Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Open Network for Digital Commerce
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 289.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 09 TH  AUGUST, 2023.

## OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE

## *289.  SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN: ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has a tangible plan to make the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as accessible and far-reaching as Aadhaar and UPI platforms and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is likely to help small, non-tech-enabled merchants get on board the ONDC and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  enable  local  versus  national  level businesses on ONDC and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  established  rules  and/or  orders  protecting merchants, producers, consumers and any other stakeholders from any attacks or fraudulent behaviors on the ONDC platform; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (e):

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 289 FOR ANSWER ON 09.08.2023.

- (a): Yes, the  Government  plans  to  make  the  Open  Network  for  Digital Commerce (ONDC) as accessible and far-reaching as possible.

The Government's endeavour is to promote ONDC, which is a first-of its- kind, global initiative aimed at democratizing digital commerce in India. ONDC would bring parity and provide a level playing field to large and small scale enterprises, facilitating efficient exchange of goods and services.

The programmes for making ONDC accessible and far reaching include:

-  Conducting awareness workshops in collaboration with various industry associations across the country to educate the small sellers and businesses about ONDC and its benefits.
-  Nodal Officer for each state and UT, has been appointed to accelerate state level engagement plans. Various ONDC awareness campaigns and workshops have been organised across the country.
-  Educating consumers about ONDC, the benefits of supporting local businesses and the impact of their choices on the local economy.
- (b): Yes, the Government recognizes the importance of empowering small and          non-tech enabled traders and promoting local businesses through ONDC. Various    initiatives proposed to help small and non-tech enabled merchants on board to ONDC include:
-  ONDC has conducted more than 25 awareness workshops in collaboration with various industry associations across the country to educate the small sellers and businesses  about  ONDC  and  its  benefits.  Multiple  joint  workshops are  being organised in collaboration with RAI, PHDCCI, FICCI, NASSCOM, CII and FHRAI.
-  ONDC is working actively with various departments of all the States and UTs. Each  state/  UT  has  appointed  a  Nodal  Officer  to  accelerate  the  state  level engagements with ONDC. Various ONDC awareness campaigns and workshops are being organised across the country.
-  ONDC has launched a Feet on Street (FoS) program, involving 90 FoS  resources, to  support  the  Network  Participants  (NPs)  in  identifying  and  educating  sellers about the benefits of ONDC and how to join through Seller Applications, handholding support to sellers to onboard on  Seller Applications and creating a firstlevel basic catalogue.
-  ONDC has recently launched an Academy which is a repository  of educational and informative textual and video content. ONDC Academy will provide a curated learning  experience providing  guidance and best practices for a successful ecommerce journey for each and every participant of the ONDC network.
- (c): The Government proposes to enable both local as well  as  national  level  businesses  on ONDC with the aim of creating an inclusive ecosystem for digital commerce. ONDC will have potential benefits for all players in the e-commerce industry including local as well as national level businesses.
- (d) & (e): ONDC and the Network Participants in the ONDC Network are all subject to all existing applicable laws & regulations of India.

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