In the heart of India’s philosophical and political evolution lies the timeless vision of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the ideologue whose vision of Antyodaya placed the upliftment of the “last person" at the forefront of nation-building.

The concept of Antyodaya—rising from the bottom—envisioned a society where development begins with empowering the poorest and ensuring that economic progress permeates every layer of society without leaving anyone behind. Antyodaya and Integral humanism, rooted in indigenous values of self-reliance and holistic growth, rejected the pitfalls of Western capitalism and socialism, advocating instead for a model that harmonises human dignity, environmental balance, and equitable prosperity.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, this vision has found a powerful enabler in technology. Far from being a mere tool of the elite, technology under PM Modi has been democratised and transformed into a bridge that connects the most marginalised sections to the formal economy, governance and opportunities. Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the JAM (Jan Dhan Aadhar Mobile) trinity-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and the SVAMITVA scheme exemplify how digital innovation has operationalised Antyodaya. These efforts have not only streamlined welfare, but have also instilled financial literacy, ownership rights, and economic agency among India’s underprivileged, pulling over 25 crore people out of multidimensional poverty in the last decade.

As PM Modi often invokes Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s ideals, these technological strides embody a “self-reliant India" (Atmanirbhar Bharat), where the poorest are not passive recipients but active participants in national growth.

Democratising Technology: From Exclusion to Inclusion

Upadhyaya dreamt of an economic democracy where every individual, regardless of caste, creed, or geography, could access resources without intermediaries. PM Modi has realised this by leveraging technology to break down........

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