New Delhi, February 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate India’s first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Public Distribution System (PDS) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Sunday.
This initiative, launched by the Gujarat Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, marks the beginning of subsidy transfers through a CBDC platform authorized by the Reserve Bank of India.
Developed by Punjab National Bank, this system will provide beneficiaries with digital tokens in their wallets, detailing the items, quantities, and prices.
In the pilot phase, 26,333 families from the Sabarmati zone in Ahmedabad, as well as Surat, Anand, and Valsad, will participate. Beneficiaries using smartphones will authenticate transactions via QR codes, while those with feature phones will receive a one-time password through an Aadhaar-based verification system.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi, and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi will attend the inauguration event.
In addition to the CBDC-based system, the state government will begin distributing toor and chana in standardized one-kilogram sealed packets, replacing open distribution for beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act to maintain quality standards.
A ‘Grain ATM’ will also be launched in the Sabarmati zone of Ahmedabad. Designed to operate 24/7, this machine can dispense up to 25 kilograms of grain within 35 seconds.
The state government will sign memorandums of understanding with CARE Ratings and the Consumer Education and Research Center to initiate a Consumer Responsibility Index for rating companies.
A mechanism will be established to facilitate quick and out-of-court resolution of consumer disputes.
Additionally, under the ‘Garima Nutrition – Suposhit Garudeshwar Taluka’ campaign, ₹1.65 crore from the CSR fund of the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited will be allocated to address malnutrition in the Garudeshwar taluka of Narmada district.
This project includes the establishment of two model anganwadis and targeted health interventions for adolescents and pregnant women.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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