How right is PM Modi in saying he saved money for India like DOGE is doing for US?

We inquired with AI chatbots Grok and ChatGPT regarding the accuracy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that upon taking office, he adopted a model akin to that of DOGE by eliminating fraudulent and non-existent beneficiaries from welfare schemes. This came up about 1 hour and 38 minutes into the interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast.

How the American chatbots replied follows.

Grok is not sure

The Squirrels staff shared an article appreciative of PM Narendra Modi's DBT with Grok, which said: "The data in the article is partially supported but not fully conclusive. The Rs 2.84 lakh crore by 2022 and specific savings examples align with prior government claims, lending credibility to the narrative of significant savings through DBT and beneficiary cleanup.

"However, the leap to Rs 5 lakh crore by March 2025 is an estimate that lacks a clear, itemized basis in the article, and the listed figures don’t add up to the total. Modi’s podcast claim of Rs 3 lakh crore fits earlier data but doesn’t directly corroborate the Rs 5 lakh crore figure.

"Without access to post-2022 official statistics or a comprehensive breakdown, the article’s headline claim should be treated as a plausible projection rather than a verified fact.

"For a definitive answer, one would need updated government reports or independent audits, which aren’t available here."

ChatGPT says PM Modi is right

ChatGPT was asked, "How much money has the Government of India saved since Narendra Modi became the country's prime minister (2014-2025) by identifying and removing false claimants of welfare schemes and employing the direct benefit transfer method of sending money to the intended beneficiaries?"

ChatGPT replied: "Since Narendra Modi assumed office as prime minister in 2014, the Government of India has implemented the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to enhance transparency and efficiency in welfare schemes. This initiative has led to substantial savings by identifying and removing ineligible beneficiaries.

"As of March 2024, the cumulative savings from DBT have exceeded ₹3.5 trillion. A significant portion of these savings resulted from the elimination of 50.3 million fake ration cards under the public distribution system, accounting for ₹1.86 trillion (53% of total savings). Additionally, the removal of 41.5 million fake beneficiaries and 11.3 million individuals who voluntarily relinquished their subsidies under the LPG-Pahal scheme contributed ₹73,443 crore (21%). Other notable savings include ₹42,534 crore (12%) from deleting 710,000 duplicate beneficiaries under the MGNREGS and ₹22,106 crore (6%) from removing ineligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries. 

"The DBT system has also facilitated the transfer of over ₹30 trillion to beneficiaries over the past nine years, significantly reducing fraud and pilferage. 

"Overall, the implementation of DBT has not only streamlined the distribution of benefits but also ensured that resources reach the intended recipients, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of welfare programs."