G20: PM Modi proposes setting up global social impact fund to spread DPI in Global South

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the opening remarks at the start of the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed the creation of a global social impact fund to spread and implement Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the countries of the Global South.

"To implement DPI in Global South countries, I propose the creation of a Social Impact Fund. India will start by initially contributing $25 million to this fund. I hope you all will join this initiative," the Indian Prime Minister said on November 22 while delivering his opening remarks at the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit.

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Digital Public Infrastructure, or DPI, has been one of the cornerstones of India's G20 Presidency, with Indian officials highlighting the progress India has made in the digital payments space in recent years with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Central Bank Digital Currency, among others.

Modi also said on November 22 that the decision taken during the New Delhi Leaders' Summit in September to create a Digital Public Infrastructure Repository had become reality, with "more than 50 DPI from 16 countries being a part of it".

The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration had welcomed "India's plan to build and maintain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), a virtual repository of DPI, voluntarily shared by G20 members and beyond".

Commenting on artificial intelligence, Modi warned that technology must be used responsibly.

"Concerns about negative uses of AI are rising in the whole world. India is clear that the world needs to work together for global regulation of AI," he further said, adding that while India wanted AI to reach the public, it must be "safe for society".

The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence Summit will be held in New Delhi on December 12-14.

Modi had announced at the Leaders' Summit, held in New Delhi on September 9-10, that a virtual summit would take place before India's G20 Presidency ends in November. The virtual summit will see top global leaders discuss the implementation of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, among other issues.

The virtual summit, the last major event to take place under India's G20 Presidency, is expected to last about two-and-a-half hours, following which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, and Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth will address the media.