New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, highlighting India’s progress in digital connectivity, telecom manufacturing and technology-led governance. He called for a global framework to tackle cyber fraud and deepfakes, stressing that phone and network security must remain a priority.
Addressing telecom industry leaders, operators, academics and startups, Modi said mobile phones had evolved beyond communication devices to become essential tools of governance and public service delivery.
“Over the past 10-12 years, the mobile phone, along with being a medium of modern communication, has also emerged as a crucial tool for good governance,” he said, describing it as central to the Digital India vision.
Recalling the digital divide a decade ago, Modi said the government had placed mobile phones at the centre of efforts to democratise technology. He noted that citizens can now access hundreds of government services through their phones, while financial assistance is transferred directly to beneficiaries.
According to the Prime Minister, more than ₹50 lakh crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries through digital platforms, helping prevent leakages estimated at ₹5 lakh crore. He also highlighted the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, under which more than ₹4 lakh crore has been transferred to farmers.
Modi said digital connectivity had improved access to education, healthcare, banking and government services, particularly for people in remote areas. Referring to the DIKSHA learning platform, he said it recorded more than five billion learning sessions and 60 billion learning minutes up to July 2022 during the pandemic period. The government aims to connect around 25 crore students with digital and online education platforms, he added.
Highlighting the expansion of telecom infrastructure, Modi said 5G services had reached every district through more than 5.5 lakh base stations, contributing to a tenfold improvement in internet speeds.
He also pointed to the growth of India’s gaming and content-creation sectors, saying more than 50 crore people were engaged in gaming. Affordable data and expanding connectivity, he said, had created opportunities for young people to become esports participants, content creators and entrepreneurs.
On cybersecurity, Modi said users must be able to identify callers, verify messages and trust that their personal information and digital payments are secure. Cyber fraud and deepfakes, he said, require coordinated international action involving governments, technology companies, telecom operators and financial institutions. He urged the GSMA to help develop mechanisms to prevent fraud before it reaches users.
Modi said India was moving from being a technology consumer to a creator, with the long-term objective of developing products, designs, technology and intellectual property domestically. He cited telecom reforms, the Telecommunications Act, the GatiShakti portal and the expansion of semiconductor manufacturing as steps towards greater self-reliance.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the presence of the GSMA Board in India and said the India Mobile Congress should become a global platform for innovation, research and partnerships supporting India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation.
