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PM Modi gives voice to women on International Women’s Day through his social media handles
MUMBAI; You have got to hand it to the PM and his core communications management team. In a pioneering move to celebrate International Women’s Day, Narendra Modi handed over control of his substantial social media presence to six accomplished women (at least the ones we came across) from diverse fields, providing them a platform to share their stories and inspire millions across India.
The initiative saw Modi’s accounts temporarily managed by women who have broken barriers in rural entrepreneurship, disability advocacy, space science, nuclear technology, sports, and agriculture. Each shared personal journeys and messages reflecting India’s progress in women’s empowerment.
Frontier Markets founder & CEO Ajaita S highlighted her organisation’s work empowering rural women through financial inclusion and technology. “A financially empowered woman is a confident decision-maker, independent thinker, architect of her own future and a maker of modern India,” she wrote, emphasising how their ‘Meri Saheli App’ harnesses AI to support women entrepreneurs in agriculture, healthcare and financial literacy.
Samarthyam, Centre for Universal Accessibility founder Anjlee Agarwal used the platform to advocate for disability rights. “Forget labels, forget barriers…let’s strengthen Sugamya Bharat and make it an important precursor to a Viksit Bharat,” she urged, sharing her three decades of work on universal accessibility and inclusive mobility.
The scientific community was represented by two distinguished voices. Shilpi Soni, a space scientist with 24 years at Isro, shared her contributions to India’s communication and navigation missions, while Elina Mishra, a nuclear scientist from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, detailed her work in electromagnetic research and medical applications of nuclear technology for remote healthcare.
Chess grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu brought a sporting perspective, encouraging young women to pursue their dreams regardless of hurdles. “Sports is among the best teachers,” she noted, while praising India’s improving support system for women athletes.
From Bihar’s Nalanda district, Anita Devi shared how she established Madhopur Farmers Producer Co Ltd nine years ago, helping hundreds of women achieve financial independence through mushroom cultivation.
Political analysts view the Modi’s initiative as a strategic amplification of women’s voices across sectors critical to India’s development agenda. By temporarily ceding his immense digital reach—among the largest for any world leader—he has effectively showcased women’s contributions to nation-building while highlighting government initiatives supporting their advancement.
The diverse selection of women—spanning rural innovation, scientific research, disability advocacy, sports excellence, and agricultural entrepreneurship—reflects the multifaceted approach to women’s empowerment that the administration seeks to promote.
As India continues its economic and social transformation, this exercise underscores the increasing prominence of women’s leadership across domains once considered inaccessible to them, while simultaneously drawing attention to ongoing challenges.
The initiative has been widely praised for going beyond symbolic gestures to provide substantive visibility to women making significant contributions to India’s progress, reinforcing the message that women’s empowerment is integral to the nation’s development journey.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
