The Prime Minister hailed the ITV group’s NXT global forum as a trendsetter for being policy-centric rather than politics-centric.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday showcased India’s growing global influence, emphasising its strides in innovation and organisational excellence.
The PM was speaking at the two-day NXT global forum in New Delhi where he launched “NewsX World,” a global news channel from the ITV Network. During his 35-minute speech, PM Modi, addressing the gathering which saw the presence of world leaders and various domain experts from across the globe, praised the channel’s expansion and its idea of sharing India’s story with the world.
“I have attended similar media events in the past, but the ITV group with its NXT has set a new trend, as it is focused on discussions of policies and is policy-centric rather than politics-centric,” the PM began his speech, setting the tone for what he was going to focus on.
He expressed confidence that the channel would play a key role in showcasing India’s progress and achievements on the global stage. The Sunday Guardian, a sister concern of NewsX, is renowned for its policy-focused journalism. Its reports are frequently cited by top government offices and have influenced policy-level changes.
PM Modi told the audience that the forum had given great importance to discussions and deliberations by many dignitaries from across various fields and expressed hope that other media houses would follow this trend and template in their own innovative ways.
It is pertinent to mention that this is only the second news channel whose launch PM Modi has attended since becoming the Prime Minister in May 2014.
Rajya Sabha Member Kartikeya Sharma and Dr Aishwarya Pandit Sharma, the chairperson of the ITV Foundation and the Steering Committee Chair of NXT, are the brains behind this news channel with the intent to showcase India at a global level.
The event, held at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, which was also the venue for the G-20 meet held in 2023, saw dignitaries from across various sectors in attendance, including former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In his keynote address, PM Modi emphasised on the critical role India is playing in shaping the world’s future, particularly through its youth, innovations, and governance reforms. “The world is keenly watching 21st-century India,” the Prime Minister said, asserting that people across the globe are eager to visit and understand India better. “From semiconductors to aircraft carriers, India is manufacturing everything,” he stated.
The PM emphasised that India’s organising skills—particularly during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which was also a topic of discussion among foreign speakers present at the summit —are being watched with admiration globally.
One of the central themes of PM Modi’s speech was India’s rising stature as a hub of innovation. The PM coined the term “Indovate”—a blend of innovation and India—highlighting that the country is creating solutions that are not only affordable but accessible to the world.
“India is creating solutions that are affordable, accessible, and adaptable, and offering these solutions to the world without gatekeeping”, he remarked.
He pointed to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has gained worldwide traction as a secure and cost-effective digital payment system. “Today, countries like France, UAE, and Singapore are integrating UPI into their systems,” PM Modi remarked.
The PM reminded the audience of India’s role in vaccine development
As has been his speech delivery style, the PM touched on multiple subjects for the benefit of the audience on how he has tried to bring fundamental changes to governance in the last eleven years of rule at the Centre.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to streamline governance, the Prime Minister underscored his administration’s commitment to dismantling outdated laws that have hindered progress. “We follow the mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,’” he said, emphasising that the government has abolished 1,500 obsolete laws over the past decade.
He gave the example of how a colonial-era law that prohibited more than ten people from dancing together was in existence and was only repealed when he came to power in 2014. Referring to the Dramatic Performances Act, which restricted public performances and dancing, he said, “Can you imagine? You could be arrested for dancing in public under this law,” he said, drawing attention to how it persisted for 70 years after Independence. He also mentioned the reclassification of bamboo, which was previously treated as a tree, thus complicating its harvesting. “We have now recognised it as grass, providing relief to the tribal communities and the Northeast, where bamboo is a lifeline,” he said, taking a subtle jab at the “Khan Market gang,” a term he uses to describe the Indian elite and the previous political class who, according to him, didn’t bother to change these archaic laws.
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to reiterate his government’s “Vocal for Local” initiative, which has expanded to “Local for Global.” He cited examples of Indian products, from millets and turmeric to AYUSH and yoga, gaining global recognition. He shared an anecdote about former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s experience with Indian millets, which the latter tried during a visit to Delhi Haat. “He enjoyed it, and it made me proud,” PM Modi said, noting how India’s superfoods are now gaining a foothold internationally.
He emphasised that India is no longer just a “back office” but is emerging as the “new factory of the world.” He pointed out that Indian farmers, once limited to local markets, are now reaching global consumers. “From Pulwama’s snow peas to Maharashtra’s figs and Kashmir’s cricket bats, Indian products are gaining international demand,” he said, adding that India’s defence and electronics sectors are also showcasing the nation’s engineering prowess globally.
In keeping with his focus on India’s future, the PM highlighted the government’s emphasis on youth and education. “India’s youth is our top priority,” he said, stressing that the National Education Policy (NEP) has given students the opportunity to “think beyond textbooks.” Programs like Atal Tinkering Labs, where children are introduced to cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and data science from a young age, are helping shape the future leaders of India”, the PM said.
To showcase how the government was sensitive towards higher education, PM Modi spoke about the One Nation, One Subscription initiative, which will allow free access to renowned academic journals which is going to cost Rs 6,000 crore to the public exchequer.
He emphasised that India’s mobile phones, electronic products, and medicines are gaining global recognition. He noted that India is leading several global initiatives.
Mentioning the recent opportunity to attend the AI Action Summit in France, where India was the co-host and will now take on the responsibility of hosting it, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s successful G-20 summit during its presidency, where the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor was introduced as a new economic route.
He expressed happiness that as many Indian brands are going global, “India’s media is also understanding and embracing this global opportunity”, he remarked.
Referring to the recent changes in the taxation system, the PM said that ten years ago, filing an ITR was a difficult task for an ordinary person but today, it can be done in a few moments, and refunds are credited to accounts within days.
He emphasised that India’s aspiration and direction are to see its flag waving on every global platform. He highlighted that ten years ago, the focus of media was on reaching different states within the country, but today, the media networks are taking the bold step of going global.
While sharing his vision of seeing an Indian brand in every market, drawing room, and dining table worldwide, he emphasised that “Made in India” should become the world’s mantra. The Prime Minister expressed his dream that people think of “Heal in India” when they are ill, “Wed in India” when they plan a wedding, “Roam in India” where they will prioritize India for travel, conferences, exhibitions, and concerts.