Next 10 years will be India's techade, Modi says on Digital India anniversary

INDIAN prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (1) said when combined with India’s proven tech prowess, its data and demographic dividend create a massive opportunity and expressed confidence that the current decade will be ‘India’s techade’.

Speaking at a virtual event to mark six years of Digital India, Modi said India is conscious of its responsibilities as a data powerhouse and noted that work is underway covering all aspects of data protection. Digital India, which follows the motto "Power to Empower", was launched on July 1, 2015.

'Data and demographic dividend present a massive opportunity'

“Data and demographic dividend present a massive opportunity for India together, we will be successful in making this decade ‘India's techade’,” he said.

The prime minister, who completed seven years in office recently, spoke via video conference to beneficiaries of various schemes of the Digital India programme, including Diksha, eNAM, eSanjeevani solution for telemedicine, DigiBunai and PM SVAnidhi scheme.

He also spoke about the critical role that technology had played during the pandemic to ensure continuity of education, access to healthcare and other services for the citizens.

Modi said digital solutions that India has created during the Covid pandemic are being acknowledged across the world and added that contact-tracing app Arogya Setu has played a key role in containing the spread of Covid-19 in India.

The prime minister also said that six years of Digital India mark rapid strides that India has taken in adopting technology.