Vaishnaw Shares PM Modi's Paris Address on India's Digital Rise
Synopsis
At a Community Programme in Paris, Prime Minister Modi declared that high-speed internet, QR codes, drones, and Digital Health IDs — once deemed impossible — now define new India. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw amplified the remarks, spotlighting the government's decade-long digital transformation agenda on an international stage.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community in Paris, France on June 19, 2026 , citing four pillars of India's digital rise.
The four pillars highlighted were high-speed internet , QR codes (UPI) , drones , and Digital Health IDs .
The Digital India programme was launched in July 2015 ; UPI was introduced in 2016 .
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (announced 2020 ) underpins the Digital Health ID framework for all citizens.
Liberalised Drone Rules were notified in 2021 , enabling commercial and public-sector drone adoption.
India is actively positioning its digital public infrastructure as a model for other nations in international forums.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, June 19, 2026, shared a quote from Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered at a Community Programme in Paris, France, highlighting India's transformation through high-speed internet, QR codes, drones, and Digital Health IDs as defining markers of a new India.
Context
Prime Minister Modi, addressing the Indian community in Paris, stated: 'High-speed internet, QR codes, drones aur Digital Health IDs - jo kabhi asambhav lagta tha, woh aaj naye Bharat ki pehchaan ban raha hai' — 'High-speed internet, QR codes, drones and Digital Health IDs — what once seemed impossible is today becoming the identity of a new India.' The remarks were shared by Minister Vaishnaw, who oversees the country's digital and technology policy portfolio, underscoring the government's pride in these achievements on an international stage.
Such diaspora-facing events have become a consistent platform for senior Indian leaders to present the country's digital progress to overseas audiences and bilateral partners.
Policy Backdrop
The four pillars cited by PM Modi each trace a distinct policy lineage. The Digital India programme, launched in July 2015, laid the foundational infrastructure for broadband connectivity and e-governance services across the country. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, made QR-code-based real-time payments a daily reality for hundreds of millions of citizens.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, announced in 2020, set out to issue unique Digital Health IDs to every citizen and integrate health records into a unified national ecosystem. Liberalised Drone Rules, notified in 2021, opened the skies to commercial and public-service drone operations across agriculture, logistics, and surveillance sectors.
Stakeholders and Impact
The beneficiaries of these programmes span virtually every demographic. Indian citizens in rural and urban areas alike have gained access to digital payment rails and government services without physical intermediaries. Healthcare providers and patients stand to benefit from interoperable health records enabled by the Digital Health ID framework.
On the global stage, India has actively positioned its digital public infrastructure stack — encompassing UPI, Aadhaar, and the health mission — as a replicable model for developing nations. The Paris address fits squarely into this diplomatic narrative, with France being a significant European partner for technology and innovation cooperation.
What's Next
Observers will watch for any India-France bilateral announcements on digital or technology cooperation that may follow from this visit. On the domestic front, the pace of Digital Health ID enrolment and the expansion of drone service approvals at the state level remain key indicators of how fully these programmes have matured beyond policy intent into ground-level delivery.
As India continues to export its digital governance model to international forums, statements like PM Modi's in Paris signal that this narrative will remain central to the country's foreign policy and diplomatic identity in the years ahead.
Point of View
Using diaspora events as soft-power platforms. The four technologies cited — broadband, UPI, drones, and Digital Health IDs — are not incidental; they represent the government's most internationally legible policy wins, each with a clear launch date and measurable adoption curve. Framing these as things that 'once seemed impossible' is a rhetorical move that reinforces the ruling party's narrative of transformational governance over the past decade. The choice of France as the venue adds a bilateral dimension, potentially laying the ground for deeper India-EU digital cooperation announcements.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say at the Paris Community Programme?
PM Modi said that high-speed internet, QR codes, drones, and Digital Health IDs — once considered impossible — are today becoming the defining identity of a new India.
What is the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health ID?
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, announced in 2020, issues every Indian citizen a unique Digital Health ID to store and share health records across hospitals and clinics through a unified national platform.
Why did Ashwini Vaishnaw share PM Modi's Paris speech?
As Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Information and Broadcasting, Vaishnaw oversees India's digital policy and routinely amplifies government messaging on technology achievements.
What is UPI and why are QR codes significant in India?
UPI, launched by the National Payments Corporation of India in 2016, enables instant bank-to-bank transfers via QR codes and has made digital payments accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians without needing a card or cash.
What are India's drone rules and when were they changed?
India notified liberalised Drone Rules in 2021, significantly easing restrictions on commercial drone operations to accelerate adoption across agriculture, logistics, healthcare delivery, and surveillance sectors.
