India’s Digital Rupee Hits 5M Users, Slow Expansion Urged by RBI Governor

Governor Shaktikanta Das of the Reserve Bank of India is wary about rolling out the retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) too quickly. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is taking a cautious approach to guarantee thorough knowledge prior to a full-scale launch, even in spite of the ongoing pilot’s success, which currently involves over 5 million users. Reiterating that the RBI is not in a rush to establish a system-wide CBDC, Das spoke at a seminar in Bengaluru.

Steady Progress Amid Caution

The RBI’s CBDC initiative, covering both retail and wholesale sectors, was first introduced during the Finance Minister’s 2022 budget speech. By the end of that year, pilots for both forms were launched. Fast forward to 2023, the retail CBDC had reached significant milestones, including a million transactions in a single day. However, Das emphasized that despite the encouraging progress, the RBI is carefully considering the broader implications before a full rollout. He stated, “There should not be any rush to roll out system-wide CBDC before one acquires a comprehensive understanding of its impact.”

The RBI is also testing various features, such as offline payments and programmability, as part of the ongoing pilot. These innovations could play a crucial role in enhancing financial inclusion. Das highlighted the potential of programmability, particularly in ensuring that funds are used for their intended purposes. He pointed to recent pilot initiatives, including projects aimed at supporting farmers through targeted funding for agricultural inputs and carbon credit generation.

Looking ahead, Das revealed plans to gradually introduce other use cases, including those focused on anonymity and offline availability, ensuring the CBDC aligns with India’s financial system and economic landscape.