India is piloting its digital rupee (e-rupee) for welfare, with $80B in benefits targeted. Aims: curb subsidy leakage & corruption. Maharashtra farmers get programmable drip irrigation subsidies. Gujarat plans food subsidy migration by June. E-rupee has $3.6B in cumulative transactions since Dec 2022, vs. UPI's $300B monthly.

RBI also proposes 2026 BRICS summit to interconnect member CBDCs. Goal: reduce US dollar reliance, though potential geopolitical risks exist. This interoperability push could shift global finance & challenge dollar dominance.

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