through Centres of Excellence and platforms like Chitralekha, a video transcreation tool, and Everest 1.0, a multilingual model under the Hanooman project. The India Semiconductor Mission, with a ₹1.55 lakh crore production-PLI scheme, has approved six semiconductor units across Gujarat, UP, and Assam.
In space, India has launched 393 foreign satellites and plans to establish its own space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, by 2035. Additionally, over 6.3 crore people in rural areas have been trained under the PMGDISHA digital literacy programme, surpassing targets ahead of schedule.
