उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली

Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Sh. S. Krishnan,

President, NASSCOM, Sh. Rajesh Nambiar,

Distinguished members of the Audience, 

Ladies and gentlemen, and my fellow citizens. 

OPENING

I have had a long association with NASSCOM, and have seen your remarkable work, closely in action, during my time in the US. It is particularly apt, that one of my first events in my capacity, as the Lt. Governor of Delhi, is on the subject of TECH that is reshaping, the very definition, of what it means to build a nation.

History teaches us, that nations are built, on foundations of stone, steel, and sweat. But, in 2026, the architecture of nation-building has changed. Today, the most vital infrastructure, is often invisible. It exists in the pulses of fiber-optic cables, the logic of algorithms, and the seamless flow of data.

Nation-building has always required, a combination of strong institutions, visionary leadership, and active participation by citizens. In the modern era, technology has emerged, as a powerful force, that amplifies each of these elements.

Technology today, shapes how governments deliver services, how economies generate growth, and how societies address complex challenges, such as healthcare, education, and climate change. Technology allows governments, to be have efficient, expand the reach of public services, and improve transparency - in other words become a true “Force Multiplier”.

In large and diverse democracies, such as India, technology becomes particularly important, because it enables, systems to operate, at scale. No one has demonstrated, the transformative power of technology, better than India.  Under the visionary leadership, of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, we have harnessed this power, through initiatives such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs), Atal Tinkering Labs, Start Up India, Digital India, the IndiaAI Mission, the Semicon Mission, and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). 

The ultimate aim, of any new innovation, has to be, the improvement in the lives of our citizens.  We see the use of drones, for getting our vaccines, across to remote areas; the creation of tractor-sharing apps among our farmers; and the use of AI to ensure, the optimal use of fertilizers and pesticides. 

India’s Digital Transformation: The Scale of the Opportunity

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past decade, India has witnessed one of the most, remarkable digital transformations. We have one of the largest internet populations globally, and one of the world’s most affordable mobile data ecosystems. Our data consumption, is among the highest, in the world, proving that connectivity, is no longer a luxury - it is a utility, as vital as electricity. 

This expansion, has created new opportunities, for entrepreneurship, innovation, and access to services. Today, India processes, nearly 46% of all global real-time transactions. This is not just a statistic; it is a cultural shift. Technology has moved, beyond metropolitan centers, and is increasingly embedded, in everyday life across rural, and semi-urban communities.

Digital Public Infrastructure: India’s Institutional Innovation

One of the most important contributions, India has made is, the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Built on open standards, it is a "public good", designed for private innovation. 

Complementing this is, the Unified Payments Interface, which allows instant digital payments, between individuals and businesses. Today, UPI processes billions of transactions, every month, and has become one of the largest, real-time payment systems globally. 

The success of this model, has attracted global attention. Several countries, have begun integrating UPI, into their financial ecosystems. Countries such as Singapore, the UAE and France, have already enabled UPI payments, or established payment linkages, with India. 

This is "Technological Diplomacy" in action, where India exports, not just products, but the blueprints of a modern digital society, and digital infrastructure, developed in one country, becomes a foundation, for financial connectivity across borders.

Ladies and gentlemen

Three broad pillars of technology are evident: Inclusive Development, Economic Growth & Activity, and National Security & Strategic Autonomy. These are not isolated silos - each reinforces the other. 

Technology and Inclusive Development

The first pillar of technology’s contribution, to nation building is, inclusive development. One of the defining challenges of developing economies, has been, the difficulty of delivering public services efficiently to large populations, spread across vast geographies. 

Digital technologies are fundamentally, changing this equation. Through the JAM Trinity (Aadhaar, Bank accounts, and Mobile), Direct Benefit Transfer systems, have effectively eliminated, the "middleman”, helping the government save, over $37 billion.

We also see the "democratization of expertise". Through platforms like e-Sanjeevani, a villager can consult a specialist doctor, hundreds of miles away. Platforms such as, the UMANG, integrate hundreds of government services, into a single interface, accessible through smartphones. 

The benefits of technological advancement, were particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Technology can indeed become, one of the most powerful instruments, for reducing inequality, and expanding opportunity.

Technology and Economic Growth

The second pillar of technology in nation building, lies in its ability, to accelerate economic activity and innovation. Digital infrastructure has, dramatically lowered barriers, to entry for entrepreneurs, and small businesses, enabling them to reach customers, access capital, and build businesses, at a scale, that would have been extremely difficult, in earlier decades.

India now hosts, the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 100 unicorns. Technology is no longer a separate vertical; it is the horizontal layer, improving productivity in every sector.

Technology has also improved efficiency, in traditional sectors. 

Technology and National Security

The third pillar linking technology to nation building, is national security and strategic autonomy. In today’s world, technological capabilities, increasingly shape geopolitical influence, and national resilience. 

As we move ahead, securing our "Digital Borders" is as important, as guarding our physical ones. We need to navigate, through some of the stormiest waters, and to do that, we must prepare ourselves well.

There is a need to re-examine, technological dependencies and supply-chain vulnerabilities too. In this context, Atmanirbharta—or self-reliance—does not mean isolation. It means investing heavily in ourselves—not just monetarily, but in our collective drive and passion, towards Viksit Bharat 2047. In that journey, technology is our most powerful tool.

Cybersecurity, digital infrastructure protection, and data governance, have become essential elements, of national security policy. Going ahead, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced communications networks, will increasingly shape the strategic balance, between nations. In this context, technological capacity, is no longer simply an economic advantage; it has become a critical element, of national power.

The Disruptive Role of Artificial Intelligence

As transformative, as the digital revolution has been, the next phase of technological change, will be defined by artificial intelligence, which has the potential, to reshape industries, improve decision-making, and enhance productivity, across multiple sectors.

At the same time, AI raises complex questions regarding, privacy, ethics, and regulatory frameworks. While we must ensure, AI is an "augmentor", of human potential, not a "replacer" of human dignity, but the transformative potential of AI, is immense, and we need to embrace it. 

India’s Emerging AI Ecosystem and Role in Global AI Governance

Recognizing the transformative potential, of AI, India has launched several initiatives, to strengthen its AI ecosystem. Programs such as, the IndiaAI Mission, with an outlay of over Rs. 10,000 crores, aim to expand computing infrastructure, promote research, and support startups working in AI-driven technologies, by building models that understand, our languages and our unique cultural context.

India has also become, an active participant in global discussions, on AI governance. The India AI Impact Summit, held in New Delhi, in 2026, brought together policymakers, technology leaders, and researchers, from around the world.

Risks and Responsibilities

While technology offers, extraordinary opportunities, it also presents important challenges. Issues such as data privacy, misinformation, cybersecurity risks, and digital inequality, require careful policy responses.

We must ensure, that technological progress, does not create new forms of exclusion, or vulnerability. Responsible governance frameworks, ethical standards, and international cooperation, will therefore be essential to guide technological development.

Way Forward: Harnessing Technology for Nation Building

For India, the opportunity lies, in continuing to strengthen, digital public infrastructure, while investing in, emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and semiconductor manufacturing. Equally important, will be investments, in education and skills development, to ensure that the workforce is prepared, for a technology-driven future.

Collaboration between government, industry, and academia, will remain essential, in building an ecosystem, that encourages innovation, while safeguarding public interests.

Concluding Perspective

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have three points to make in conclusion:

• One: Be ambitious. Aim for the stars and the sky. As the Hon’ble PM has said, ‘We cannot afford to dream small.’ 

• Two: Focus on the big picture. Focus on R&D, skilling, and collaboration. Focus on our youth. 

• Three: Switch off negativity. The chatter, the noise, the drain, the exaggeration of our vulnerabilities and weaknesses—close those taps. This does not mean, turning a blind eye, to our constraints, or challenges; be mindful of those, and work to change them. But let them not kill, your spirit.

Diplomacy is for the optimists, and I have always been an optimist!! As our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi had said, “hard work, never brings fatigue—it brings satisfaction.”

With these words, I take leave. The future of nation-building, is digital, but its heart, must remain human.

 Thank you!