Content
- National Blockchain Framework
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission
National Blockchain Framework
Conceptual Foundations
What is Blockchain?
- Distributed digital ledger recording transactions across a network of computers.
- Ensures immutability, transparency, traceability, and decentralization — without intermediaries.
- Each block is cryptographically linked to the previous one, making alteration nearly impossible.
Governance Relevance
- Current government databases are centralized → prone to manipulation, data silos, and fraud.
- Blockchain introduces trust without intermediaries, ensuring data integrity, accountability, and auditability.
Evolution
- Transitioned from cryptocurrency origins (Bitcoin, 2008) → to governance-grade distributed systems supporting secure transactions, documentation, and compliance mechanisms.
Relevance:
- GS-2 (Governance & E-Governance): Public service delivery, transparency, accountability, and data integrity in administration.
- GS-3 (Science & Technology): Blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data protection.
- GS-3 (Economy): FinTech, digital currency pilots, supply-chain traceability, and innovation ecosystems.
Typology of Blockchains
| Type | Nature | Control | Ideal Use |
| Public | Fully open | None | Cryptocurrency, citizen transparency |
| Private | Permissioned | Single org (Govt/Institution) | Governance, financial systems |
| Consortium | Semi-decentralized | Multiple orgs | Supply chain, inter-agency coordination |
| Hybrid | Public + Private | Selective openness | Smart governance, regulatory monitoring |
Genesis of the National Blockchain Framework (NBF)
- Initiated: March 2021
- Launched: 4 September 2024
- Budget: ₹64.76 crore (MeitY-led initiative)
- Objective: Create a unified architecture for blockchain-based e-governance, supporting interoperable, secure, and scalable public systems.
- Deployed across: NIC Data Centres – Bhubaneswar, Pune, Hyderabad.
- Documents verified: 34+ crore (as of 21 Oct 2025).
Core Components of NBF
Vishvasya Blockchain Stack (VBS)
- Indigenous modular platform forming the technical core of NBF.
- Features:
- Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS): Shared blockchain infrastructure for departments.
- Permissioned network: Only verified participants validate transactions.
- Distributed architecture: Multi-centre redundancy for resilience.
- Open APIs: Enables integration with e-Governance portals.
- Applications: Secure certificates, judiciary records, property documents.
NBFLite – Blockchain Sandbox
- Sandbox environment for startups, academia, and R&D.
- Provides smart contract templates in sectors like supply chain, digital certificates.
- Promotes innovation, low-cost prototyping, and capacity-building.
Praamaanik – App Verification Tool
- Blockchain-backed mobile app authenticity checker.
- Prevents fraud and malware by matching app credentials with blockchain-verified records.
National Blockchain Portal
- Acts as a national repository and strategic policy hub for blockchain adoption.
- Enables standardization, cross-sectoral use, and policy transparency.
Sectoral Blockchain Applications in Governance
| Sector | Initiative | Impact |
| Education | Certificate Chain (CBSE) | Fraud-proof academic verification |
| Citizen Services | Document Chain – 48,000 docs verified | Standardized verification for caste, income, birth certificates |
| Health | Aushada (Karnataka) | Transparent medicine supply tracking |
| Judiciary | Judiciary Chain – 665 docs verified | Electronic, time-stamped court orders |
| Law Enforcement | ICJS – 39,000 docs verified | Integrates police, courts, prisons, and forensics |
| Property | Property Chain – 34 crore docs verified | Immutable land record system, reduces litigation |
| Logistics | Supply Chain Blockchain | Tracks goods’ movement, enhances accountability |
Institutional and Regulatory Integration
Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology – NIC
- Provides consulting, training, proof-of-concept support for ministries.
- Uses open-source blockchain frameworks — Hyperledger Fabric, Sawtooth, Ethereum.
- Promotes interdepartmental blockchain deployment.
Role of Regulators
- TRAI:
- Implemented DLT-based SMS tracking for 1.13 lakh entities.
- Eliminated spam & phishing through end-to-end message traceability.
- RBI:
- Blockchain pilot for Digital Rupee (e₹) in retail since Dec 2022.
- Promotes financial inclusion, transparency, traceable digital payments.
- NSDL:
- DLT-based Debenture Covenant Monitoring System.
- Tracks asset cover ratios, creates audit trails → increases investor trust.
Capacity Building and Skill Development
| Programme | Conducting Agency | Focus |
| Skill Development Programme (214 programs) | MeitY | Trained 21,000+ govt officials in blockchain and ICT integration |
| PG Diploma in FinTech & Blockchain (PG-DFBD) | Digital India Corp. | 900-hour course on Blockchain, FinTech, AI/ML |
| BLEND (C-DAC) | C-DAC | Online course for engineers & developers |
| FutureSkills PRIME | MeitY + NASSCOM | National re/up-skilling platform in 10 emerging tech domains including Blockchain |
Strategic and Policy Framework
National Strategy on Blockchain (MeitY):
- Defines short- and long-term goals for blockchainadoption across governance, logistics, finance, and justice.
- Promotes open standards, interoperability, data privacy, and ethical deployment.
Integration with Digital India & Aatmanirbhar Bharat:
- Encourages indigenous blockchain platforms, reducing foreign tech dependence.
Future Use Cases (Proof of Concepts)
- Land Records: Immutable ownership trail.
- Blood Bank: Transparent donation-to-recipient tracking.
- GST Chain: Real-time tax monitoring for fraud reduction.
- Public Distribution System (PDS): Secure supply chain for food and subsidies.
- Agriculture Chain: Farmer-produce traceability and input authenticity.
Challenges and Considerations
- Scalability: Large-scale adoption needs high computing capacity and network bandwidth.
- Interoperability: Multiple blockchains across departments must communicate effectively.
- Legal Framework: Absence of clear data protection and digital asset laws may delay standardization.
- Skilling Gap: Limited availability of blockchain-trained government personnel.
- Energy Efficiency: Need for low-energy consensus mechanisms (Proof-of-Authority > Proof-of-Work).
Way Forward
- Expand blockchain integration across municipal services, healthcare, land management, and tax systems.
- Create interoperable blockchain standards through NIC and BIS.
- Institutionalize Blockchain-as-a-Service for startups via Digital India initiatives.
- Build indigenous consensus algorithms suited to India’s governance scale.
- Foster public-private-academic partnerships for scalable, secure blockchain ecosystems.
Conclusion
- The National Blockchain Framework is India’s first nationwide, government-backed, permissioned blockchain ecosystem.
- It operationalizes the “Trust as a Service” model — a foundational pillar of Digital India 2.0.
- By integrating blockchain across governance layers, India is pioneering a transparent, tamper-proof digital state, enhancing both citizen trust and administrative integrity.
- With sustained focus on indigenous tech, capacity building, and interoperability, India is poised to be a global leader in blockchain-powered governance.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission
Introduction & Evolution
- Origin: Launched in 2011 (Mission mode); restructured from Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY).
- Renamed: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM in 2016.
- Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
- Funding Pattern: Centrally Sponsored (shared between Centre and States).
- Vision: “Mobilize 1 woman per rural household into a self-managed SHG” and enable diversified, sustainable livelihoods for poverty reduction.
Relevance:
- GS-2 (Governance & Social Justice): Poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, skill development, and social inclusion.
- GS-3 (Economy): Rural development, entrepreneurship promotion, financial inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.
- GS-3 (Agriculture): Agro-ecological practices, Mahila Kisan empowerment, and farm–non-farm income diversification.
Core Mission Pillars
Social Mobilization & Institution Building
- Formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations.
- Emphasis on women-led, self-managed institutions.
- Community Resource Persons (CRPs): Krishi Sakhi, Pashu Sakhi, Bank Sakhi, Bima Sakhi, etc.
Financial Inclusion
- Universal SHG–Bank linkage; ₹11 lakh crore disbursed (2013–25).
- 98% repayment rate, highlighting credit discipline.
- Support via interest subvention & collateral-free loans.
- 47,952 Bank Sakhis deployed to bridge SHGs and banks.
Sustainable Livelihoods
- Support for farm, non-farm, and micro-enterprises.
- 4.62 crore Mahila Kisans trained in agro-ecological practices.
- 3.74 lakh enterprises supported under Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP).
Social Development & Convergence
- Awareness campaigns on nutrition, gender issues, education, sanitation, domestic violence.
- Integration with MGNREGA, PMAY-G, PM KUSUM, and PMEGP.
Quantitative Achievements (as of Oct 2025)
- 10.05 crore rural households mobilized into 90.9 lakh SHGs.
- 4.6 crore Mahila Kisans supported.
- 3.74 lakh enterprises created under SVEP.
- 47,952 Bank Sakhis deployed for rural financial inclusion.
- Rs. 11 lakh crore in credit accessed by SHGs (98% repayment).
- 17.5 lakh youth trained under DDU-GKY; 11.48 lakh placed.
- 56.69 lakh trained under RSETIs; 40.99 lakh settled.
Key Sub-Components
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
- Focus: Placement-linked skill training (age 15–35).
- 17.5 lakh trained; 11.48 lakh placed (2025).
- Top States:
- Training: UP (2.44 lakh), Odisha (2.15 lakh), AP (1.33 lakh).
- Placement: Odisha (1.77 lakh), AP (1.17 lakh).
Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs)
- Focus: Entrepreneurship training (age 18–50).
- 56.69 lakh trained; 40.99 lakh settled.
- Top States: UP (7.55 lakh trained, 5.54 lakh settled), Rajasthan, MP, Karnataka.
Community Cadres – Women-Led Transformation
| Role | Function | Scale (2025) |
| Krishi Sakhi | Farm extension, agro-ecological practices | 3.5 lakh |
| Pashu Sakhi | Livestock management, animal care | 3.5 lakh |
| Bank Sakhi | SHG–Bank linkage, credit facilitation | 47,952 |
| Bima Sakhi | Insurance awareness & claim facilitation | State-level pilots |
High-Performing States (2024–25)
| Area | Leading States | Key Performance |
| SHG Mobilization | Bihar, UP, Andhra Pradesh | Max households mobilized |
| Capitalization Support | UP (₹1,23,326 lakh), Bihar (₹1,05,132 lakh) | Exceeded targets |
| Bank Loans to SHGs | Andhra Pradesh (₹34,83,725 lakh) | Highest disbursement |
| Agro-Ecological Practices | Maharashtra, UP, AP | Highest Mahila Kisan coverage |
| SVEP Enterprises | Assam (9,557), Kerala (5,802), WB (4,933) | Leading in micro-enterprises |
Skill and Market Development
- SARAS Aajeevika Melas: National-level marketing platforms for SHG products.
- 2025 edition (5–22 Sept, New Delhi) featured 1,200+ SHGs.
- Training of Trainers (NIRD&PR):
- 44 capacity-building programmes on marketing in 3 years.
- Digital Platforms: e-SHRAM, Aajeevika Mart, and SHG e-commerce portals integrated.
Institutional Ecosystem
- Implementing Agencies: SRLMs (State Rural Livelihood Missions) under MoRD.
- Support Institutions: NABARD, NIRD&PR, SIDBI, Banks.
- Convergence Framework: NRLM integrates with NRLM–NREGA, DAY–NULM, PMEGP, RSETI, and DDU–GKY for holistic development.
Impact Analysis
- Economic: Rise in household income, diversification of rural livelihoods.
- Social: Gender empowerment, collective bargaining, leadership roles for women.
- Financial: Enhanced credit culture, near-zero NPA among SHGs.
- Institutional: Strengthened grassroots democracy via SHG participation in Panchayats.
Challenges
- Uneven SHG performance across states.
- Limited penetration in tribal and hilly regions.
- Credit dependence on select banks; need for digital financial literacy.
- Market access and branding challenges for SHG products.
- Skill mismatch in DDU-GKY placements (retention issues).
Way Forward
- Digital Integration: Strengthen SHG e-commerce, blockchain traceability for rural products.
- Sustainability Focus: Promote green livelihoods and climate-resilient farming.
- Social Inclusion: Greater outreach to SC/ST, PwD, and minority women.
- Credit Deepening: Scale interest subvention and livelihood collectives.
- Monitoring: AI-based MIS to track SHG performance and outcomes.
Conclusion
- DAY-NRLM stands as the world’s largest women-led poverty alleviation mission.
- With 10 crore+ women mobilized, ₹11 lakh crore credit flow, and multi-sector convergence, it is redefining grassroots empowerment.
- Anchored in Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India visions, DAY-NRLM symbolizes India’s transition from welfare dependency to self-reliant entrepreneurship—transforming the rural economy through collective strength and women’s leadership.
