Home Minister Amit Shah stated that India now accounts for more than half of global digital transactions. He made the remarks while launching the country’s first Central Bank Digital Currency-based Public Distribution System in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Addressing a gathering at Mahatma Mandir on the occasion of Mahashivratri, the Union Home Minister said India’s swift digital transformation over the past decade had modernised welfare delivery.
He noted that nearly 60 crore citizens lacked bank accounts ten years ago. Today, India leads the world in digital payments.
Shah inaugurated a transparent, technology-driven PDS integrated with Aadhaar-based biometric verification and the Reserve Bank of India payment infrastructure.
He asserted that the CBDC framework would curb leakages in subsidised food grain distribution and eliminate corruption and intermediaries.
He confirmed that authorities would implement the model nationwide within three to four years.
The programme also introduced the ‘Annapurti’ Grain ATM in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati zone.
The automated system dispenses 25 kilograms of food grains within 35 seconds while ensuring precision in weight, pricing and quality.
Officials also launched sealed one-kilogram packs of chana and tur dal, alongside the ‘Garima Poshan, Suposhit Garudeshwar Taluka’ campaign.
Shah said the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana currently provides free ration to 81 crore beneficiaries.
Amit Shah added that digitisation strengthens transparency. He highlighted that four crore houses were built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 13 crore households received tap water connections, 13 crore homes obtained gas cylinders, and 12 crore households secured toilets. He further noted that 2.91 crore women have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Bhupendra Patel said Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar and mobile connectivity enabled direct benefit transfers. He confirmed that Grain ATMs would operate round the clock under the National Food Security Act.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said digitised ration cards strengthened the One Nation One Ration Card system and eliminated two to three crore fake cards.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the system would reduce queues and ensure absolute accuracy.
Authorities also signed agreements to establish grievance redressal mechanisms and develop a Consumer Responsibility Index to enhance accountability.
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