Content

1. National Blockchain Framework
2. 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

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

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

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

High-Performing States (2024–25)

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.