Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Direct Benefit Transfers had stopped nearly Rs 5 lakh crore of public money from leaking into "wrong hands", crediting digital governance for plugging one of the largest sources of graft in the country's welfare system. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 10th India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister said nearly Rs 50 lakh crore had been transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through DBT, and that this shift had produced savings of about Rs 5 lakh crore. "Five lakh crore rupees were prevented from falling into the wrong hands. This is no small figure," he said.
A defiant tone
Mr Modi struck a combative note, saying his anti-corruption drive had upset those who profited from the old system. "No matter how much they shout or scream. I am determined to see this through; I will get it done," he said.
He asked the audience whether those whose "unearned income" had stopped because of the crackdown would support his efforts. "Did I do the right thing or not? Should all these malpractices be stopped or not?" he said.
Digital India and the global cybercrime pitch
The Prime Minister said the Digital India initiative had placed the mobile phone at the centre of a transformation that made technology more accessible, with hundreds of government services now available on handsets.
He also called for a global framework to fight cyber fraud and deepfakes, saying digital crime does not respect borders. Urging the GSMA and telecom operators across the world to build a mechanism that stops fraud before it reaches people, he said India had learnt a great deal from its own experience and was ready to share it.
The four-day IMC 2026, which began on October 7 on the theme 'Scale Without Boundaries', showcases India's advances in telecommunications, digital connectivity and technological innovation.
Sources: Times Now: Curbed Corruption Worth 5 Lakh Crore : PM Modi
The Prime Minister said nearly Rs 50 lakh crore had been transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through DBT, and that this shift had produced savings of about Rs 5 lakh crore. "Five lakh crore rupees were prevented from falling into the wrong hands. This is no small figure," he said.
A defiant tone
Mr Modi struck a combative note, saying his anti-corruption drive had upset those who profited from the old system. "No matter how much they shout or scream. I am determined to see this through; I will get it done," he said.
He asked the audience whether those whose "unearned income" had stopped because of the crackdown would support his efforts. "Did I do the right thing or not? Should all these malpractices be stopped or not?" he said.
Digital India and the global cybercrime pitch
The Prime Minister said the Digital India initiative had placed the mobile phone at the centre of a transformation that made technology more accessible, with hundreds of government services now available on handsets.
He also called for a global framework to fight cyber fraud and deepfakes, saying digital crime does not respect borders. Urging the GSMA and telecom operators across the world to build a mechanism that stops fraud before it reaches people, he said India had learnt a great deal from its own experience and was ready to share it.
The four-day IMC 2026, which began on October 7 on the theme 'Scale Without Boundaries', showcases India's advances in telecommunications, digital connectivity and technological innovation.
Sources: Times Now: Curbed Corruption Worth 5 Lakh Crore : PM Modi
