5 key takeaways from PM Modi's candid exchange with Bill Gates

In a free-wheeling exchange of ideas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a dialogue with philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday. From prioritising affordable cervical cancer vaccines for women to advocating for the integration of Green GDP in growth indicators, their discussions encapsulated a vision for a more inclusive future.

Here are 5 key takeaways from PM Modi and Gates’ meet

1. Cervical cancer vaccine for women

PM Modi lauded scientists for the COVID-19 vaccines and said it is his government’s priority in the next term to get an affordable cervical cancer vaccine and safeguard the lives of women.

“In the future, I plan to allocate funds for cervical cancer research for the betterment of young girls. My goal is to vaccinate all girls in our country at a minimal cost, ensuring that they are protected from cancer. This is the direction I am currently working on,” PM Modi said

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2. Incorporating Green GDP in growth indicators

PM Modi highlighted the imperative to shift away from economic growth metrics that harm the environment, stressing the importance of adopting indicators that prioritise ecological sustainability.

He suggested incorporating the concept of a Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP) into the traditional GDP framework.

“I believe the world should develop the concept of Green GDP to measure growth. We should ask, ‘How much of our GDP is Green GDP, or our of overall employment, what’s the ratio of green jobs out there? We need to change the global terminology," PM Modi asserted, emphasising the alignment of his and Gates’ perspectives on climate change.

3.  India’s role in the AI revolution

PM Modi expressed confidence that India will be a leader in the world’s fourth industrial revolution after missing out on the first two due to British colonisation.

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While talking about the Digital Public Infrastructure in India, Gates lauded technologies like UPI and Aadhaar and said that the country keeps on improving its technology and keeps getting richer.

PM Modi cited examples from the 2023 G20 Summit and initiatives like the NaMo App to illustrate how India is leveraging AI in various aspects of governance and society

“Sometimes, I jokingly say that in our country, we call our mother ‘Aai’. Now I say that when a child is born, he says ‘Aai’ as well as AI as children have become so advanced," PM Modi said

4. Promotion of millets in veg diets

Promoting millets and stating its benefits, PM Modi called for an improvement in vegetarian diets. He also mentioned several reputable companies have now started offering millet-based products in the country.

Agreeing with PM Modi, Gates mentioned he finds millets tasty and he was apprised to find it as very popular diet in Odisha

5. Won’t let digital divide happen in India: PM Modi

PM Modi said robust digital infrastructure is essential for the country and assured that he won’t let a digital divide prevail in India.

“Digital public infrastructure is a major requirement in itself. We want even the remotest village to have access to key technologies, they are a very important target group for us,” he added.

He also emphasised how women in rural India have embraced technology and are doing wonders.

“Women are more open to adopting new technology in India. Whenever we develop tech aligned with their requirements, they are quick to respond and quick to accept,” PM Modi explained, using the example of ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme.