The President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Dennis Francis, has praised India’s remarkable progress in lifting 800 million people out of poverty in the past five to six years. According to Francis, this achievement was “simply by the use of smartphones” and the country’s rapid digitalization.

Speaking at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Francis highlighted how India’s high internet penetration and easy access to banking services through mobile phones have been instrumental in this transformation.

He noted that rural Indian farmers, who previously lacked access to the banking system, are now able to conduct all their business transactions, including paying bills and receiving payments, directly on their smartphones.

“Digitalisation provides the basis for rapid development (of a country). Take, for example, the case of India. India has been able to lift 800 million people out of poverty over the past five to six years simply by the use of smartphones,” Francis stated.

The UNGA President emphasized that this level of digital inclusion is not yet the case in many other parts of the Global South, and called for concerted efforts to address this inequality and promote further digitalization in these regions.

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India’s focus on digitalization has been one of the key priorities of the Narendra Modi-led government over the past decade. The government’s initiatives, such as the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) program, have played a significant role in this digital transformation, enabling millions of people, including those in rural areas, to open bank accounts and receive government benefits directly into their accounts.

Francis’ remarks underscore India’s remarkable progress in leveraging digital technologies to drive inclusive development and alleviate poverty, setting an example for other developing nations to emulate.