AIR Spotlight is an insightful program featured daily on the All India Radio Newsonair. In this program, many eminent panellists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in IAS exam preparation. In this article, the topic of discussion is PM Modi’s address at the Sydney Dialogue on India’s technology revolution.
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the Sydney Dialogue on the Technological and digital era. The article will discuss the key points of the address.
Introduction:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the dialogue is a tribute to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership between India and Australia. He also said that this dialogue is a recognition of the role of India in the Pacific region and in the emerging digital world.
Technology and the World:
- The Prime Minister said that the digital era is bringing changes across the globe. It has reexamined politics, economy, and society and also raised new questions on sovereignty, governance, ethics, law, rights, and security.
- Technology is bringing a new era of prosperity and progress but, it also carries risks in the forms of threats from sea to cyber to space.
- It is reshaping the future international order and has become the new weapon.
- The biggest strength of democracy is openness but that openness should not be misused by a few vested interests.
India and technology:
- Prime Minister Modi has said that as a democracy and a digital leader, India is ready to work with partners for our shared prosperity and security.
- India’s digital revolution is rooted in our democracy, our demography, and the scale of our economy.
- It is powered by the enterprise and innovation of our youth. India is turning the challenges of the past into an opportunity to take a leap into the future.
Five important transitions taking place in India:
- Public information infrastructure:
- In India, over 1.3 billion people have their unique digital identity.
- India is working towards connecting six hundred thousand villages with broadband.
- India has built the most efficient payment infrastructure named UPI.
- India is the largest consumer of data per capita and over 800 million use the internet and 750 million people have smartphones.
- Technology for welfare:
- Digital technology in India is used for governance, inclusion, empowerment, connectivity, delivery of benefits, and welfare.
- India has conducted a successful digital payment revolution, banking, and financial inclusion.
- Technology has been used in India for the vaccination process through Aaroga Setu App and Cowin Platform.
- India is also building a National Digital Health Mission for affordable and universal healthcare for our billion-plus people.
- India’s One Nation, One Card will deliver benefits to the hundreds of millions of workers anywhere in the country.
- Startup Ecosystem:
- India has the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing Startup Ecosystem.
- New unicorns are coming up every few weeks, they are providing solutions to everything from health and education to national security.
- Technology in different sectors of the economy:
- India’s industry and services sectors, even agriculture, are undergoing massive digital transformation.
- India is also using digital technology for clean energy transition, conversion of resources, and protection of biodiversity.
- Being ready for the future:
- Prime Minister said that there is a large effort to prepare India for the future.
- India is investing in developing indigenous capability in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G; India is one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence.
- India is now open to innovation and investment from the private sector.
- India is already a major centre for providing cyber security solutions and services to corporates around the world.
- The Production Linked Incentive Scheme of India is attracting global investors and global players to set up a base in India.
Significance of democracies working together for the greater good:
- This will enable the nations to invest together in research and development in future technology.
- It will help develop a trusted manufacturing base and trusted supply chains.
- It will deepen intelligence and operational cooperation on cyber security, protect critical information infrastructure.
- It will prevent the manipulation of public opinions.
- It will develop technical and governance standards and norms consistent with democratic values.
- It will help in creating standards and norms for data governance and for cross-border flow that protect and secure data.
Way Forward:
- The use of technology depends on the values and vision of a nation. India has traditional values but the modern institutions of India are very strong.
- India has always seen the world as one family and it is expected to work together to empower nations and their people and prepare them for the opportunities of this century.
- India’s extensive experience with the use of technology and policy for the public good, inclusive development, and social empowerment can be of great help to the developing world.
Conclusion:
It is expected that the Sydney Dialogue will be a wonderful platform to help shape India’s partnership for this age and fulfil its responsibility to the future of nations and the world.
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