Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday countered US President Donald Trump’s recent comment describing India as a “dead economy,” asserting that India is in fact the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

Speaking at the International Institute of Information Technology Auditorium after laying the foundation stone for Bengaluru’s Metro Phase-3 project, Modi said India has climbed from being the world’s 10th-largest economy to the fifth in the past 11 years and is “marching towards becoming the third-largest.”

He credited this progress to a “reform, perform, and transform” approach rooted in honesty and commitment. Highlighting trade achievements, Modi noted that India’s exports have risen from $480 billion before 2014 to $850 billion today. Mobile phone exports, once negligible, have propelled India into the top five global handset exporters. Electronic exports have grown from $6 billion to $38 billion, and automobile exports have doubled from $16 billion, making India the fourth-largest car exporter.

The Prime Minister underscored Bengaluru’s role in driving India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision and leading innovation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space technology. He announced that India will soon have its own “Made in India” semiconductor chip and is already a global leader in low-cost, high-tech space missions.

On digitalisation, Modi pointed out that over 50% of the world’s real-time transactions occur via India’s UPI platform. More than 2,200 government services are now accessible on mobile phones, and the ‘Umang’ app allows citizens to complete tasks from home.

Calling on Indian tech companies to prioritise domestic needs, Modi urged a push for “Tech Atmanirbhar Bharat” and adherence to “zero defects, zero effect” standards in manufacturing — ensuring world-class quality without harming the environment.