PM Modi warns of ‘cyber terrorists' in banking

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of the threat of "cyber terrorists" targeting India's banking system at a recent event in Bhubaneswar. He addressed the opening of the Reserve Bank of India's Rs 169-crore data center and Cybersecurity Training Institute, emphasizing the facilities' significant benefits for the people of Odisha and the nation. Modi highlighted the need to protect India's banking sector from conventional and digital threats, stating that wars are increasingly fought through unconventional means.

The Prime Minister praised India's banking sector, noting that it is now among the most efficient in the world, with round-the-clock access to banking services. He emphasized that small entrepreneurs, traditional artisans, street vendors, and workers in the unorganized sector have, for the first time, gained access to formal banking services. Under the Congress rule, such facilities were only available to a select few, leading to unequal access to loans and opportunities for the poor, middle-class, and women.

Modi credited the BJP-led government, which came to power in 2014, for bringing about a balanced approach to banking. He noted that debit and credit cards, once luxury items for the masses, are now accessible to all. The past decade focused on extending banking services to the deprived, while the upcoming decade will concentrate on making banking more efficient and reliable.

In his closing remarks, Modi expressed optimism about Odisha's future, stating that the state will thrive in various sectors, from mines to microchips. He assured the youth that many doors of opportunity will be opened for them, signaling a bright future for the region.