Expect UPI-Like Platforms For Logistics, Agri & Education Sectors: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Centre is planning to build several Unified Payments Interface-like (UPI) platforms to extend tech-driven governance in India, said IT minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw.

In conversation with media companies, the IT minister said that the Centre is working on the National Digital Health Mission to develop a UPI-like platform that will be deployed in sectors such as logistics, education and agriculture, among others.

The minister further added that these platforms will be developed and democratised so that everyone can use them.

The comments have come a day after when the National Health Authority’s (NHA) CEO R.S. Sharma reportedly shared that the NHA is developing an online health exchange platform to digitise the process of filing health insurance claims (for the general public).

Sharma added that the said platform will be first launched in Haryana and then, will have a PAN-India launch.

Speaking on tech-driven governance, the IT minister said that the Modi-led government has developed governance-related models that put Indian citizens at the core and build everything around them.  

“Be it systems, or technologies, processes, or schemes, all of them empower the common citizen and make sure that things reach hassle free without corruption and in a very transparent manner,” he added.

Talking about the Centre’s CoWIN platform, he said that the platform has enabled 219 Cr vaccinations in a span of about two years. He further informed that the nation recorded 450 Mn Jan Dhan accounts and currently, 1.35 Bn people own digital identity viz. Aadhaar.

“We repealed 1,500 archaic, useless laws which did not have any relevance. It is a huge way forward for building a society, which is sustainable, growth-oriented, and brings a sustainable change in the common person’s life,” he stated.

He further stated that the central government has deregistered around 75K shell companies, forfeited INR 1.25 lakh Cr worth black money, and INR 4,300 Cr worth benami properties. 

It is prudent to note that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) recently informed that it is scrutinising the gaming companies for evading INR 23K Cr GST taxes. As a result, the body is examining Indian and foreign gaming companies that are operating in the country.

Besides that, in October this year, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) also reported that it was scrutinising directors and other key executives of Chinese firms to differentiate genuine companies from shell ones.

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