CM Bhajan Lal Sharma Launches ONDC-DigiDukaan in Jaipur
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the ONDC-DigiDukaan initiative at a business conclave in Jaipur on June 19, 2026, aiming to bring small traders and kirana stores onto India's open digital commerce network and reduce dependence on large e-commerce platforms.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in the ONDC-DigiDukaan launch at a व्यापारिक सम्मेलन in Jaipur on June 19, 2026 .
DigiDukaan is a digital storefront platform that enables small businesses and kirana stores to sell online via the ONDC open network.
ONDC was incorporated in 2021 and piloted in April 2022 to democratise e-commerce and reduce platform monopolies.
The initiative targets small retailers and micro-entrepreneurs in Rajasthan, allowing them to access digital commerce without high platform commissions.
District-level DigiDukaan rollouts across Rajasthan are expected to follow the Jaipur launch event.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday, June 19, 2026, participated in the launch of the ONDC-DigiDukaan initiative in Jaipur, addressing a व्यापारिक सम्मेलन (business conclave) aimed at onboarding small traders and kirana store owners onto India's open digital commerce network.
Context
The event, live-streamed by CM Sharma's official account, marks a significant state-level push to integrate Rajasthan's small and micro retailers into the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The व्यापारिक सम्मेलन — or business conclave — brought together traders from across the state to learn about and enrol on the DigiDukaan platform, a digital storefront tool built on the ONDC network.
DigiDukaan enables small businesses, including neighbourhood kirana stores, to list their products and accept orders online without depending on any single large e-commerce platform. The Jaipur launch signals Rajasthan's formal entry into coordinated state-level ONDC implementation.
Policy Backdrop
ONDC was incorporated as a government-backed non-profit in 2021, with its first pilot launched in April 2022 across select Indian cities. The initiative is designed to break platform monopolies in e-commerce by creating an interoperable open network — much like UPI democratised digital payments.
The broader Digital India programme has consistently sought to extend the benefits of digital commerce beyond major metros to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and rural areas. State-level launches such as the one in Jaipur reflect coordinated execution between the central government and state administrations to scale ONDC adoption on the ground.
Rajasthan, with a large base of small traders and self-employed merchants, represents a significant potential user pool for the ONDC ecosystem. The व्यापारिक सम्मेलन format — convening traders directly — is a deliberate outreach model to build awareness and trust among communities that have historically operated offline.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of the ONDC-DigiDukaan rollout are small retailers, kirana store owners, and micro-entrepreneurs across Rajasthan who currently lack access to e-commerce infrastructure. By joining the ONDC network, these sellers can reach customers digitally without paying the high commissions typically charged by large private platforms.
For consumers, a wider network of local sellers on ONDC can mean greater choice, competitive pricing, and faster hyperlocal delivery. The initiative also aligns with the state government's broader agenda of supporting the informal trade sector, which forms the backbone of Rajasthan's economy.
What's Next
The Jaipur launch is expected to be followed by district-level rollouts of DigiDukaan across Rajasthan, with onboarding drives targeting merchant clusters in smaller towns and rural markets. Transaction volume data from the ONDC network in Rajasthan in the coming months will serve as a key indicator of how effectively the programme translates conclave momentum into active digital commerce participation.
As more BJP-governed states align with central digital commerce priorities, the Rajasthan model of state-convened business conclaves could become a template for grassroots ONDC adoption across India.
Point of View
Just over two years after assuming office. The choice of a व्यापारिक सम्मेलन format is deliberate: it speaks directly to the trader community, a constituency the BJP has historically cultivated. More broadly, state-level ONDC activations are emerging as a pattern in BJP-governed states, suggesting a coordinated strategy to demonstrate delivery on Digital India promises at the grassroots. Whether the conclave energy translates into sustained merchant onboarding and transaction volumes will be the real test of this initiative's depth.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ONDC-DigiDukaan launched in Jaipur?
ONDC-DigiDukaan is a digital storefront platform built on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), enabling small businesses and kirana stores to sell online without depending on large private e-commerce platforms. It was launched in Jaipur on June 19, 2026, at a business conclave attended by Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma.
What is ONDC and how does it help small traders?
ONDC, or the Open Network for Digital Commerce, is a government-backed interoperable network incorporated in 2021 that allows any buyer or seller app to connect, reducing dependence on dominant platforms. It helps small traders access online customers while paying lower commissions than those charged by large private marketplaces.
Why did CM Bhajan Lal Sharma attend the ONDC launch in Jaipur?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma attended the ONDC-DigiDukaan launch to signal the Rajasthan government's commitment to integrating small traders into the digital economy, addressing a व्यापारिक सम्मेलन (business conclave) of traders from across the state.
Will ONDC-DigiDukaan expand beyond Jaipur in Rajasthan?
Yes, the Jaipur launch is expected to be followed by district-level rollouts of DigiDukaan across Rajasthan, with onboarding drives targeting merchant clusters in smaller towns and rural areas.
