PM Narendra Modi calls India mother of democracy at Bloomberg forum
The Prime Minister told global leaders that true governance lies in enabling citizens rather than controlling them, pointing to India's digital scale and democratic foundations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described India as the "mother of democracy", calling for a global shift from controlling authority to empowering citizens.
Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Tuesday, Modi set out an approach to governance centred on expanding access to knowledge, widening opportunity, and enabling ordinary people to succeed. He positioned India's civilisational traditions and modern digital scale as proof that large-scale democracy remains the most stable foundation for long-term growth.
"Beyond the power to control lies the power to enable. Beyond the power to succeed lies the power to help others succeed," Modi said.
What did PM Modi say about power and governance?
The Prime Minister argued that the true measure of authority is not how firmly a state commands, but how effectively it equips its people. He challenged international policymakers and business leaders to rethink the purpose of institutional power.
Technological progress, he said, must not be hoarded by a privileged minority. Instead, modern tools should be deployed to lift entire populations into economic participation.
"Will technology help only a few people move forward, or will it create opportunities for crores of people? Will knowledge enhance everyone's capabilities? This is where new ideas are born, and this idea is the power to empower," Modi said.
Democratic traditions and digital scale
Addressing the forum, Modi highlighted that India's governance relies on robust public participation and a civilisational culture of open debate across diverse viewpoints. Rather than treating public discussion as an obstacle, he framed it as the bedrock of the country's social stability and institutional resilience.
To demonstrate how widespread public engagement has become in modern India, Modi pointed to the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure and connectivity. India now counts more than 500 million YouTube users, he said, reflecting an unprecedented scale of digital communication and citizen participation.
By pairing ancient democratic roots with modern digital delivery, Modi told delegates that India has established itself as an attractive, dependable partner for international investment and innovation.
India, he said, is the right destination for the future.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian YouTube users | Over 500 million | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| India | The country described as the mother of democracy and pitched as a destination for the future. |
| Narendra Modi | Prime Minister of India who addressed the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. |
