PM Modi Urges ‘Vocal for Local’ Push During Festive Season, Warns Against Digital Fraud

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to adopt the “Vocal for Local” mantra during the upcoming festive season, emphasising the need to support domestic products and strengthen India’s Aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance, while also warning people against digital fraud and scam calls.

During the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister extended greetings for the ongoing holy month and the approaching festival of colours, saying, "These days, Ramadan is going on. I wish everyone the best for this holy month. Holi is also coming in a few days. This means that the time filled with colours, gulaal, and laughter is about to knock."

He encouraged people to celebrate festivals with joy alongside their families and loved ones, while keeping in mind the importance of supporting local businesses.

Cautioning against the growing presence of foreign goods in festive markets, he added, "Many such items which are foreign have entered our Holi festival or any other festival. Keep them away from festivals, keep them away from Holi also, and adopt Swadeshi. When you buy Swadeshi, you also help in the campaign of making the country self-reliant."

What is the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement and how does it support Aatmanirbhar Bharat?

‘Vocal for Local’ is a national movement spearheaded by the Central Government and actively promoted by NITI Aayog to encourage consumers to prioritise domestically produced goods and services.

The initiative aims to strengthen India’s economic foundation by empowering local businesses, boosting employment, and enhancing manufacturing capabilities, thereby advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community, during which devotees fast from dawn to sunset and engage in increased spiritual activities including special nightly prayers.

This year, the holy month began on February 18, 2026, and will continue for approximately 29 to 30 days.

Holi will be celebrated on March 4, 2026, with Holika Dahan bonfires on the night of March 3, marked by the throwing of colours, music, and communal celebrations.

What did PM Modi say about KYC and re-KYC for bank account security?

In the same broadcast, the Prime Minister also spoke about the rise of digital arrest scams and stressed that awareness regarding fraud has increased but incidents continue to occur.

"In 'Mann Ki Baat', I have spoken to you at length about Digital Arrest. After this, a lot of awareness was generated in our society regarding Digital Arrest and Digital Fraud, but still, such incidents are happening…," PM Modi said.

He advised citizens to remain cautious when receiving calls or messages related to KYC updates and explained that banks periodically conduct re-KYC to ensure account security.

"You all must be familiar with the process of KYC - Know Your Customer. Sometimes, when you receive messages from your bank asking you to update KYC or re-KYC, the question arises in your mind - I have already done KYC, then why this? I urge you not to fret; this is just for the safety of your money,” the PM said.

“We all know that nowadays everything from pension, subsidy, insurance, UPI, everything is linked to the bank account. This is why banks periodically perform re-KYC to ensure your bank account remains secure,” he added.

What precautions against Digital Fraud and fake KYC calls did PM Modi highlight?

Warning against fraudulent tactics, he said, "Yes, here too, you must remember one thing: criminals make fake calls, send SMS and links. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and not fall prey to such fraudsters. KYC or re-KYC should be done only through your bank branch, official app, and authorized medium. Do not share OTP, Aadhaar number, or bank account information with anyone,” PM Modi said.

“And most importantly, keep changing your password from time to time. Just as food and clothing change with each season, make it a rule to change your password every few days," he added.

Highlighting financial awareness efforts, he noted that the Reserve Bank of India recently organised a Financial Literacy Week on such issues and that the campaign will continue throughout the year.

"The Reserve Bank of India recently organised a Financial Literacy Week on these very topics. This financial literacy campaign will now continue throughout the year. Therefore, pay heed to the Reserve Bank of India's message and keep your KYC updated," PM Modi added.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that through 361,000 cyber fraud complaints, the government has successfully safeguarded Rs 8,189 crore.

He stated that the estimated total fraud amount was around Rs 20,000 crore, of which Rs 8,189 crore has been frozen or returned to victims.

He congratulated the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and other related organisations for their efforts.

Shah also said that by December 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs had cancelled more than 12 lakh suspicious SIM cards and blocked the IMEI numbers of over 3 lakh mobile devices, adding that 20,853 accused persons have been arrested in cybercrime cases so far.

(With inputs from ANI)