President Droupadi Murmu on Friday stressed the need to integrate digital and financial literacy into school curricula, warning that online financial fraud can wipe out life savings and cause severe mental and social distress.
Addressing the Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar, she said rapid technological advances have increased cybersecurity threats, data misuse and misinformation alongside innovation.
Emphasising prevention, Murmu said awareness from a young age is essential to ensure citizens remain vigilant against online fraud.
She highlighted government initiatives such as the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System and the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre to tackle rising cybercrime.
The President also flagged gaps in digital inclusion, particularly in rural and tribal areas, and called for focused skilling to ensure broader participation in India’s fintech growth.
She underlined the importance of gender inclusion, noting that over 56% of Jan Dhan account holders are women.
India is set to host the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi later this month, with participation from nearly 100 countries, as part of efforts to promote inclusive and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
