Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) highlighted the transformative impact of the Digital India initiative, stating that the programme has helped bridge the digital divide rather than intensify it. Marking the 10-year anniversary of Digital India, the Prime Minister shared a detailed post on LinkedIn, asserting that the country had successfully used technology to reduce inequality and empower its citizens.
“Digital India projects have used technology to eliminate the gap between the haves and the have-nots,” said Mr. Modi. “While decades were spent doubting the ability of Indians to use technology, we changed this approach and trusted the ability of Indians to use technology.”
The Digital India programme, launched in 2015, aimed to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, Digital India Corporation launched a widespread media campaign, including full-page newspaper advertisements, to commemorate the milestone.
Reflecting on the conditions in 2014, Mr. Modi wrote, “In 2014, internet penetration was limited, digital literacy was low, and online access to government services was scarce. Many doubted whether a country as vast and diverse as India could truly go digital. Today, that question has been answered not just in data and dashboards, but in the lives of 140 crore Indians. From how we govern, to how we learn, transact, and build, Digital India is everywhere.”
He also highlighted key achievements of the initiative, including the use of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure transparent and efficient delivery of government benefits. “Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), over ₹44 lakh crore has been transferred directly to citizens, cutting out middlemen and saving ₹3.48 lakh crore in leakages,” the Prime Minister stated.
Further emphasizing the scale of transformation, he pointed to the success of land digitization under the SVAMITVA scheme. “Schemes like SVAMITVA have issued 2.4 crore+ property cards and mapped 6.47 lakh villages, ending years of land-related uncertainty,” he said.
Highlighting India’s leadership in digital public infrastructure (DPI), Mr. Modi noted the country’s progress with platforms like Aadhaar, DigiLocker, and FasTAG. “India is moving from digital governance to global digital leadership,” he wrote, referencing India’s efforts to support the Global South through the Global DPI Repository.
