Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the combination of the nation’s demographic dividend and data, with proven tech prowess presents immense opportunities. Exuding confidence, he said the decade would be ‘India’s techade‘ (as in India’s tech decade).

Speaking at a virtual event to mark the completion of six years of Digital India, Modi said India is fully conscious of its responsibilities as a data powerhouse and noted that work was underway on all aspects of data protection, PTI reported from New Delhi.

“Data and demographic dividend present a massive opportunity for India… together, we will be successful in making this decade ‘India’s techade’,” Modi said.

Pointing out that estimates suggest that dozens of tech companies in India will enter the unicorn club (with USD 1 billion valuation) in coming years, he asserted that data and demographic dividend collectively offers huge potential.

Modi spoke via video conference to beneficiaries of various schemes of Digital India programme, including Diksha, eNAM, eSanjeevani solution for telemedicine, DigiBunai and PM SVANidhi scheme.

Modi talked about the critical role that technology had played during the pandemic to ensure continuity of education, access to healthcare, and other citizen services, and noted that digital solutions created by India during this period are being acknowledged globally.

The digital solutions that India has prepared during this time are a topic of discussion and interest all over the world today. One of the world’s largest digital contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu, has played a key role in containing the spread of COVID, he said.

Digital India programme underscores the nation’s resolve for self-reliance (AatmaNirbhar Bharat), he said.

Affordable tablets and digital devices are being offered to students across the nation and production-linked subsidies are being given to electronic companies to realise this goal.

Launched on July 1, 2015, Digital India builds on the concept of minimum government, maximum governance and has led to opportunities for all, facility for all, and participation of all . It has enabled people’s access to the government system, made services and processes transparent, non-discriminatory, and attacked corruption.

The Prime Minister also highlighted how India was embracing technology to provide better services to the citizens. For example, through PM WANI, access points are being created so that rural youth can connect with high-speed Internet for better services and education. Also, 5G technology will bring significant changes in the world, and India is preparing itself to make the most of this opportunity, he asserted.

IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was also present on the occasion.