President Murmu emphasises on making digital financial literacy part of school curriculum

President Droupadi Murmu in Bhubaneswar on Friday (February 5, 2026) emphasized on making digital and financial literacy part of school curriculum.

Addressing the Black Swan Summit India 2026 in Bhubaneswar organised by Odisha government and Global Financial Technology Network, Ms. Murmu said, “the Government of India has undertaken various measures to prevent and report frauds, including the establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System, and the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre.”

“Ensuring digital and financial literacy is essential to deter online financial fraud. This can be made part of the school curriculum so that the advantages and disadvantages of technology are understood at a young age,” she said.

President urged all stakeholders to make every effort to ensure digital and financial literacy among people.

The summit saw policymakers, technologists, financial institutions, and investors sharing their experiences on topics ranging from AI and fintech innovation to sustainable finance, digital public infrastructure, and the empowerment of small and medium enterprises on a single platform.

“Today, we are living in a time when technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. New innovations are arriving so rapidly that our systems, skills, and business models often struggle to keep up,” remarked Ms Murmu.

“Automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are transforming every sphere of life – education, healthcare, jobs, and business. At the same time, these rapid advancements also bring serious challenges, including cybersecurity threats, data defects, misinformation, and an increasing dependence on technology,” she pointed out.

Stating that India’s fintech story should be remembered not only as a tale of technology, but also as one of gender justice, President said, “women constitute an important segment that deserves focused attention in the promotion of fintech. Fintech must view women not only as end users, but as leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Today, more than 56% of Jan Dhan accounts are held by women.”

“Every new platform, product, and policy must be evaluated on whether it enables the active participation of women in the digital and financial ecosystem,” Ms. Murmu emphasized.

Ms. Murmu also called upon entrepreneurs and innovators to ensure that technology becomes a tool for social justice and inclusion.

“To support this growth story, there is a need for fintech infrastructure as well as a skilled workforce. At its core, digital finance is about trust and human dignity. It is about giving citizens greater financial control over their lives, and about making governance systems more responsive, transparent, and humane. This citizen-centric thinking remains at the heart of India’s fintech journey,” she said.

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan also spoke on the occasion.