Beware of Digital Arrests; Women Now Form Nearly 50% of Officers: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Jaipur, Nov 1: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Saturday cautioned citizens — especially senior citizens — against “digital arrests” and online frauds during the RBI’s outreach programme “Your Capital, Your Rights” held in Udaipur.
Highlighting the growing risks in the era of rapid digitalisation, Malhotra urged people to stay alert and ensure their e-KYC details are updated for all bank accounts.
“Everyone from cities to villages is now part of the digital revolution. But we must remain careful — particularly our elders — so that they don’t fall prey to digital arrests and cyber frauds,” he said.
Malhotra also celebrated the rising representation of women in the banking and administrative sectors, noting that nearly half of all new RBI officers are now women.
“When we joined the service, only about 7% of our batch were women. Today, around 33% to 50% of the new officers are women. Even at this event, half the participants are women — it’s a moment of pride,” he added.
He lauded Udaipur Divisional Commissioner Pragya Kewalramani and local banking officials for their leadership, saying their achievements reflect how women are advancing shoulder to shoulder with men across India.
Calling Udaipur a city close to his heart, Malhotra reminisced about his earlier tenure in Rajasthan, where he served as Tribal Commissioner in June 2009 and later as Managing Director of Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited.
The RBI Governor highlighted India’s progress in financial inclusion, noting that “almost every citizen now has a digital bank account connected to net banking, mobile banking, or ATMs.”
He emphasised that the next phase of growth should focus on digital financial literacy and secure online transactions to safeguard consumers in an increasingly digital economy.
As part of the outreach, the RBI also initiated the return of ₹101.47 crore lying unclaimed in 2,86,243 bank accounts in Udaipur district to their rightful heirs.
RBI Deputy General Manager Vikas Agarwal said the initiative, under a nationwide drive, aims to ensure that unclaimed deposits are traced and returned to legitimate owners.
Concluding his address, Malhotra reiterated the importance of digital safety and financial awareness:
“Do your e-KYC, stay alert to cyber scams, and protect your financial rights. Customer safety and convenience are the RBI’s top priorities.”
