Srinagar, Nov 05: The Jammu and Kashmir Government will launch the pilot implementation of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Jammu and Srinagar districts from November 15, with plans to extend it to the entire Union Territory by December 31, 2026.
The rollout schedule was reviewed by Commissioner Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Sourabh Bhagat, during an online meeting with departmental and district-level officers.
As per the schedule, the project will be extended to Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts by November 30 before its UT-wide implementation by the end of December.
Bhagat directed district administrations and departmental officers to complete beneficiary data preparation and other necessary arrangements within the stipulated timelines. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) were asked to expedite beneficiary data validation, whitelisting and generation of login credentials for Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers. PNB was also directed to prepare a training programme for stakeholders in Jammu district.
The meeting also reviewed winter stocking arrangements, foodgrain lifting and distribution, Aadhaar-based e-KYC and face authentication. Bhagat stressed timely foodgrain distribution ahead of adverse weather conditions and directed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure the supply of quality foodgrains.
He further called for expediting Aadhaar-based e-KYC of pending beneficiaries and introducing face authentication in the ongoing ration distribution cycle. District administrations were asked to organise special verification camps, with districts achieving 95 per cent or above e-KYC coverage to be suitably appreciated.
The Commissioner Secretary also directed officials to identify remote areas without petrol pump facilities and explore the establishment of department-owned outlets in coordination with Oil Marketing Companies.
Additionally, each district was asked to identify five Fair Price Shops for modernisation through convergence with MGNREGA and other schemes, besides identifying land for additional granaries and government storage facilities, particularly in remote, border and far-flung areas.
The meeting was attended by Director General, FCS&CA Jammu, Rajesh Kumar Shavan, representatives of FCI, Director IT Sanjay Gupta, Deputy Commissioners and district-level departmental officers.
Notably CBDC, also known as the Digital Rupee, is a digital form of India’s sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), aimed at facilitating secure digital transactions and improving transparency in the public distribution system.
