Nobel laureate Paul Romer praised India’s Aadhaar system as the world's most significant technological platform, during his address at the NDTV World Summit on Monday. Romer highlighted Aadhaar’s role in enabling government benefits like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). He emphasized that such a system couldn’t be replicated in the U.S. due to private sector monopolization.

“Aadhaar solved one fundamental problem: identifying individuals with a unique number. From this, a foundation was built for services that benefit the population,” said Romer. He commended the Indian government for prioritizing public benefit over private wealth generation, a model that wasn’t constrained by judicial hurdles, despite multiple Supreme Court challenges.

Romer also touched upon the economic potential of urbanization, noting that cities are key GDP drivers worldwide. He urged India to capitalize on urban development through effective land assembly. “By assembling large land parcels, cities can be transformed into modern economic hubs, greatly increasing the value of land.”

He further reflected on global geopolitics, suggesting that both China and Russia are trying to revive empires, seeking to extend their influence beyond borders. Romer warned that this approach undermines the modern principle of sovereign states.

India, Romer argued, faces a crucial decision. “India must decide whether to side with empires or champion the importance of sovereign states. If India stands against empires, it could decisively shift the global balance.”

Romer’s remarks underscored the importance of India’s technological and geopolitical choices, positioning Aadhaar as a transformative tool for governance and calling on the country to shape the future of international relations.

Nobel laureate Paul Romer praised India’s Aadhaar system as the world's most significant technological platform, during his address at the NDTV World Summit on Monday. Romer highlighted Aadhaar’s role in enabling government benefits like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). He emphasized that such a system couldn’t be replicated in the U.S. due to private sector monopolization.

“Aadhaar solved one fundamental problem: identifying individuals with a unique number. From this, a foundation was built for services that benefit the population,” said Romer. He commended the Indian government for prioritizing public benefit over private wealth generation, a model that wasn’t constrained by judicial hurdles, despite multiple Supreme Court challenges.

Romer also touched upon the economic potential of urbanization, noting that cities are key GDP drivers worldwide. He urged India to capitalize on urban development through effective land assembly. “By assembling large land parcels, cities can be transformed into modern economic hubs, greatly increasing the value of land.”

He further reflected on global geopolitics, suggesting that both China and Russia are trying to revive empires, seeking to extend their influence beyond borders. Romer warned that this approach undermines the modern principle of sovereign states.

India, Romer argued, faces a crucial decision. “India must decide whether to side with empires or champion the importance of sovereign states. If India stands against empires, it could decisively shift the global balance.”

Romer’s remarks underscored the importance of India’s technological and geopolitical choices, positioning Aadhaar as a transformative tool for governance and calling on the country to shape the future of international relations.