Direct Benefit Transfers grow ninety times over decade: FM

New Delhi

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has shared that India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has seen a 90-times increase in just ten years. In 2013–14, DBT transfers were worth Rs 7,368 crore. In 2024–25, the amount rose to Rs 6.83 lakh crore. She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for this major growth, which ensures government money reaches the people directly.

Sitharaman also said India is leading the world in real-time digital payments. In 2024–25, digital transactions crossed Rs 260 lakh crore in value, with 18,600 crore transactions carried out during the year.

She praised India’s digital journey over the past 11 years, calling it revolutionary. The country has become a global centre for digital innovation, covering everything from payments and manufacturing to space technology and rural internet.

According to Sitharaman, this digital success is not just about technology, but also about helping people through smooth governance and creating a strong, modern nation – a "Viksit Bharat".

Deputy Governor of the RBI, M. Rajeshwar Rao, said India now has 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts. Of these, 56% are owned by women, and the total balance in these accounts has crossed Rs 2.5 lakh crore.

In 2024–25, daily digital transactions rose 35%, reaching 60.81 crore per day. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) made up 83.73% of all digital transactions. Rao said UPI’s growth shows how partnerships and new ideas can make finance more inclusive across the country.