Bhubaneswar, Feb 6: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday emphasised inclusive growth, digital literacy and safeguards against cyber fraud while addressing the India Black Swan Summit organised by the Odisha government in collaboration with the Global Finance and Technology Network.

Speaking at the event, the president said, "Technological innovation is advancing at an unprecedented pace, transforming sectors such as education, healthcare, employment and business. While these developments are accelerating growth and expanding opportunities, they also bring challenges, including cybersecurity threats, deepfakes, misinformation and rising dependence on digital systems".

Referring to India’s financial transformation over the past decade, Murmu said digital payments and direct benefit transfers have become part of everyday life for farmers, small traders and women. She noted that more than 57 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in the past 11 years, with women holding over 56 per cent of them. Fintech, she said, has moved beyond being a technical concept and now plays a central role in financial access and service delivery.

The president stressed that India’s fintech expansion should also be viewed through the lens of gender inclusion. She said women must not only be end users of digital financial platforms but also leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs within the ecosystem. Any new product, platform or policy, she added, should be assessed on whether it enhances women’s participation in the digital economy.

At the same time, Murmu cautioned that technological access alone does not ensure inclusion. Citizens in remote, tribal and rural areas may lack familiarity with digital tools, she said, underscoring the importance of skill development and financial literacy. Fintech can serve as a driver of employment and entrepreneurship only if wider segments of society are equipped to use it effectively.

The president also raised concerns about online financial fraud, noting that misuse of technology can lead to significant financial and social distress.

She said, "The Government of India has established mechanisms such as the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System and the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre to address such threats. She advocated incorporating digital and financial literacy into school curricula to strengthen awareness from an early age."

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Murmu highlighted the role of innovation and skill development in building human capital and welcomed Odisha’s BharatNetra initiative, which aims to develop a future-ready workforce in digital, financial and insurance technology sectors. She said platforms such as the Black Swan Summit provide opportunities for policymakers, technologists, financial institutions and investors to collaborate on artificial intelligence, fintech innovation, sustainable finance and digital public infrastructure.

Expressing confidence in the outcomes of the summit, the president said such discussions would contribute to India’s broader development goals and the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.