SEP 19: In a major step towards financial inclusion and digital empowerment, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, participated in a workshop held in New Delhi on onboarding Cooperative Banks to Aadhaar Enabled Payment Services (AEPS) under a revised UIDAI framework.
This initiative aligns with the Government’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”, envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and actively driven by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah. The integration of Aadhaar services will strengthen cooperative banks, making them more modern, self-reliant, and digitally empowered.
The workshop was attended by UIDAI CEO Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, NABARD Chairman Shri Shaji K.V., along with officers from UIDAI, NABARD, NPCI, and over 500 participants, including representatives from 34 State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and 351 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).
Dr. Bhutani emphasized that Aadhaar integration would enhance cooperative banks’ capacity to deliver seamless digital services, particularly benefiting rural and semi-urban areas, thereby supporting inclusive economic growth.
UIDAI’s revised framework simplifies onboarding by designating only StCBs as Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) and eKYC User Agencies (KUAs). DCCBs can now use their respective StCB’s IT infrastructure, removing the need for individual systems and reducing compliance burdens and costs.
NABARD Chairman assured full institutional support in implementing the framework, which is expected to drive last-mile banking, reduce operational costs, and promote widespread digital financial inclusion across India.
This initiative marks a transformative shift in empowering cooperative banks to be future-ready players in India’s digital financial ecosystem.
