e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument that is based on QR code or SMS-based e-Voucher

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched e-RUPI, a digital payment solution aimed at ensuring delivery of welfare services, which, for now, will be used to advance vaccination efforts.

The platform will go live for the first time at a Covid vaccination centre in Mumbai.

Developed by National Payments Corporation of India, e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument that is based on QR code or SMS-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the cellphones of beneficiaries. This can be redeemed directly with the service provider.

“In the beginning, it will be applicable on health beneficiaries. People who want to take vaccines from private centres, by paying... if someone wants to help around 100 poor people with the vaccination, they can give e-RUPI voucher to them so the money is used only for that purpose,” the Prime Minister said in his address.

“Over time, more facilities will be added to this platform... like helping in health facilities, donating food,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said that e-RUPI is a person as well as a purpose-specific payment platform.

The prime minister further noted that technology is being seen as a tool to help the poor. He added that technology is bringing transparency in DBT.

Speaking on the adoption of technology, Modi said that India is showing the world it is not behind in adopting new technology. Be it in terms of innovations or usage of technology in the delivery of services, India is capable of being a global leader.

He said that the work done in the field of digital infrastructure and digital transactions across the country during the past 6-7 years is being applauded by the world today.

Earlier in a statement, the government had said that e-RUPI can be used for delivering services under schemes meant for providing “drugs and nutritional support under the mother and child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs and 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,” the statement read.