Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has transformed its vast diversity into a powerful foundation for democracy, proving that democratic institutions can deliver stability, speed and scale. Addressing delegates at the 28th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in New Delhi, Modi highlighted India’s democratic journey and its growing role as a voice for the Global South.
Modi said democracy in India goes beyond elections and is reflected in last-mile delivery of welfare and development. He noted that governance in the country focuses on inclusive growth, without discrimination, which has helped lift nearly 25 crore people out of poverty.
According to the Prime Minister, India’s democratic strength lies in prioritising citizens’ aspirations and removing obstacles through the democratisation of processes and technology. He said this approach has enabled governance to function efficiently at a massive scale while remaining people-centric.
Positioning India as a champion of the Global South, Modi said the world is facing unprecedented challenges and needs new development pathways. He added that India consistently raises issues affecting developing nations on global platforms and has worked to place Global South concerns at the centre of international discussions. He invited Commonwealth and Global South countries to benefit from India’s innovations and development models.
Reflecting on India’s post-independence journey, Modi said many doubted whether democracy could survive in such a diverse country. However, India proved that diversity could strengthen democracy rather than weaken it. He added that India also disproved scepticism about development under a democratic system.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s economic and technological achievements, noting that it is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. He cited milestones such as the world’s largest digital payment system through UPI, leadership in vaccine production, a rapidly expanding startup ecosystem, and one of the largest rail and metro networks globally.
Modi also underscored India’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country supplied vaccines and medicines to over 150 nations. He pointed to the scale of India’s electoral process, describing the 2024 general election as the largest democratic exercise in history, with nearly 980 million registered voters.
Comparing Indian democracy to a banyan tree, Modi said it is supported by deep roots of democratic values, cultural diversity and generations of participation. He added that India remains committed to contributing to the development of other Commonwealth nations and fulfilling its international responsibilities.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is leading the conference, said the event aims to strengthen democratic dialogue, cooperation and shared values. He added that people-centric policies, welfare laws and an impartial election process have reinforced trust in India’s democracy over the decades.
