Better subsidy targeting via tech saved $10 bn: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the direct transfer of government benefits using technology, bank accounts and biometric identifier Aadhaar has helped save USD 10 billion in subsidies.

Addressing the Global Conference on Cyber Space here, he said technology breaks barriers and had led to efficient service delivery, governance and improved access to education and health.

The government, he asserted, is committed to empowerment through digital access.

Use of JAM trinity of Jan Dhan accounts, mobile numbers and Aadhaar has helped save USD 10 billion in subsidies by plugging leakages, the Prime Minister added.

Modi termed cyber attacks as a significant threat, saying digital space should not be allowed to be used for terrorism.

The Prime Minister was equally emphatic that nations must take responsibility to ensure that the digital space does not become a playground for terrorism and radicalisation.

India, he said, is keen to find innovative and scalable solutions in education and healthcare using digital technology.

The PM made a pitch for information sharing and coordination among nations to fight the threat of digital space becoming a "playground" of terrorism and radicalisation, saying a delicate balance can be struck between privacy and national security.

The quest for an open and accessible Internet, he said, often leads to vulnerabilities like cyber attacks, and a significant focus area should be the training of well-equipped professionals to counter cyber threats.

Addressing the Global Conference on Cyber Space here, he said Internet, by nature, is inclusive, but the quest for an open and accessible Internet often leads to vulnerability like cyber attacks.

"Stories of hacking and defacement of websites are the tip of an iceberg. They suggest that cyber attacks are a significant threat, especially in the democratic world.

"We need to ensure that vulnerable sections of our society do not fall prey to the evil designs of cybercriminals. Alertness towards cyber security concerns should become a way of life," the Prime Minister cautioned.