India’s First CBDC-Based PDS Launched in Gandhinagar
Why in the news
Union Home Minister Amit Shah started a Digital Rupee based ration model in Gandhinagar on 15 February 2026 to modernise subsidised food delivery.
Key facts
- Partners: Government of India, RBI and Government of Gujarat.
- Currency: programmable CBDC (e₹) as digital coupons.
- Redemption: at Fair Price Shops for subsidised foodgrains.
How it works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | RBI creates programmable e₹ coupons |
| 2 | Coupons credited directly to beneficiaries |
| 3 | Redeemed at Fair Price Shops |
| 4 | Foodgrains issued against digital vouchers |
Purpose
- Fewer leakages and diversions of foodgrains; better PDS efficiency.
- Tackles biometric authentication and e-POS failures.
- Better tracking and transparent subsidies.
Exam angle
- First of its kind: CBDC-based PDS; related terms e₹, e-POS.