Common service centers to work as payment gateway -Governance Now

Common service centers to work as payment gateway

Villagers can now pay their utility bills through common payment gateway

GN Bureau | June 16, 2016

#RBI #common service center #payment gateway #NPCI #BBPS

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in-principle license to common service centers (CSCs), operating across rural India, to operate as Bharat Bill Payment System Operating Units (BBPOUs) under the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), an authorised payment system by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), said union telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday.

BBPS will work as an integrated bill payment system, offering inter-operable and accessible bill payment services to customers through a network of agents, enabling multiple payment modes, and providing instant confirmation of receipt of payment.

The license would allow more than 1.6 lakh CSCs, government service delivery points, to become a common payment gateway where villagers can pay their utility bills including electricity, water and phone. Payment mode varies from cash to electronic system like net banking, debit or credit card.

CSCs, a part of Digital India mission, are being operated by village-level-entrepreneurs (VLEs). At present, they offer government-to-citizen services to villagers digitally, including PAN card services, Aadhaar services and election services, and also offer mobile recharging facilities.

These centres also work as an information point where villagers can visit and know about government schemes available on internet.

There are total 1, 66, 671 functional CSCs across India, as of May 2016.

The minister said that facility at BBPOUs can be extended for collection of university fee, mutual funds, and insurance premium. The license may take three months to become operational as it requires integration with NPCI, a press release from government stated.

In October 2015, RBI invited applications from entities operating in payment of bills and desirous of operating as Bharat Bill Payment System Operating Units (BBPOUs) under the Bharat Bill Payment System.

Comments

Other News

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation. During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr

Cabinet passes resolution applauding PM on term record

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday passed a resolution marking June 10, 2026, as a historic milestone in the journey of Indian democracy applauding Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving elected PM of the country. By establishing a record of 4,399 days of continuous service as an elected PM, he has s