Geneva, February 2026 — External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has delivered a landmark address at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, positioning India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as the ultimate “force multiplier” for global human rights. **
Addressing the high-level segment, Jaishankar framed India’s technological breakthroughs not just as economic tools, but as essential instruments for social justice. For India, he argued, human rights are an integral part of the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—viewing the world as one family.
DPI: Transitioning from Abstract Ideals to Tangible Rights
The core of India’s message centered on the practical application of technology to empower the marginalized. Jaishankar highlighted that in a world where pandemic recovery and economic stress have eroded the promise of human rights, India’s Digital Public Infrastructure offers a blueprint for recovery.
By utilizing digital identity and interoperable payment systems, India has enabled hundreds of millions of citizens to access welfare benefits and public schemes with absolute transparency. This infrastructure, he noted, has effectively eliminated “leakage,” ensuring that financial services reach those who need them most without the interference of intermediaries.
Technology as a Global Public Good
Jaishankar extended an olive branch to the international community, particularly the Global South, by offering India’s DPI experience as a “global public good.” * Inclusion over Fault Lines: He warned that technology must not become a “new fault line” that further divides the rich and poor.
- Capacity Building: India approaches the Council with the conviction that rights are best advanced through genuine partnerships and capacity building rather than “politicization” or “double standards”.
Confronting Global Violations: Terrorism and Inequality
The Minister did not shy away from the darker realities of the current geopolitical landscape. He reminded the Council that the insecurity of any group or region eventually undermines the rights of all.
A significant portion of the address was dedicated to the “egregious violation” of human rights: terrorism. Jaishankar reiterated India’s uncompromising stance, calling for “zero tolerance” and collective resolve from the United Nations to confront those who target innocent lives.
A First Responder on the Global Stage
Highlighting India’s role as a “dependable partner,” Jaishankar noted that India’s humanitarian outreach—from vaccines to disaster relief—is guided by empathy rather than geography. He urged the Council to move beyond mere resolutions and focus on “tangible improvements” in daily lives.
Bottom Line
The address signals a shift in India’s diplomatic narrative: human rights are best protected not by rhetoric, but by building robust digital and social systems that ensure no one is left behind. By sharing its DPI model, India is moving from being a recipient of global norms to a provider of global solutions.
