e-Rupi Platform

In News

• The RBI has hiked the cap on e-Rupi prepaid digital vouchers from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh and enabled the instrument for multiple transactions.

About e-Rupi

• Meaning
  • e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless digital payments medium, which will be delivered to mobile phones of beneficiaries in the form of an SMS string or a QR code.
  • It is a person and purpose-specific digital payment solution which is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment.
• Working Mechanism:
  • e-RUPI has a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.
  • It will be like a prepaid gift voucher that can be redeemed at specific accepting centres without any credit or debit card, mobile app or internet banking. 
  • It will connect sponsors of the services with beneficiaries and service providers digitally without any physical interface.
• Developed By:
  • The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.

Significance

• Users can redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.
• It assures timely payment to the service provider without involving any intermediary.
• It will ensure a leak-proof delivery of welfare services, further, fulfil the vision of Good Governance.
• Can be used for delivering social services under schemes meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs & diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertilizer subsidies etc.
• Even the private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes.

Source: PIB