“Digital India at 11: Time to move from scale to sustainability”, First Post, July 07, 2026
“As we mark the 11th anniversary of the Digital India programme this July 2026, a comprehensive review of this ambitious initiative is not just timely—it is an economic imperative.
While we celebrate the rare perfect alignment between policy, business, tech and society, two focus areas await the next big idea. The first is about the urgent need to build a viable business case around UPI given the volume and velocity of transactions. Second, the need to bridge the growing deficit between demand and supply in the financial inclusion landscape. While the supply side is well served, the demand is yet a laggard.
Rethinking the Zero-MDR Policy
The Zero-Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) policy was a brilliant strategy for behavioural change, enabling the shift to digital overnight. However, as the network scales, bringing in a tiered, Business to Business (B2B) or large-ticket merchant fee is the most logical step to ensure the long-term viability of the ecosystem……..”
Read full article at firstpost.com
