PM Modi Inaugurates 10th IMC at Yashobhoomi

Inaugurating the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi—which also marked the hosting of the GSMA Board meeting in India—Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the nation’s steady progress toward complete self-reliance in telecommunications. Reflecting on the launch of 5G from the same platform in 2022, Prime Minister Modi noted that 5G coverage has expanded across all districts via more than 5.5 lakh base stations, delivering a tenfold boost in internet speeds. He emphasized that over the past decade, mobile technology has become central to the Digital India vision and a pillar of good governance, democratizing access to services that were once a privilege of the few. Underlining the impact of direct benefit transfers, he shared that over ₹50 lakh crore ($526.48 billion) has been transferred directly to citizens' accounts via mobile platforms—saving over ₹5 lakh crore ($52.65 billion) from corruption leakages—including over ₹4 lakh crore ($42.12 billion) deposited directly to small farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Prime Minister Modi noted that mobile connectivity has delivered technology’s biggest citizen dividend by reducing travel, waiting times, and costs while increasing convenience. Beyond governance, smartphones have transformed into entertainment and economic engines, with over 50 crore people participating in the gaming ecosystem and content creation growing into a multi-thousand-crore industry. Addressing cybersecurity concerns, he stressed the need to fortify phone and network security and called for an international framework to counter deepfakes and digital fraud. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister stated that India has transitioned from a technology consumer to a creator, supported by live domestic semiconductor manufacturing across five sites and regulatory reforms like the Telecommunications Act and GatiShakti portal that accelerate technological sovereignty.