This is to reminder that India is the country of ideas enterprises and resilience, who doesn’t have to choose between heritage and modernity. So when we talk about new India, it is reality that is taking shape before our eyes. New India is digital, confident and global. New India is 1.4 billion people, it is the largest democracy on earth, fastest growing major economy, the youngest population in the world and perhaps the most impatient. We are a startup nation, we are a space power and voice of global South.
A country that negotiates with Washington, trades with Moscow, competes with China, bills with Tokyo and still finds time to send mangoes to West Asia. New India doesn’t ask for seat at the table we built the table and tell the world to join. Last quarter our G.D.P. grew at 7.8% and this happen at the time when U.S. is staring at slow down. It also happen at a time when Europe is under recession when China is struggling with the weight of its debt burden. India is running our UPI crossed 20 billion transaction. It is a World record. India World’s 4th largest economy by 2027. Our digital economy is exploding, our space mission is landing near South Pole of moon. Our startups are valued in Billions. This is new India. A country once written off as a basket case is today called a bright spot in global economy. So what makes India shines ?
I think of five D’s. The first ‘D’ is DEMOGRAPHY – half of India’s population is below 30 years of age, yes they spend too much time on instagram, but they are ambitious, they are unafraid and off course they are smart. They are hungry to make a mark that is our strength that we must celebrate.
The second ‘D’ is ‘Democracy’. In a world which is drifting apart, India stands out, we are very chaotic, we disagree, we argue we protest, we vote, but we move on. But democracy is what which saves us – a noisy chaotic family of 1.4 billion people. The third is ‘Diversity’. 22 official languages 100 of dialectics and every religion under the sun. India is not a melting pot, rather we are a very big ‘THALT’ where every dish retain its unique taste and together makes a meal. The fourth ‘Δ’ is DIGITAL POWER from Aadhar to UPI, Indian is building the digital public infrastructure at scale. We have shown that the technology can deliver inclusion and in such large numbers.
The fifth is DIA SPORA 35 millions of Indians abroad, policy makes C.E.O. of global giants, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs. They are India’s brand Ambassadors.
Today we have responsibility to shape our world ourselves. India is engaged with everyone but depends on no one. So India has arrived and here to stay forever and this is our “New India”.
– Reena Kanungo