Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Oct 13
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India exclusively utilises its power to connect, unite, and elevate others.
“And even in this, the use of power is only to empower others,” PM Modi said, addressing the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi.
Acknowledging Michael Bloomberg’s earlier remarks, the PM celebrated the forum’s unprecedented debut in India.
He praised the platform’s ability to unite the world’s brightest minds to deliberate on key global themes, including the economy, technology, energy, and international affairs.
“I congratulate Mr Bloomberg and his entire team; you have chosen the right place at the right time,” PM Modi said.
Addressing the summit’s core focus on emerging global powers, he highlighted a monumental paradigm shift in the 21st century’s third decade, where technology, data, knowledge, and innovation have become the ultimate metrics of power.
The PM challenged the audience to reconsider the fundamental purpose of this power, questioning whether it should elevate a select few or actively democratise opportunities for millions, emphasising a shift from controlling to enabling and from competing to collaborating.
“Moving beyond the power to succeed to the power to help others succeed, the vision with which I have come here today is Power to Empower,” he said.
Grounding this philosophy in ancient cultural wisdom, PM Modi quoted traditional Sanskrit texts emphasising that the true value of knowledge, wealth, and power is determined entirely by how ethically they are utilised.
He stressed that understanding this profound purpose of power is essential for navigating today’s complex global dynamics.
“Meaning, the true value of power lies in its purpose,” the PM said.
Translating these ancient ideals into modern administration, he said that the concept of ‘power to empower’ is not a mere global sermon but a deeply ingrained cultural tradition actively applied to the nation’s governance and work culture.
PM Modi announced his intention to illustrate this transformative philosophy using concrete examples of the nation’s progress.
“Therefore, I will take my point forward using examples from India itself,” he said.
Showcasing the vibrant dynamism of the “mother of democracy”, the PM proudly listed the nation’s massive linguistic diversity, its 80,000 publications, and over a thousand television channels.
He said that in the modern social media era, the nation’s half-a-billion YouTube and Instagram users engage in robust, open debates, proving that digital power is actively fueling democratic discourse.
“In present times, what has played a major role in this is digital power,” PM Modi said.
Recounting the aggressive battle against digital exclusion, he said that just over a decade ago, mere access to mobile phones and the internet was considered an elite privilege.
The PM explained that since 2014, the government deliberately slashed data prices down to ensure that everyone from small-town students to village shopkeepers could instantly access knowledge and markets.
“Connectivity in India has not just connected people; it has also connected opportunities,” he said.
Highlighting the extraordinary scale of financial inclusion, PM Modi invited international guests to witness a seamless digital payments ecosystem where a humble street vendor and a massive car showroom utilise the same technological platform.
He framed this radical financial democratisation as the ultimate proof of inclusive technology at work.
“This is the strength of inclusive technology,” the PM said.
Emphasising the nation’s commitment to international technological solidarity, he said that domestic digital capabilities are continuously shared with the Global South and other partner countries to help them build their own digital public infrastructure.
PM Modi cited the open-source CoWIN platform, deployed during the pandemic, as a prime example of domestic innovation actively unlocking global possibilities.
“Our capability should empower humanity,” he said.
Championing the massive democratisation of innovation, the PM celebrated the nation’s explosive startup growth, which skyrocketed from a few hundred in 2014 to over 2.5 lakh today.
He said that nearly half of these startups originate from smaller cities and that over 45 percent feature female leadership, proving that the power to solve problems is reaching all segments of society.
“Opportunities for innovation are reaching more people,” PM Modi said.
Pivoting to the core philosophy of public administration, he said that governmental authority must never aim to create systemic dependency, but must instead focus on rendering citizens entirely capable and empowered.
The PM credited this exact empowerment-driven governance model for successfully lifting 25 crore people out of poverty over the last decade.
“And India is walking on this very path,” he said.
Detailing the systemic eradication of corruption, PM Modi highlighted the deployment of the JAM Trinity and Direct Benefit Transfer systems to deliver government assistance directly into citizens’ bank accounts.
“This has reduced corruption, increased the convenience of the country’s citizens, and established a direct relationship between government and citizen,” he said.
Illustrating this empowerment philosophy on the global stage, the PM recalled the critical vaccine shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic and questioned whether life-saving manufacturing power should have been hoarded by a few nations.
He expressed immense pride that the nation chose a humanitarian path by supplying vaccines to over 100 countries.
“Our manufacturing capability became a medium of assistance for other countries as well,” PM Modi said.
Presenting a unique example of inclusive foresight, he mentioned a recent domestic AI Impact summit that expanded the dialogue beyond human applications to actively discuss how artificial intelligence could benefit animal welfare.
The PM used this anecdote to prove that an increasingly capable nation will continually generate broader benefits for the entire world.
“The more capable India becomes, the more beneficial it will be for humanity, for the world,” he said.
Calling for a balanced global order, PM Modi said that while competition, innovation, and national strength are vital, they must be fundamentally paired with compassion and a commitment to solving global challenges like climate change, water governance, and the responsible use of emerging technologies.
He insisted that the world desperately needs powers that actively create new, shared opportunities.
“Power is not just the ability to move ahead; it is also the ability to empower others to move ahead,” the PM said.
Demonstrating the nation’s fierce commitment to climate action, he recalled the bold 2015 Paris Agreement pledge to achieve 40 percent installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
PM Modi announced that the nation surpassed this target in November 2021, nine years ahead of schedule, becoming the very first G20 country to do so.
“This was not just about fulfilling a commitment; it was also a sign of India’s changing Energy Journey,” he said.
Quantifying this massive green energy pivot, the PM said that the nation’s renewable energy capacity has skyrocketed from a mere 75 gigawatts in 2014 to approximately 300 gigawatts today.
He highlighted this fourfold expansion as a monumental achievement in the country’s sustainable development.
Explaining the grassroots economic benefits of this energy transition, PM Modi detailed how the PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM schemes are actively empowering households and farmers to generate their own solar power and slash input costs.
He said that these initiatives had added over 30 gigawatts of capacity, reducing carbon emissions by over 30 million tonnes annually while simultaneously protecting nature and enriching citizens.
“And it is also empowering people,” the PM said.
Contrasting the nation’s cooperative ethos with global power struggles, he said that amidst international races for dominance, the country is intentionally forging a distinct, stabilising path.
PM Modi said that the current decade serves as an undeniable witness to this unique national temperament.
“In this race for Power in the world, India is moving ahead with a different temperament,” he said.
Detailing the cascading shocks defining the 21st century’s third decade, the PM listed the rapid succession of global pandemics, regional wars, and severe supply chain disruptions affecting critical minerals, energy, and trade.
He painted a stark picture of a world where one crisis barely recedes before another emerges.
“The world searches for a way out of one crisis; by then, a new crisis emerges,” PM Modi said.
Condemning the weaponisation of global interconnectedness, he said that essential elements like supply chains, energy, minerals, technology, and payment systems were being actively exploited as instruments of pressure and dominance.
The PM warned that the integration achieved by decades of globalisation is rapidly fracturing into dangerous geopolitical chokepoints.
“The roots that globalisation created in past decades, when and where they turned into chokepoints, we are all seeing this,” he said.
Addressing the resulting global crisis of confidence amidst rapid technological disruption and demographic challenges, PM Modi said that the world was desperately searching for reliable partners who will maintain supply lines and honour commitments during crises.
He positioned the nation as the ultimate dependable ally offering a radically different, cooperative approach to global relations.
“And it is right here, India stands before you with a different temperament, a different thought,” the PM said.
Defining the nation’s global operating model, he said that the country’s 21st-century progress was fundamentally defined by collaborative, inclusive advancement.
PM Modi cited the nation’s role as the provider of one-fifth of the world’s generic medicines, a pioneer of digital identity models, and a trusted talent hub hosting over 2000 Global Capability Centres servicing the globe.
“India’s progress is the story of moving forward by collaborating with everyone, by taking everyone along,” he said.
Reiterating the nation’s role as a stabilising global force, the PM emphasised that whenever the world requires a steady pillar, the country responsibly extends its hand to support the international community.
He outlined a fundamental philosophy of equitable advancement on the global stage.
“We do not grow at anyone’s cost. We grow with the world, and for the world,” PM Modi said.
Drawing upon profound historical legacy, he said that the nation historically gifted the concept of ‘zero’ to humanity without ever demanding royalties, and continues to operate with that exact same selfless spirit today.
The PM contrasted this with historical global organisations that operated strictly on self-interest.
“And even today India is working with this same spirit,” he said.
Highlighting the nation’s track record of building inclusive global platforms, PM Modi listed transformative initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, CDRI, the Big Cat Alliance, the Global Biofuel Alliance, IMEC, and Mission LiFE.
He said that these platforms were intentionally designed to generate universal benefits for all forms of life rather than serving narrow geopolitical interests.
“Meaning those which benefit everyone, which benefit every life, India has taken such initiatives,” the PM said.
Summarising the overarching philosophical framework driving the nation’s foreign policy, he invoked the visions of ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, and ‘One Earth, One Health’.
Showcasing the nation’s macroeconomic resilience amidst global uncertainty, PM Modi cited a 7.8 percent growth rate for the April-June quarter, a current account deficit slashed to a mere 0.61 percent, and foreign exchange reserves exceeding 700 billion dollars.
He said that the domestic banking system was currently enjoying its strongest position in decades.
“In a world full of uncertainties, India offers reliability and stability,” the PM said.
Attributing recent sovereign rating upgrades to this immense structural strength, he highlighted the relentless execution of systemic reforms, including the implementation of GST to create a unified national market, the drafting of Insolvency Laws, the consolidation of 29 labour codes into four, and the decriminalisation of hundreds of minor business offences.
PM Modi assured global investors that this unstoppable momentum is a deliberate, proactive choice driving the nation forward.
“For us, reforms are not a compulsion. They are a conviction,” he said.
Invoking the ancient Vedic mantra, the PM called upon the global community to walk, speak, and understand one another together to multiply collective strength and solve major global challenges.
He expressed profound confidence that the Bloomberg New Economy Forum would serve as a massive platform to propagate this exact spirit of creating shared global opportunities.
