New Delhi, September 14: Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani has revealed India’s ambitious plan to deploy its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in 50 countries within the next five years.
Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Nilekani highlighted that India’s DPI is currently being utilized in 15 countries worldwide. He emphasized the versatility of the infrastructure, stating, “This (DPI) can be applied anywhere.”
Nilekani acknowledged the role of government support in the success of such DPIs. He noted that while Aadhaar was government-backed, UPI, a digital payments infrastructure, emerged from the non-profit NPCI and gained momentum due to government initiatives like demonetization and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking about UPI, Nilekani said it had clocked an impressive 14.4 billion transactions per month, with a user base of 500 million and 50 million merchants. He attributed UPI’s success to its “public rails and private innovation” philosophy.
Nilekani also highlighted the significant impact of India’s DPIs on the startup ecosystem. He estimated that companies built on top of these infrastructures are valued at over $100 billion.
India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem has been a major contributor to its economic growth. The country has raised over $150 billion in funding for startups between 2014 and the first half of 2024. With a growing number of internet users, increasing smartphone penetration, and affordable internet tariffs, India has created a favorable environment for startups to thrive.
State-backed platforms like UPI, ONDC, and the account aggregator framework have also played a crucial role in driving the growth of Indian startups. These platforms have enabled the creation of diverse use cases and spawned the rise of fintech giants.
