Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday hailed India’s digital and economic reforms, calling the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) a “game-changer” and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) a “model of national economic integration” rooted in trust.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2025, Singh said these initiatives have significantly enhanced ease of doing business and transformed Centre-State relations through cooperative federalism.
“GST is not just a tax system, it’s a model of national integration built on the foundation of trust between the Centre and States,” Singh said, adding that today all states, union territories, and the Centre are equally represented on the GST platform.
On UPI, Singh said the digital payments platform reflects not only technological success but a “behavioral transformation”, where citizens and businesses alike have placed their faith in a secure, transparent system. “Many countries are now trying to replicate India’s UPI model. This is proof of India’s digital leadership,” he said.
In a broader message on the theme of trust, Singh described it as a fundamental pillar that binds families, societies, economies, and nations. He called trust “one of life’s rarest and most valuable assets,” saying that even a person with limited knowledge or skill can become an irreplaceable asset if they are trustworthy.
“Trust is not a technical term, it’s an emotion, an experience. It makes us human,” he said.
Singh warned that globally, a trust deficit is at the heart of rising uncertainties and conflicts. In contrast, he said, India has actively fostered trust among its regions, communities, and economic classes, leading to “unprecedented success”.
