The Indian Government has launched an e-payment system, which would facilitate direct credit of dues from the Government of India into the account of beneficiaries using digitally signed electronic advice (e-advice) through the ‘Government e-Payment Gateway’ (GePG). The system has been developed by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, and Ministry of Finance According to a statement by the Government, the Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG) is a portal which enables the successful delivery of payment services from Pay & Accounts Offices (PAOs) for online payment into beneficiaries’ accounts in a seamless manner under a secured environment. It claims that the system will also bring transparency and expedite direct payments from central paying units relating to subsidies to the users and consumers of fertilizer, kerosene and cooking gas which is a declared objective of the government. The government feels that this will increase the adoption of other e-services due to its efficiency and ease-of-use for all Central Government Ministries and Departments for online payment transactions. How It Works: The digitally signed e-advices uploaded by the PAOs on GePG portal will be downloaded by the concerned banks to credit the beneficiaries’ accounts through CBS/NEFT/RTGS as applicable. The system will also have online reconciliation of transactions and efficient compilation of payment accounts. This would help the Government credit payments directly to beneficiaries including existing and retired Government employees, contractors and other entities that receive payments from the government, without involving conventional payment instruments such as cheques and demand drafts, and thus…
