NEW DELHI: In a virtual address to the G20 Digital Economy Ministers' Meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted India's remarkable strides in the digital realm, emphasizing its potential to serve as a testing ground for pioneering solutions with global relevance.

PM Modi welcomed the attendees to Bangalore, renowned as a hub of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. He asserted that India's diverse landscape makes it an ideal laboratory for solutions, with successes easily adaptable worldwide.

Crediting the inception of the Digital India initiative in 2015, the Prime Minister attributed India's rapid digital transformation over the past nine years. He underscored the nation's unwavering dedication to innovation, swift implementation, and comprehensive development that ensures inclusivity in the digital revolution.

Highlighting the scale and pace of this transformation, PM Modi noted the 850 million internet users in India, benefiting from some of the world's most affordable data costs. He praised the use of technology in governance, referencing Aadhaar—an exceptional digital identity platform covering over 1.3 billion individuals—and the transformative JAM trinity that revolutionized financial inclusion.

The Prime Minister also commended India's UPI payment system, which handles nearly 10 billion monthly transactions and processes 45% of global real-time payments.

PM Modi showcased several digital initiatives, including Direct Benefits Transfer, which saved over $33 billion by eliminating system leakages. He highlighted the CoWIN portal's significance, an instrumental tool during India's extensive COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Additionally, PM Modi shed light on the Gati-Shakti platform, utilizing technology for infrastructure and logistics mapping, thus reducing costs and expediting delivery. He drew attention to the government e-Marketplace and open network for digital commerce, platforms fostering transparency and integrity in public procurement and e-commerce.

Further emphasizing inclusivity, the Prime Minister mentioned Bhashini—an AI-powered language translation platform aimed at bridging linguistic gaps across India.

PM Modi stressed that India's Digital Public Infrastructure offers scalable, secure, and all-encompassing solutions for global challenges. He highlighted that the nation's diversity positions it as an optimal testing ground, with successful solutions poised for universal application.

The Prime Minister welcomed the establishment of a G20 virtual Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, emphasizing the importance of a unified framework for digital public infrastructure. He lauded efforts to facilitate international comparisons of digital skills and the establishment of a virtual center of excellence for digital skilling.

Acknowledging cybersecurity concerns in the expanding digital economy, PM Modi urged consensus on G20 high-level principles to ensure a secure, trustworthy, and resilient digital economy.

In conclusion, PM Modi underscored technology's potential for inclusive and sustainable development. He encouraged G20 nations to lay the groundwork for a prosperous and secure global digital future. This involves advocating for digital technology adoption by farmers and small businesses, creating a global digital health ecosystem, and promoting responsible AI usage.

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