India (Commonwealth Union)_ India is increasingly using its digital infrastructure not only to transform services at home but also to strengthen its influence abroad. Its experience with digital identity, payments and online public services is becoming an important part of its foreign policy, giving the country a new form of “soft power”. The shift became more visible after the government announced in the Lok Sabha that India had signed agreements with 24 countries to share its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). The move signals a change from broad promises of digital cooperation to the actual transfer and implementation of Indian technology.
At the centre of this effort is the India Stack, a collection of digital systems covering identity, payments and public service delivery. India sees these platforms as practical tools that can help developing countries build digital economies without having to spend decades creating such systems from the ground up. Accordingly, Africa has become a major focus of this digital diplomacy. India’s 2023 G20 presidency helped bring greater international attention to DPI, with the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration recognizing its potential as a global development tool. Since then, India has stepped up efforts to introduce its digital systems across the Global South.
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Kenya and Cuba are among the countries where implementation has already begun. India has signed an Implementation Framework and a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Kenya for a DigiLocker system, while work is underway to develop a basic DigiLocker platform for Cuba. Other countries involved include Colombia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, the Maldives, Mongolia, Seychelles, Armenia, Fiji, Venezuela, Ethiopia and Tanzania. India’s approach in Southeast Asia is somewhat different. Rather than simply building basic digital infrastructure, the focus is increasingly on connecting existing systems across borders. This fits closely with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030, which aims to move the region towards secure digital integration and interoperable payment systems.
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India is also working to expand the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) internationally. UPI-based merchant payments are already available in countries including Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Cambodia. Cross-border person-to-person remittance links are also operating with Singapore, Nepal and Greece. UPI services were launched in Cambodia in June 2026, while the real-time remittance connection with Greece has recently become operational. The growing interest in India’s digital model is also encouraging technical exchanges. Delegations from countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Nepal, Indonesia and South Africa have visited Indian institutions, including UIDAI and NPCI, to study the country’s experience.
For India, this expansion has both diplomatic and economic value. Digital payments can make cross-border transactions easier, while digital public services can create opportunities for Indian technology companies and startups. As more developing countries look for affordable ways to modernize their economies, India’s experience could become increasingly influential. Its digital infrastructure is therefore evolving from a domestic success story into an instrument of international cooperation and a growing source of Indian soft power.
