Chandigarh, Aug. 13 -- Chandigarh will become the first union territory (UT) in the country to undertake a full-scale rollout of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for food subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on August 14.

Under the new system, beneficiaries will receive food subsidies through the Digital Rupee (e Rs.), which will be programmed specifically for purchasing entitled foodgrains such as wheat and rice from authorised merchants.

The launch will be presided over by Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. Union agriculture and farmers welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be the chief guest, while Union minister for education,...