Author
LoansJagat Team
Read Time
9 Minute
11 Apr 2025
Suppose you are Ramesh, a rural Indian farmer. You've toiled hard to construct a road in your village under MGNREGA. You're entitled to a ₹2000 wage payment for working 10 days. Earlier, it used to reach you after weeks, with intermediaries and paperwork involved, correct? Not anymore with APBS!
This is how it happens with Ramesh
Isn't it interesting to see how APBS is transforming lives by eliminating the mess and making direct and quick payments?
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) is a payment system where Aadhaar numbers are utilised to transfer government subsidies and benefits to individuals' bank accounts. It is not a scheme but a method of transferring money. APBS supports Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), whereby the government transfers money directly to the beneficiaries, which is faster and transparent. It locates the person holding the Aadhaar number and hands over the money to the correct person. It is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) so everything is fine.
1. Step-by-step process of APBS transactions?
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) assists in sending government benefits to individuals' bank accounts directly. It works as follows:
Aadhaar Seeding
Transaction Initiation
In the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS), Aadhaar is the primary identifier of beneficiary bank account mapping, and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) processes and enables these transactions.
"APBS Credit" on your bank statement indicates that the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) has credited government schemes or subsidies directly into your Aadhaar-linked bank account. APBS makes use of your Aadhaar number to direct these payments electronically, providing for quicker and safer transactions.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), with the backing of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS).
Legal Guarantee: Formed in 2005, MGNREGA provides wage employment to adult members of rural families who are ready to do unskilled work. Objective: It works to enhance rural livelihood security by offering jobs and developing infrastructure such as roads, canals, and ponds. Demand-Driven: States receive funding based on the demand for employment. Implementation: MGNREGA is implemented primarily by local government authorities, including Gram Panchayats. Social Audit: Social audits assist in ensuring transparency and accountability in the scheme. |
The PAHAL (DBTL) programme | The PAHAL (DBTL) programme delivers LPG subsidies directly into the bank accounts of consumers, eliminating middlemen and curtailing misuse of subsidies.
Consumers pay the market price of the LPG cylinder when delivered. The amount of subsidy is credited to the consumer's Aadhaar-linked bank account. Consumers are updated through SMS at every step.
To ensure that the subsidy goes to the intended individuals. To avoid misuse and leakage of the subsidy. To increase the transparency and efficiency of the system.
For Consumers: Direct access to subsidies in their bank accounts, safeguarding of their LPG subsidy rights, and improved availability of new LPG connections.
For the Government: Reduce subsidy expense by reducing leakage and misuse, and improve public service delivery.
Eligibility: Consumers with an Aadhaar number linked to their LPG account and bank account can participate in the scheme.
Implementation: The scheme was initiated in 2013 and re-launched across the country. Consumers need to register their mobile number with their distributor for SMS alerts and ensure they receive cylinders with cash memos for subsidy transfer. |
To get paid using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS), you must have an Aadhaar number linked to your bank account. This is how it is done:
Here's information about the benefits of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) in a table format:
Benefit | Description |
Timely and Direct Transfers | APBS ensures seamless and timely transfer of benefits directly to the Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts (AEBA) of beneficiaries. |
Elimination of Delays and Paperwork | It removes the need for multiple channels and paperwork, streamlining the process of receiving government benefits. |
No Need for Multiple Bank Accounts | Beneficiaries can receive all benefits from various social welfare schemes in a single AEBA without needing multiple accounts. |
Reduced Administrative Burden | The system reduces the workload on government agencies by facilitating direct transfers, eliminating manual verification and payments. |
Increased Transparency and Efficiency | APBS promotes transparency and efficiency, ensuring that government funds reach the intended beneficiaries without delays or errors. |
Targeted Delivery of Benefits | Ensures that benefits are delivered to the correct people, reducing fund leakage and misuse. |
Financial Inclusion | Promotes financial inclusion by allowing beneficiaries to access government benefits directly through their bank accounts. |
Reduced Corruption | Reduces opportunities for corruption by eliminating intermediaries and minimising chances for pilferage. |
Easy Updates | Beneficiaries don’t need to notify government departments about changes in bank account details; updates are handled automatically. |
The Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS) is a game-changer when it comes to directly disbursing government subsidies and benefits to beneficiaries. With APBS, individuals such as Ramesh no longer have to endure delays, middlemen, or redundant paperwork. Rather, their rightful payments, whether for MGNREGA wages or LPG subsidies, are credited directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, making the process faster and more transparent.
It's all about efficiency, transparency, and stopping corruption. APBS ensures the funds are distributed to the intended recipients without the possibility of misused funds. It saves the government on administrative expenditure and increases the provision of public services.
For beneficiaries, it offers timely disbursement, better financial inclusion and eliminates the hassle of holding multiple accounts. So, the next time you see "APBS Credit" on your bank statement, you can rest assured that it's a sign of a system that's simplifying life, making it faster and fairer! Isn't it great?
Q1: What does APBS credit mean on a bank statement?
APBS credit refers to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) transactions, where government subsidies or benefits are directly credited to a person's bank account via the Aadhaar Payments Bridge System.
Q2: Who is eligible for the APB subsidy?
The APB subsidy is given to individuals eligible for government welfare schemes, provided their Aadhaar is linked to their bank account for the direct transfer of subsidies.
Q3: Can I link two bank accounts to my Aadhaar?
Yes, you can link multiple bank accounts to your Aadhaar, but each account must be linked separately through the bank’s process.
Other Bank Statements | ||
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