Global Fintech Fest: 'UPI is civilisational story', PM Modi recalls French President Macron's remark

India’s fintech story has transformed the way the world looks at digital payments, and PM Narendra Modi says UPI has been at the heart of that journey. Speaking at Global Fintech Fest 2026, Modi recalled how his early vision of having a ‘bank at your fingertips’ once seemed impossible to many. He highlighted UPI’s expansion to 11 countries and cited French President Emmanuel Macron’s description of UPI as ‘not just a tech story but a civilisational story.’ Modi also outlined the next phase: connecting UPI with global payment systems, potentially lowering remittance costs, while urging fintech companies to turn emerging technologies into real-world impact.