At the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, Narendra Modi argued that technology, data, knowledge and innovation should create opportunities for many people rather than concentrate benefits among a few. Reports of the address do not establish that he cited UPI or startups, so those claims should not be attributed to this speech.
What Modi said at the forum
NDTV reported that Modi asked how society uses the power created by technology, data, knowledge and innovation: whether it benefits only a small group or opens opportunities for crores of people. NDTV quoted him as saying: “The right question is: how is this power being utilised? Will technology only be beneficial for a few people or will create opportunities for crores of people? Will knowledge remain the strength of a few people, or empower everyone?” NDTV’s report is a news account; an official transcript of this forum address was not located in the sources reviewed.
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The idea behind “power to empower” is a shift in how influence and progress are understood: not simply as the ability to control or succeed individually, but as the ability to enable others and broaden access to opportunity. The Economic Times/PTI reported a related line from Modi: “Beyond the power to control lies the power to enable. Beyond the power to succeed lies the power to help others succeed.” The Times of India also described the address in terms of moving from control to enablement, competition to collaboration, and individual success to helping others succeed. These are reported summaries and quotations, not a substitute for a full event transcript.
Did Modi mention UPI and startups?
The forum coverage reviewed here does not report a UPI or startup reference. That absence does not prove he did not mention them in the full address; it means the available reports do not support attributing those topics to this speech. No relevant UPI or startup statistic for the October 13 remarks was verified. In particular, the reported YouTube figure discussed below is not evidence about UPI adoption or startup activity.
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UPI did feature in a separate official speech at the AI Impact Summit on February 19, 2026. In that address, Modi said UPI helped people continue online transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic and played a role in bridging India’s digital divide. He also said technology should be “not a tool of power, but a medium of service—not to overpower, but to empower.” These are February remarks, not evidence of what he said at the Bloomberg forum. The official transcript provides that separate context. Keeping the dates and events distinct matters: a statement made at one summit cannot establish what was said at another.
What the reported argument means for access to technology
Modi’s reported framing is about who benefits from technological progress, not simply whether a technology exists. A tool or digital service can generate substantial value while leaving access or opportunity concentrated. The speech’s stated contrast asks whether knowledge and innovation become resources that more people can use and benefit from. It frames inclusion as a question about the distribution of opportunity, rather than treating technological progress alone as proof that everyone benefits.
The reports describe a broader change in outlook: enablement rather than control, cooperation rather than competition, and helping others succeed alongside one’s own success. They do not provide detailed policy steps or a specific implementation plan for achieving that shift, so the remarks are best understood as a principle about the intended reach of innovation rather than a technical roadmap.
The Economic Times/PTI also reported that Modi cited more than 500 million YouTube users in India. This is a figure attributed to Modi in secondary coverage, not independently verified here, and it should not be treated as a measure of UPI use, startup activity or equal access. A large user figure can indicate reach, but the reporting does not establish who has access, how evenly it is distributed or what outcomes users receive. The Economic Times/PTI report is the source for the reported figure and quotation.
What remains unconfirmed
- The full wording and context of the October 13 forum address are not established by an official transcript in the sources reviewed.
- Reports reviewed do not confirm that Modi cited UPI or startups at the forum.
- The YouTube user figure is speech-reported in secondary coverage rather than independently verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “power to empower” mean in Modi’s reported remarks?
It describes using technology, data, knowledge and innovation to enable more people and widen opportunity, rather than concentrating benefits among a few. Reports also frame it as enablement over control and helping others succeed alongside individual success.
What did Modi say at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum?
NDTV reported that he asked whether technology would benefit only a few or create opportunities for crores of people, and whether knowledge would remain the strength of a few or empower everyone. The quotation is reported by NDTV; an official transcript of the forum address was not located in the sources reviewed.
Did Modi mention UPI and startups at the October 2026 forum?
The forum reports reviewed do not establish that he mentioned either UPI or startups. That does not prove they were absent from the full address, but the available reporting is not enough to attribute them to him at this event.
Was UPI part of a different Modi speech in 2026?
Yes. In an official transcript of his February 19, 2026 AI Impact Summit speech, Modi said UPI helped people continue online transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic and played a role in bridging the digital divide. Those remarks are separate from the October Bloomberg forum.
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The Bottom Line
Modi’s reported message at the October 13 forum was that technology and knowledge should widen opportunity, not concentrate it. The available coverage does not verify UPI or startup references for this speech, so those claims should remain separate from the forum account.
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