Opinion Ashwini Vaishnaw writes: PM Modi has made innovation India’s greatest equaliser

This transformation reflects his core philosophy of antyodaya — reaching the last person in the queue. Every digital initiative aims to democratise technology for all. What began as experiments in Gujarat became the foundation for India’s digital revolution.

Gujarat: From where it started

As Chief Minister, PM Modi transformed Gujarat through the use of technology and innovation. The Jyotigram scheme, launched in 2003, used feeder separation technology. Rural industries revived with 24×7 power while groundwater depletion slowed through scheduled farm electricity.

Women could study at night and small businesses flourished, reducing rural-urban migration. According to one study, the Rs 1,115 crore investment was recovered in just 2.5 years.

He decided to install solar panels on the Narmada canal in 2012. This project generated 16 million units annually, enough for 16,000 households. It also slowed the rate of evaporation which ultimately increased the availability of water.

This dual-benefit approach showcases PM Modi’s vision for technology. Through a single intervention it solved multiple problems. Generating clean energy while conserving water. It demonstrated efficiency and impact far beyond standalone solutions.

The global adoption by the USA and Spain adds credibility to the innovation’s effectiveness.

The e-Dhara system digitised land records. SWAGAT allowed citizens to meet the Chief Minister through video conferencing. Online tenders eliminated corruption.

These initiatives reduced corruption and improved the ease of accessing government service. He restored the trust of people in governance which is reflected in the big back to back electoral success achieved in Gujarat.

National canvas

In 2014, he brought the experience and learning of Gujarat to Delhi. But the scale was different.

Under his leadership, India Stack, the world’s most inclusive digital public infrastructure, began to take shape. The JAM trinity formed its foundation.

Jan Dhan accounts brought more than 53 crore people into the banking system. This brought the hitherto financially excluded into the formal economy for the first time.

Street vendors, daily wage workers, and rural families who lived entirely in cash now have bank accounts. This enabled them to save securely, receive government benefits directly, and access credit.

Aadhaar gave the citizens a digital identity with 142 crore registrations done so far. Accessing government services became easier, instead of requiring multiple document verifications.

Direct Benefit Transfer eliminated middlemen and reduced leakages. The savings from the usage of DBT has been over Rs 4.3 lakh crore so far. The savings are used for building more schools, hospitals, and infrastructure projects.

Previously, customer verification was a complex process. It required physical document checks, manual processes, and multiple touchpoints. This used to cost service providers hundreds of rupees per verification.

Aadhaar-based e-KYC reduced this to just Rs 5 per authentication. Now even the smallest transactions have become economically viable.

UPI has transformed how India pays. Over 55 crore users have transacted since its launch. In August 2025 alone, over 20 billion transactions worth Rs 24.85 lakh crore took place.

Money transfer has changed from being a multi-hour bank ordeal to a less-than-two-second phone scan. Bank visits, queues, and paperwork have almost become obsolete. Now, replaced by instant QR code payments.

Today, India handles half the world’s real-time digital payments. A decade ago, India was largely cash-dependent. Prime Minister Modi’s vision gave the final shape to JAM trinity and UPI infrastructure.

When Covid-19 struck and he urged digital transactions, the ecosystem delivered. As a result, UPI now processes more transactions than Visa globally.

A humble mobile phone is now a bank, a payment gateway, and a service center.

PRAGATI transformed governance accountability. The platform brings the Prime Minister directly into project monitoring through monthly video conferences. When officials know the Prime Minister will review their work on live video, accountability becomes automatic.

For example, a delayed highway project gets immediate attention during PRAGATI reviews. The officials have to explain the delays. This ensures swifter course correction, ultimately benefiting the citizens.

Technology for All

Technology transformed agriculture and healthcare fundamentally. Take Jagdev Singh, a farmer in Haryana who now uses AI apps to make crop decisions. He receives real-time weather updates and soil health data on his phone.

The PM-KISAN scheme delivers direct income support to 11 crore farmers digitally.

DigiLocker now has over 57 crore users with 967 crore documents stored digitally. Your driving license, degree certificates, Aadhaar, and other official documents live securely in your phone.

Police checks no longer require fumbling for physical papers while on road. Just show your digital license from DigiLocker. Filing income tax returns has become seamless with instant Aadhaar authentication.

What once meant carrying folders of documents now fits in your pocket.

Space and Innovation

India achieved what seemed impossible. Reaching Mars on the first attempt and that too with a budget smaller than a Hollywood movie. The Mars Orbiter Mission cost just Rs 450 crore, proving Indian engineering delivers world-class results.

Chandrayaan-3 made India the fourth country to achieve a soft lunar landing and the first to land on the Moon’s South Pole.

ISRO launched 104 satellites in a single mission, setting a world record. Indian rockets now carry satellites for 34 countries. The Gaganyaan mission will make India the fourth nation to send humans to space using indigenous technology.

Prime Minister Modi stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our scientists and put 100 per cent trust in their capabilities.

Global Leadership

When Covid-19 struck, the world struggled with vaccine distribution chaos. India responded through its strength.

The CoWIN platform was built in record time — a comprehensive digital solution for the world’s largest vaccination drive. The platform managed 200 crore vaccine doses with digital precision. No black market, no favoritism, just transparent allocation.\

Dynamic allocation prevented wastage — unused vaccines were redirected instantly to areas with higher demand. This achievement demonstrated how technology, when driven by political will, can deliver at a massive scale and with fairness

Manufacturing Revolution

Here’s the thing about building stuff — you can’t just jump to making chips without mastering the basics. It’s like learning to code; you start with “Hello World” before building apps.

Electronics production follows the same direction. Countries first master assembly, then move to sub-modules, components and equipment. India’s journey reflects this progression.

Under the Prime Minister’s vision, our strong base in electronics production is now enabling the leap into advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

India has long been a hub for design talent, with over 20 per cent of global chip designers based here. India now has design capabilities for advanced 2nm, 3nm, and 7nm chips. These are being designed in India for the world.

The current focus on building fabs and packaging facilities represents natural evolution. But the approach extends beyond manufacturing. The chemicals, gases, and specialised materials that feed semiconductor production are also being supported.

This creates an entire ecosystem, not just isolated factories.

The rise in these sectors has been made possible by Prime Minister Modi’s clear understanding of value chains. Build capabilities step by step and ensure every stage of the value chain is strengthened before moving to the next.

Infrastructure with Intelligence

The PM Gati Shakti portal uses GIS technology on an unprecedented scale. Every infrastructure project gets mapped digitally. Roads, railways, airports, and ports are planned together. No more working in silos. No more delays due to poor coordination.

Through the IndiaAI Mission, over 38,000 GPUs are available at one-third global cost. This has given startups, researchers, and students Silicon Valley-level computing at an average rate of Rs 67 per hour.

The AIKosh platform hosts 2,000-plus datasets, ranging from weather to soil health. These can power indigenous LLMs developed for India’s languages, laws, health systems, and finance.

PM Modi’s understanding of technology is also reflected in India’s unique AI regulation approach. Unlike the market-oriented model or state-controlled approach, he envisioned a unique techno-legal framework.

Instead of rigid regulations that could stifle innovation, the government invests in technological safeguards. Universities and IITs develop AI-driven tools to tackle deepfakes, privacy concerns, and cybersecurity threats. This approach fosters innovation while ensuring responsible deployment.

Technology for infrastructure

The Statue of Unity at Kevadia stands 182 meters tall, the world’s tallest statue. Built using 3D modeling and bronze cladding technology, it attracts 58 lakh visitors annually. The project created thousands of jobs and transformed Kevadia into a tourism hub.

The Chenab bridge, 359 meters high, connects Kashmir to the rest of India. The Aizawl railway line uses the innovative Himalayan Tunnelling Method, passing through tunnels and bridges in very tough terrain. The new Pamban bridge replaces a century-old structure with modern engineering.

These are not just engineering marvels. They represent PM Modi’s vision of connecting India through technology and determination.

The Human connect

PM Modi understands technology, but he understands people even better. His vision of antyodaya drives every digital initiative. UPI works in multiple languages. The poorest farmer has the same digital identity as the richest industrialist.

Countries from Singapore to France are integrated with UPI. The G20 endorsed Digital Public Infrastructure as essential for inclusive growth. Japan has granted a patent for this. What started as India’s solution became the world’s template for digital democracy.

From his early experiments in Gujarat to the launch of Digital India, the journey showcases technology’s power to transform lives. He has made technology the grammar of governance. He has shown that when leaders embrace technology with humanity, entire nations can leapfrog into the future.

The author is Union Minister for Railways, Electronics & Information Technology, and Information & Broadcasting.