PM Modi, the champion of technology- By Ashwini Vaishnaw
Remember when getting a government document was a whole saga? Multiple trips, long queues, random fees? Now it’s literally in your phone. This transformation didn’t happen by accident.
Prime Minister Modi turned technology into India’s greatest equalizer. A street vendor in Mumbai uses the same UPI payment system as a corporate executive. Technology, in his vision, knows no hierarchy.
This transformation reflects his core philosophy of antyodaya – reaching the last person in the queue. Every digital initiative aims to democratize 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, Modi ji 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 ₹1,115 crore investment 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 USA and Spain adds credibility to the innovation’s effectiveness.
The e-Dhara system digitized 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, to 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 ₹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 ₹24.85 lakh crore took place.
Money transfer has changed from being a multi-hour bank ordeal to a le…