In a landmark moment for India’s welfare ecosystem, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the nation’s first CBDC-powered Public Distribution System in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Sunday. This innovation marks Digital India’s entry into ensuring subsidized foodgrains reach the poorest seamlessly.
‘Digital India isn’t just a slogan; it’s a reality where India conducts more than 50% of global digital transactions,’ Shah asserted. Reflecting on the past decade, he recalled a time when 600 million Indians had no bank access. Today, under Narendra Modi’s stewardship, every two digital transactions worldwide include one from India.
The minister drew parallels with DBT’s success in eliminating Rs 15 lakh crore in leakages. ‘This Food Ministry step guarantees transparent PDS, operationalizing minimum government interference with maximum governance,’ he explained.
Tracing PDS evolution, Shah mentioned digitized weighing scales to combat tampering, e-ration cards to end fakes, ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ for portability, and now CBDC integration for ironclad accountability.
He lauded Modi’s digital push, expanding village connectivity from 500 to over 1 lakh. Fulfilling 2014 promises, the government now provides free ration to 81 crore beneficiaries – a scale dwarfing the European Union.
Over the last 10 years, transformative schemes have delivered: 4 crore PMAY homes, 13 crore water taps, 13 crore LPG connections, 12 crore toilets, and elevated 2.91 crore women to ‘Lakhpati Didi’ status, fostering shared prosperity.