DBT Revolution | Bharat Briefs

💸DBT Revolution

Transforming welfare with technology and transparency | April 2025

🔍 Overview

India's Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has revolutionised public welfare delivery. Between 2009 and 2024, DBT saved the country ₹3.48 lakh crore by reducing leakages. Beneficiary count grew 16 times—proving digital systems can power both equity and efficiency.

📊 Key Outcomes

  • Subsidy burden reduced from 16% to 9% of total government expenditure
  • Beneficiaries rose from 11 crore to 176 crore (2009–2024)
  • COVID-19 led to a temporary spike, but DBT efficiency rebounded

🏛️ Sectoral Gains

  • Food Subsidies: ₹1.85 lakh crore saved via Aadhaar-authenticated PDS
  • MGNREGS: ₹42,534 crore saved through digital wage payments
  • PM-KISAN: ₹22,106 crore saved after removing ineligible claimants
  • Fertiliser Subsidy: ₹18,699 crore saved via targeted delivery

📈 The Welfare Efficiency Index

A new composite metric—WEI—was developed to measure fiscal efficiency:

  • DBT Savings: 50% weight
  • Subsidy Reduction: 30% weight
  • Beneficiary Growth: 20% weight

WEI rose from 0.32 (2014) to 0.91 (2023), proving how direct digital transfers can drive both scale and integrity in governance.

🌐 Global Implication

India's DBT framework—powered by JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile)—is now a model for the world. It shows how tech-enabled transfers can boost reach, reduce cost, and preserve fiscal discipline.

Source: BlueKraft Digital Foundation Report

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