Lok Sabha Question No. 2815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Issue of e-Rupi Vouchers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav, Mahendra Singh Solanky, Chandra Prakash Joshi, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2815

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 21 st  MARCH, 2022/ 30 Phalguna, 1943 (Saka)

## Issue of e-Rupi Vouchers

2815. Shri Brijbhushan Sharan Singh:

Shri Ram Kripal Yadav:

Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky:

Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi:

Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi:

Shri Sangam Lal Gupta:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government proposes to provide data on the number of e-RUPI vouchers issued so far and if so, the category-wise details thereof;
- (b) Whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  advantage  of  this  innovative  digital payment  solution  to provide benefits to the people under various Government Schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) Whether the Government is planning to use this voucher system to provide ration in local kiranas under the National Food Security Act;
- (d) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) Whether the Government has taken action to encourage adoption of e-RUPI by private companies and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

- (a) Yes, Sir. As per data received from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the total number of e-RUPI vouchers issued so far is 2,29,527 as on 13.03.2022. The category-wise details are as under:
- (b) e-RUPI, which was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 02.08.2021, is a cashless and contactless payment  instrument  for  digital  payment  in  the  form  of  a  QR  code  or  SMS  string-based  e-Voucher delivered  to  beneficiaries.  e-RUPI  vouchers  are  person-specific  and  purpose-specific,  i.e.,  identified beneficiaries can redeem the vouchers only for the purpose for which the benefit is specifically intended by the sponsoring entity (Government or private). Further, the beneficiary does not need to have a linked bank account for receiving and redeeming e-RUPI vouchers. e-RUPI connects sponsors of services with beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner, and ensures that the benefit reaches the intended beneficiaries  in  a  targeted  and  leak-proof  manner.  As  on  date,  e-RUPI  vouchers  have  been  used  for CoVID-19  vaccination,  and  the  State  Government  of  Karnataka  has  also  initiated  e-RUPI  voucher disbursement to students under its scholarship programme.
- (c) and (d): No such proposal has been initiated by NPCI as on date.
- (e) Private  companies/  corporates  can  be  sponsors  for  issuance  of  e-RUPI  vouchers.  NPCI  has  issued guidelines on the same also, vide their Circular dated 27.09.2021. The first e-RUPI use case (Covid-19 vaccination) involved vouchers sponsored by private entities.

| Purpose                                               | Sponsor              | Number of Vouchers issued till 13.03.2022   |
|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Covid 19 Vaccination                                  | Private entities     | 2,29,257                                    |
| Education Scholarship program by Karnataka Government | Karnataka Government | 270                                         |
| Total                                                 |                      | 2,29,527                                    |