Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is Government’s major reform initiative to re-engineer the existing delivery processes, ensuring better and timely delivery of benefits using Information & Communication Technology (ICT). As on date, 400 schemes from 56 Ministries/ Departments are being implemented under DBT. As a process, Centrally Sponsored Schemes are implemented through State Governments and granular level details are being maintained by the respective State Governments. DBT focuses on better targeting of beneficiary, timely disbursal of benefits and curbing of pilferage by de-duplication, elimination of ghost beneficiaries etc.

This was stated by Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan, Minister of State for Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Direct Benefit Transfer strengthens targeted beneficiary delivery and reduces pilferage through ICT-enabled de-duplication and timely disbursal. Direct Benefit Transfer is an ICT-driven administrative reform to re-engineer benefit delivery, focusing on improved beneficiary targeting, timely disbursal, and reduction of pilferage through de-duplication and elimination of ghost beneficiaries. The scheme operates across centrally sponsored and central schemes, with operational implementation and maintenance of granular beneficiary records undertaken by State Governments.