SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Education
The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, has issued a letter to States/UTs to encourage the widespread adoption of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in schools. This initiative is part of the Government of Indiaβs broader push for Ease of Living and Schooling by modernizing administrative processes, especially those related to financial transactions. The goal is to leverage the significant penetration of digital payment platforms to collect admission and examination fees through secure and transparent digital modes.
Transitioning to digital payments offers multiple advantages, including convenience and transparency for parents, who can make payments from home, eliminating the need to visit schools. The Ministry states this move aligns educational administration with the national goal of Digital Transformation and will help stakeholders become more financially literate. This effort is a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047βa digitally empowered, inclusive, and citizen-centric education system.
This directive represents a key developmental policy to extend digital financial inclusion and efficiency to the grassroots level, linking educational administration directly to the national goal of paperless and cashless governance.
What is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?β The UPI is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that allows instant transfer of money between two bank accounts using a mobile platform, facilitating simple, secure, and transparent financial transactions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What central support mechanism will be established to ensure that rural and low-connectivity schools can implement UPI transparently without imposing an undue cost burden?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2177798