Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that India is uniquely positioned to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence reach every section of society, calling the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) a global model for inclusive growth.
Speaking to ANI during the AI Summit India 2026, the Prime Minister said the convergence of DPI and AI represents the next major leap in development, particularly for countries in the Global South.
India’s Digital Backbone Driving Inclusion
Highlighting India’s success, he pointed to transformative platforms like Aadhaar and UPI as examples of how public digital infrastructure can empower citizens at scale.
According to him, India’s digital journey is built on three core principles:
- Public good approach rather than proprietary control
- Open and interoperable systems enabling innovation
- Design for scale and inclusion from the beginning
“These systems are built to serve 1.4 billion people, cutting across geography, income, and literacy levels,” he noted.
AI + DPI: A Game Changer for Governance
The Prime Minister emphasized that layering AI over this robust digital foundation can transform governance in multiple ways:
- Better targeting of welfare schemes
- Advanced fraud detection systems
- Predictive infrastructure maintenance
- Smarter urban planning
- Greater transparency in public services
He stressed that India is simultaneously strengthening data privacy laws, regulatory frameworks, and AI literacy to ensure responsible adoption.
Reaching the ‘Last Mile’
Narendra Modi underlined that the true goal of AI is not mere adoption but real empowerment.
He highlighted that AI must benefit:
- Farmers in villages
- Students in small towns
- MSMEs and informal workers
- Women entrepreneurs
- Youth across rural and urban India
“Technology must not remain confined to a narrow urban elite,” he said, adding that India’s human-centric approach can become a scalable model for the Global South.
AI for India’s 2047 Vision
Linking AI to long-term national goals, the Prime Minister said the focus is on leveraging technology to accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
He concluded that India is not just adopting AI but shaping a framework where innovation and inclusion go hand in hand.
