Gandhinagar witnessed a digital milestone Sunday as Home Minister Amit Shah rolled out the country’s first Central Bank Digital Currency-linked Public Distribution System, crediting Digital India for revolutionizing access to affordable food for the poor.
‘Global digital transactions? India owns more than half,’ Shah declared, contrasting today’s reality with 11 years ago when 60 crore lacked banking. Modi’s era has made India a digital powerhouse, with one transaction here for every two worldwide.
Like DBT’s Rs 15 lakh crore savings from graft, this Food Ministry innovation ensures transparent PDS, advancing ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.’
PDS reforms progressed from digital scales curbing weigh fraud, to e-ration cards, ‘One Nation One Ration Card,’ culminating in CBDC for ultimate verification.
Modi’s digital drive connected 1.07 lakh villages from a mere 500. His 2014 vision for the vulnerable shines through 81 crore getting free monthly rations – double Europe’s population under food security.
Key interventions: 4 crore PMAY homes, 13 crore water connections, 13 crore gas cylinders, 12 crore toilets, and 2.91 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ – proof of development lifting all boats.