Gandhinagar is poised for a digital leap as Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates the nation’s first CBDC-powered Public Distribution System at Mahatma Mandir this Sunday, marking a new era in subsidized food distribution.
Launched by Gujarat’s Food and Civil Supplies Department, this RBI-approved CBDC platform—crafted by Punjab National Bank—empowers ration cardholders with wallet-based digital tokens detailing commodities, volumes, and costs. It’s a game-changer for transparency and efficiency in the PDS ecosystem.
Kicking off with a pilot encompassing 26,333 households in Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), Surat, Anand, and Valsad, the system adapts to user tech levels: QR scans for smartphones, OTPs via Aadhaar for basic phones.
The star-studded launch features CM Bhupendra Patel, Central Minister Prahlad Joshi, and Dy CM Harsh Sanghvi. Parallel initiatives include sealed 1-kg packs of tuvar dal and chana for NFSA beneficiaries at fair price shops, ensuring hygiene and standardization.
Innovation shines with the ‘Annapurti Grain ATM’ in Sabarmati—a round-the-clock dispenser delivering 25 kg grains in 35 seconds. Gujarat is also forging ahead with MoUs alongside CARE Ratings and CERC for a novel Consumer Accountability Index, plus a fast-track mechanism for non-judicial consumer dispute resolutions.
Further, Rs 1.65 crore from GSCC’s CSR kitty fuels the ‘Garima Poshan’ drive in Garudeshwar taluka, Narmada district, tackling malnutrition through model anganwadis and nutrition programs for teens and expectant mothers.
As India embraces CBDC, this Gujarat pilot could redefine PDS nationwide, minimizing leakages and maximizing reach in the battle against hunger.