Indian State Maharashtra to Implement Blockchain in Various Sectors

The project aims at enhancing, supply chain, agriculture marketing, registration of vehicles, and document management system in the state. It will also apply to various sectors within the state.

Per the report, the Maharashtra Information Technology Directorate is the nodal agency for the project.

The state government reportedly set aside 100 million rupees (~$1.4 million) for blockchain adoption from 2019–2020. Additionally, about 40 million ($560,000) got approved outright by the implementation committee.

In the words of the State IT department principal secretary S.V.R. Srinivas regarding the blockchain development:

"The state government is adopting a cutting edge technology to help enhance efficiency in governance. Already the government has completed its first blockchain pilot in the fields of health, supply chain, documents, and SSC certificates. A detailed report has been prepared to go in for extensive use of blockchain technology in various government departments." 

Moving further, a regulatory sandbox is a common framework for adopting blockchain technology. Srinivas said it will be prepared in the next five to six months.

Indian Merchants' Chamber immediate past president, Raj Nair added that technology could simplify and speed up the authenticity of documents. 

Relevant documents such as proof of birth, family lineage, people, and their rights of ownership can be recorded. "This is crucial when the existing processes are painful and time-consuming."

Mainstream Adoption of Blockchain in Indian

On August 12, we reported that India's Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited revealed its plan to establish one of the largest Blockchain networks in the world.

According to the chairman and managing director, Mukesh Ambani Jio, blockchain is one of three main directions of development of the company. 

The Telecom company hopes to install a blockchain network with 'tens of thousands' of nodes. 

"Reliance Jio would launch one of the largest Blockchain networks in the world over the next 12 months. The network will have tens of thousands of nodes operational on day one."