Centre launches e-rupee based subsidy transfer in Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated a new digital currency-based subsidy transfer system in Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on Friday. Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli became the first Union Territories in India to offer direct food subsidy transfers as e-rupee tokens into beneficiaries' Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.
The e-rupee can be used to purchase foodgrains from registered vendors through a secure and real-time digital payment system. At an event chaired by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, Chouhan emphasized the initiative's significance in increasing transparency, security, and timeliness in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The pilot project aims to become a model for the rest of the country. The CBDC-based digital DBT system ensures that food subsidy funds are used solely for purchasing essential food items, preventing misuse. Chouhan assured that farmer interests and public interest would be prioritized in agricultural and food security policies.
The launch of the CBDC-based DBT system under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) marks a major milestone in India's progress towards a modern, transparent, and technology-driven welfare delivery system.
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