Direct cash transfer via Aadhaar to save 0.5% of GDP for India: IMF

30 Apr 2013 Evaluate

As per the International Monetary Fund (IMF), integration of direct cash transfer with Aadhaar will take time but the scheme will help Indian government to save 0.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The IMF in its report - 'Regional Economic Outlook: Asia and Pacific' said that Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which entail direct payments from the government to recipients, can bring down costs and diversion by phasing out middlemen and complex bureaucracies and also ensure the better spending on poor.

However, the report also highlighted some challenges regarding the implementation of DBT saying that the timeframe for bringing India's population of 1.2 billion into the Aadhaar programme could extend beyond 2014, and integrating this database with information on individuals eligible for subsidised fuel will take time.

To avail the facility, a consumer will have to get his or her bank account linked with Aadhaar number. The Unique Identification Authority of India, (UIDAI) which issues the Aadhaar numbers, has already issued about 320 million Aadhaar cards and has planned to issue 600 million cards by 2014. Currently, the government maintains large subsidy programmes for food, fertiliser and fuels. Subsidised food and kerosene are available from government-owned stores at below-market prices for eligible residents.

Earlier on January 1, the government launched its ambitious DBT programme and a total of 43 districts in 16 states have been identified for the first round of DBT, while for the second round, it has planned to cover 78 more districts by July 1.   

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