NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for technology, data, knowledge and innovation to be used to empower people and create opportunities for millions, saying the real question was not who possessed power but how it was used.PM Modi said India’s approach should focus on enabling people, promoting collaboration and helping others succeed rather than concentrating on control or competition.“Today, technology is power, data is power, knowledge is power, and innovation is power. But, the real question is not who has the power, but how it is being used. Will technology advance only a few people or create new opportunities for millions? Will knowledge remain the strength of a select few or enhance everyone’s capabilities? This is where a new idea is born: power to empower. Moving beyond power to control, we need power to enable. Moving beyond power to compete, we need power to collaborate. And moving beyond power to succeed, we need power to help others succeed,” the Prime Minister added. He made these remarks while addressing the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi.PM Modi said the principle of using knowledge, wealth and power for a larger purpose was rooted in India’s traditions.“This is not new to India. We have always emphasised the importance of utilisation of knowledge, money, and power. The real value of power lies in its purpose,” he said.“Whoever possesses knowledge, wealth, and power, how they use it is crucial. The true value of power lies in its purpose, and it’s crucial to understand this philosophy in today’s times… Our thousands of years of tradition have taught us this, and in India, we have demonstrated its application in our governance and work culture,” he added.The Prime Minister also described India as the “mother of democracy” and said the country was focused on making technology more accessible to people across regions and economic backgrounds.“India focussed on making mobile data affordable, even students from small cities can have access to digital learning,” he said.PM Modi also underlined India’s approach to global economic growth, saying, “We do not grow at anyone’s cost, we grow with and for the world.”The Prime Minister said the government’s role should be to strengthen citizens rather than make them dependent on the system.“The government has authority, but its purpose should not be to make its citizens dependent on the system. Rather, its purpose should be to strengthen and empower its citizens, and India is on this path. Following this path, India has lifted 250 million people out of poverty in the last ten years – more than the population of many countries in the world,” he said.Modi also cited the AI Impact Summit held in India, saying discussions had explored how artificial intelligence could benefit both people and animals.“AI Impact Summit was held in India, and Bloomberg also praised it highly. In this summit, alongside utilizing AI for humanity, how animals can benefit from AI was also made a topic of discussion… This demonstrates that the more capable India becomes, the more beneficial it is for humanity and the world,” he said.Welcoming the decision to host the forum in India for the first time, PM Modi said Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg had chosen the right place at the right time.“Every year at this forum, we discuss economy, energy, etc. For the first time, it’s been held in India. I’d like to say to Mr. Bloomberg that he has chosen the right place at the right time,” he said.The eighth edition of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum brought together more than 500 public- and private-sector leaders from around the world. Held under the theme “A World in Play: Defining the New Levers of Power,” the forum focused on shifting geopolitical dynamics, emerging risks and opportunities, and ways to support future economic growth.In a message ahead of the event, PM Modi said India was moving beyond being an investment destination to becoming a partner in shaping the global economy.“Today, India stands at a defining moment in its journey. India is no longer just a destination for investment; it is a trusted partner in shaping the global future. In our pursuit of Viksit Bharat (Developed India), we are working to build one of the most reliable growth engines of the world and a balanced world economic order,” he said.He added that the forum would give participants an opportunity to experience a country that was “not just participating in the new economy, but actively defining it.”
