# Chandigarh first to roll out digital rupee for food subsidy

2026-08-12T20:06:10+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Chandigarh will become the first Union Territory to launch a full-scale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for food subsidy under PMGKAY on August 14. The digital rupee, issued by the RBI, will be programmed so beneficiaries can only use it to buy wheat and rice from authorised merchants by scanning a QR code. The system builds on the existing DBT model introduced in Chandigarh in 2015. The launch event will be attended by Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Pralhad Joshi, who will also remotely extend the initiative to Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

## Coverage

- rediff.com <https://www.rediff.com/business/report/chandigarh-to-launch-cbdc-for-purpose-bound-food-subsidy/20260812.htm>
- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/ut-first-in-country-to-undertake-full-scale-rollout-of-digital-currency-under-pradhan-mantri-garib-kalyan-anna-yojana-101786562076250.html>

Tags: CBDC, Chandigarh, Digital rupee, direct benefit transfer, PMGKAY, RBI
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