Bloomberg New Economy Forum: PM Modi Calls For Shift From ‘Power To Control’ To ‘Power To Empower’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a shift from using power to control others towards empowering people, saying technology, data, knowledge and innovation derive their true value from how they benefit society.

Addressing the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, PM Modi said the world was witnessing major changes in the third decade of the 21st century, with technology and innovation emerging as key sources of power. He said the central question was not who held power, but how they used it. Technology, he added, should not benefit only a few people but create opportunities for millions.

PM Modi described this approach as ‘power to empower’. He said the world must move beyond power to control towards enabling others, beyond competition towards collaboration, and beyond individual success towards helping others succeed.

Highlighting India’s democratic diversity, PM Modi said the country had more than 100 languages, around 80,000 registered newspapers and publications, over 1,000 satellite television channels and more than 500 million users each on YouTube and Instagram.

The Prime Minister noted that India encouraged open debate and public discussion on diverse issues, while digital technology had played an increasingly important role in connecting people and expanding access to information.

PM Modi said India prioritised affordable mobile data after 2014, expanding digital access and helping even village shopkeepers reach customers. He said connectivity had created opportunities and made technology a tool for empowerment and inclusive growth.

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