India’s Central Bank Advances Digital Rupee Development

India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), showcased progress in the development of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) during an event hosted by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted efforts to enhance the digital rupee’s utility, focusing on enabling offline functionality to mimic cash transactions and broaden accessibility.

Das emphasized the significance of incorporating offline functionality into the digital rupee, aligning it with the convenience of cash transactions. He stated, “One of the key features of cash is that it works offline … We are working on making the CBDC transferable in the offline mode also.” This move aims to enhance accessibility and user experience, fostering adoption across diverse demographics in India.

CBDC vs. Cryptocurrencies

While advancing the digital rupee, the RBI maintains a cautious stance towards cryptocurrencies, perceiving them as potential threats to India’s economic and financial stability. The central bank positions its digital currency as a controlled and stable alternative, contrasting the volatile nature of decentralized cryptocurrencies.

Pilot projects for the digital rupee have engaged over 1.3 million customers and 300,000 merchants, providing valuable insights into consumer behavior and the financial system’s dynamics. However, established mobile payment systems still dominate preferences, indicating a gradual shift in consumer adaptation to digital currencies.

Through these initiatives, the RBI aims to establish the CBDC as a secure alternative to both cash and cryptocurrencies, while addressing infrastructural challenges such as internet dependency. Das emphasized the need for more transactions to gauge the digital rupee’s broader economic effects, particularly its implications for monetary policy and the banking system. He said, “The key objective of the pilots has been a change in consumer behaviour vis-a-vis bank deposits — We need many more transactions to understand its wider economic effects, especially on monetary policy and the banking system.”