Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma of Rajasthan on Saturday, 20 June 2026 addressed the ONDC-DigiDukaan Launch Jaipur 'Vyaparik Sammelan' (trade conference) in Jaipur, underscoring the centrality of kirana stores to India's economy and calling for their deeper integration into the digital commerce network.

Context

Speaking at the conference, CM Sharma stated that India's general trade network comprises more than 1 crore 40 lakh (14 million) kirana stores. He noted that even today, roughly 75 to 80 per cent of all FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) sector sales flow through these neighbourhood outlets, describing them as 'an important economic strength of India's economy.'

The event marked the formal launch of the ONDC-DigiDukaan initiative in Jaipur, bringing together traders, small retailers, and policymakers under the hashtag #आपणो_अग्रणी_राजस्थान ('Our Leading Rajasthan').

Policy Backdrop

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was piloted in 2022 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as an interoperable, government-backed alternative to proprietary e-commerce platforms. The network is designed to allow any seller or buyer application to transact across a common digital rails system, lowering the barrier for small and unorganised retailers to participate in online trade.

DigiDukaan is a digital onboarding platform built atop ONDC, specifically targeting kirana and neighbourhood stores. Rajasthan's state-level event reflects the broader national push under the Digital India programme to formalise unorganised retail and reduce dependence on large private marketplace operators.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are kirana store owners and FMCG retailers across Rajasthan, who stand to gain digital storefronts, access to online order flows, and integration with digital payment systems without the commission structures typical of large private platforms. For consumers, the initiative promises broader product discovery and competitive pricing through a neutral network.

With 14 million-plus kirana stores nationally accounting for the bulk of FMCG distribution, even modest adoption rates across the state could meaningfully shift the volume of digitally-enabled trade. The conference signals that Rajasthan is positioning itself as an active participant in this national digitisation drive.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to adoption metrics — specifically how many Rajasthan kirana stores successfully onboard onto ONDC-DigiDukaan in the months following the Jaipur launch. Any state budget provisions earmarked for trader onboarding support, training infrastructure, or digital literacy programmes will be closely watched as indicators of the government's commitment beyond the launch event.

The Rajasthan government's active engagement with a central digital commerce framework suggests that state-level political capital is now being invested in bridging the gap between traditional retail and the formal digital economy — a dynamic that could shape how other states approach similar programmes.