Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi Economics Conclave (DEC) today on Friday, organized by the finance ministry. Speaking at the DEC, Modi said, “Our idea of reforms should be inclusive and broad-based and we should not limit our idea of reforms to a few standard notions”.

“By almost every major economic indicator, India is doing better now than when we took office 17 months ago,” the PM said, stressing on inclusive reforms that improve people’s lives and don’t just grab headlines.

While claiming that reforming to transform is a marathon, not a sprint”, the prime minister said that agriculture remains India’s mainstay in terms of providing a livelihood. “Reform is that which helps all citizens and especially for the poor to achieve a better life. It is Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Another financial reform is the provision of a safety net through new social security schemes”, he said.

“We have ensured maximum value for every rupee spent, maximum empowerment for our poor, maximum technology reach to the masses, among other things,” Modi said, adding, “What we have done in the last 17 months is to bring 190 million people into the banking system. Today, accounts opened under Jan-Dhan Yojana have a total balance of almost Rs 26,000 crore. For me, JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) vision is just about achieving the maximum.”

Modi also claimed that India’s growth has also accelerated as inflation has come down. “He said GDP growth is up and inflation is down, foreign investment is up, current account deficit is down. Revenues are up and interest rates are down, the fiscal deficit is down and rupee is stable. Obviously this did not happen by accident. This success is a result of a series of well-thought policies,” PM Modi said.

Modi said that the government’s efforts to bring back black money stashed abroad have detected as much as Rs 10,500 crore.

He said much work was also being done to ensure that the youth of the country get employment. “We have great entrepreneurial energy. This needs to be harnessed so that to become a nation of job creators, not job seekers.”

While highlighting the various achievement of the NDA government Prime Minister said that poor sanitation and lack of cleanliness is much more than the issue of health.

The day-long conclave is being hosted by the finance ministry, with economists from India and abroad in attendance. The day-long conclave will deliberate on topics like India and international experience in cash transfers, benefits, and risks of biometric authentication-evidence from social programs in India, Financial Inclusion, and Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.