Digital India marks 10 yrs, PM Modi calls it 'people

On the 10th anniversary of the Digital India initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the journey of one of India’s most ambitious digital transformation programmes through a detailed blog titled "A Decade of Digital India." The Prime Minister highlighted how Digital India has evolved from a government-led project into a "people's movement", touching every aspect of Indian society and empowering millions across the nation.

Launched in 2015, the Digital India programme was envisioned to bring government services online, strengthen digital infrastructure, and ensure inclusive access to technology. PM Modi noted that what began as a vision to bridge the digital divide has now become a cornerstone for transparency, efficiency, and empowerment.

“In the last 10 years, Digital India has become central to building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and to making India a trusted innovation partner for the world,” he wrote.

Key Highlights from PM Modi’s Blog:

Internet Access: From just 25 crore users in 2014, India now has over 85 crore internet users, with digital connectivity reaching even the remotest parts of the country.

5G & Infrastructure: India has rolled out over 4.8 lakh 5G base stations in just two years and laid more than 42 lakh kilometres of optical fibre cable, making it one of the fastest nations to deploy 5G.

Fighting Corruption: Through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, the government has directly transferred ₹34 lakh crore to beneficiaries, saving nearly ₹3.5 lakh crore by eliminating middlemen.

UPI and Digital Platforms: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) now processes over 100 billion real-time transactions annually, making digital payments widely accessible. Platforms like DigiLocker (with 54 crore users), CoWIN, and PM-WANI have further simplified access to essential services.

Land Reforms with Tech: The SVAMITVA scheme uses drone technology to map rural land and provide villagers with property cards, reducing disputes and helping citizens access credit.

Startup Ecosystem: With 1.25 lakh registered startups and over 110 unicorns, India’s innovation landscape is thriving. PM Modi also spotlighted the India AI Mission, designed to democratise computing power and support the youth in leading the AI revolution globally.

In conclusion, PM Modi credited "right intent, innovation, and inclusive policies" for the programme’s success and transformation. He called upon citizens, especially innovators and youth, to continue contributing to a digitally empowered India, solving real-world problems and taking the country to the forefront of the global digital revolution.