Download the app
← Latest news

India tests e rupee to stop welfare corruption and route money directly to beneficiaries

Business
Published on 25 April 2026
India tests e rupee to stop welfare corruption and route money directly to beneficiaries

Programmable payments could make subsidies far harder to steal

India is piloting the e rupee digital currency to deliver welfare payments more efficiently and with less corruption. Trials are already funding farmers directly for equipment, while similar experiments target food distribution. Backed by “programmable” features, the e rupee is designed to restrict how money can be used, aiming to ensure subsidies reach their intended purpose.

  • e rupee pilot targets welfare payments to cut leakage
  • Direct transfers are funding farmers for equipment needs
  • Food distribution trials are also underway
  • Programmable features aim to enforce intended spending
Read the full story at The Economic Times

This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on The Economic TimesThe Economic Times

The full experience is on mobile.

Swipe through stories, personalise your feed, and save articles for later — all on the app.