NEWS – Centre has onboarded 11 fair price shops on the state-run e-commerce portal Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Aim – extends consumer access to food items offered at government-supported shops and to foster a more inclusive e-commerce ecosystem
• Currently in the pilot stage, these fair-price shops are open to all except beneficiaries of different food security schemes
• These shops also distribute subsidized food grains to individuals below and above the poverty line
• Fair price shops are run by the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) across India
• Initially, five fair price shops in Una district and six in Hamirpur have been onboarded on ONDC
• This significant move is part of ongoing efforts to transform fair price shops, aiming to open new income opportunities for FPS dealers and improve overall beneficiary contentment, the food secretary said after the virtual launch of the pilot

OPEN NETWORK DIGITAL COMMERCE (ONDC)

• Started in 31 December 2021
• By the department for promotion of industry and internal trade
• Not-for-profit entity
• Aimed at creating an open network for digital commerce
• Functions as a platform-neutral network, facilitating access to a variety of digital commerce services
• Currently available in around 600 cities with 80 service providers onboard