Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the transformative role of mobile phones and digital connectivity in governance, saying technology has enabled faster, more transparent and convenient delivery of government services to citizens.
Addressing the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said hundreds of government services are now accessible through mobile phones, while government assistance is being transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Highlighting the impact of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), PM Modi said ₹50 lakh crore had reached bank accounts linked to beneficiaries’ mobile phones, resulting in savings of around ₹5 lakh crore by preventing leakages and money from going into “wrong hands”.
He said the government remained committed to strengthening transparency and curbing malpractices in the delivery of public welfare schemes.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme, saying more than ₹4 lakh crore had been transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts.
He said farmers receive notifications on their mobile phones when the instalments are credited, adding that the scheme has benefited crores of small farmers who earlier faced difficulties in accessing government assistance.
PM Modi said the mobile phone had evolved beyond being a means of communication and had emerged as an important instrument for governance and public service delivery.
“The mobile phone is no longer merely a means of communication or chatting. It has ensured less travel, less waiting, less cost and greater convenience for citizens,” he said.
On India’s telecom expansion, the Prime Minister said 5G connectivity had reached every district in the country, with more than 5.5 lakh base stations currently operating the network.
He said mobile internet speeds had increased tenfold compared to 2022 and described the expansion of 5G connectivity as an important step towards a more connected India.
“We are moving towards a ‘5G-Reachout’ future, a reality we are all witnessing today. 5G connectivity has reached every district in the country,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also underlined the growing significance of the India Mobile Congress in India’s telecom journey. He said the platform had evolved into an important forum reflecting the country’s technological progress and aspirations.
Recalling India’s hosting of the International Telecommunication Union in 2024, PM Modi said discussions on global standards for the digital world had highlighted the importance of international cooperation in emerging technologies. He also recalled the focus on “Invest”, “Innovate” and “Make in India” at the previous edition of the India Mobile Congress.
Highlighting the growing gaming ecosystem, PM Modi said more than 500 million people in India were connected to gaming in one form or another, with young people forming a significant part of the community.
He noted that youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities were increasingly participating in gaming, e-sports, content creation and new gaming businesses.
“In other words, in India, the mobile phone has today become both a Gaming console and a creation studio,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the expansion of telecom infrastructure over the past decade had included the installation of towers in remote areas, expansion of optical fibre networks and greater affordability of mobile data.
He said improved connectivity had contributed to the emergence of new sectors, expanded consumer bases in technology, entertainment and education, and created opportunities for a new generation of creators.
At the same time, PM Modi stressed the need to strengthen security frameworks in line with the growing importance of digital and telecom infrastructure.
“Phone security and network security are priorities for us all,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India’s telecom transformation was not limited to connectivity but was also contributing to changes in governance, entrepreneurship, innovation, entertainment and the wider digital economy.
-ANI
