Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Karnataka’s flagship annual technology event – Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020 (BTS2020) – via video-conferencing on Thursday. The summit is organised by the Government of Karnataka along with Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Karnataka government’s Vision Group on Information Technology, Biotechnology & StartUp, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications. The theme of this year’s summit is “Next is Now”.
Addressing the Tech Summit, the Prime Minister said due to Digital India, our nation has witnessed a more human centric approach to development. He said using technology on such a large scale has brought about several changes for the citizens and the benefits are clearly visible. He said the government has not only created a market for digital and tech solutions, but also made it a key part of all schemes. He added his governance model is technology first and through technology human dignity has been enhanced like crores of farmers receiving monetary support in one click and successfully operating the world’s largest Healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat. He stressed that technology ensured India’s poor received proper & quick assistance even at the peak of the lockdown. He said the scale of this relief has few parallels.
The Prime Minister said the Government has used the power of data analytics to ensure better service delivery and efficiency. He remarked technology is the prime reason our schemes have transcended files and changed the lives of the people at such a speed and scale. He said due to technology we are able to provide electricity to all, cross toll booths faster, gives us confidence to vaccinate a large population in a short period of time. He also praised the tech sector for showing its resilience during this pandemic. He highlighted that the amount of tech adoption that would not have happened in a decade, happened in just a few months. Work from anywhere has become the norm and is going to stay. He said a high amount of tech adoption will be seen in the fields of education, health, shopping, etc.
The Prime Minister expressed happiness that Digital India is no longer being seen as any regular Government initiative as it has become a way of life particularly, for the poor, marginalised and for those in Government.
Speaking on the future of Digital World, the Prime Minister said India is uniquely positioned to leap ahead in the information era as it has the best minds as well as the biggest market. He pointed out that India’s local tech solutions have the potential to go global. He stressed that it is time for tech-solutions that are designed in India to be deployed for the world. He said the policy decisions of the Government are always aimed at liberalising the tech & innovations industry like the easing of compliance burden on the IT industry done recently.
Other key speakers at the flagship event included the PM of Australia Scott Morrison, Vice President Switzerland Guy Parmelin, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, Pradeep Kar, Founder, Chairman, MD, Microland.
Speaking at the summit, Scott Morrison, PM of Australia, said “As India’s biggest tech cluster, and 4th at the world sector, Bengaluru has proven ‘NextIsNow’. I’m very excited to lead the Australian delegation of more than 150 people’. Mr Guy Parmelin, Vice President, Switzerland said “Bengaluru belongs to the global hotspot. Many Swizz companies have come to India & have created more than a 100,000 jobs. We hope to collaborate with India and find solutions together for the global problems.”
Anand Mahindra said that BTS brings out the need for innovation, technology and speed. We must go forward and prepare for the future by encouraging innovative minds.
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Communications and Law & Justice and Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri BS Yeddyrupa were present on the occasion.
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Balaji Subramanian