Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday outlined India’s economic and technological progress, saying the country is the fastest-growing major economy. He underlined India’s commitment to democratic values and inclusive governance while addressing the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, calling the country the “mother of democracy” and urging greater collaboration among Commonwealth nations to strengthen democratic institutions.  

India’s economic and technological progress 

In his inaugural address, Modi said India operates the world’s largest digital payments system through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), is the world’s largest vaccine producer, the second-largest steel producer, and hosts the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally. He added that India has emerged as the third-largest aviation market in the world. 

Touching upon governance reforms, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding parliamentary decorum and managing the impact of social media on lawmakers. He called for the integration of artificial intelligence to improve legislative efficiency and governance outcomes, while also urging greater citizen engagement beyond the act of voting.

Modi said India’s development model is focused on inclusive growth, adding that about 25 crore people have moved out of poverty in recent years. “Democracy in India delivers because people are at the centre of governance,” he said, asserting that citizens’ aspirations and dreams remain the top priority. 

Modi said India has demonstrated that democratic institutions and processes can deliver “stability, speed and scale”. Referring to the 2024 general elections, he described them as the largest democratic exercise in human history, with over 8,000 candidates and more than 700 political parties participating.  

Strong participation of women voters 

The Prime Minister highlighted the strong participation of women voters in the elections, noting that women are not just participating in India’s democracy but also leading it. He pointed out that India has a woman President, a woman Chief Minister in Delhi, and around 1.5 million elected women representatives across various levels of governance. 

Democracy thrives despite hundreds of languages  

Highlighting India’s diversity, Modi said the country’s democracy thrives despite hundreds of languages being spoken across regions. He likened India’s democratic system to a large tree supported by deep roots, adding that diversity is celebrated because of the strength of these foundations.