CM Bhajanlal Sharma launches DigiDukaan in Jaipur, 2nd city after Hyderabad
Synopsis
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched DigiDukaan under ONDC in Jaipur on 20 June 2026, making it India's second city after Hyderabad to host the platform. The move aims to bring Rajasthan's small traders and MSMEs into formal digital commerce without heavy platform fees.
Key Takeaways
Jaipur became the second Indian city after Hyderabad to officially launch the DigiDukaan platform under the ONDC framework.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma addressed the ONDC-DigiDukaan Launch Jaipur 'Vyaparik Sammelan' on 20 June 2026 .
DigiDukaan enables small traders to list products across buyer apps without heavy platform fees, lowering the digital commerce barrier for MSMEs .
ONDC is a DPIIT -backed open-protocol network that began pilot operations in 2022 to counter concentrated private e-commerce platforms.
Rajasthan's trader base — including handicraft producers, textile sellers, and gem merchants — is a key target demographic for the platform.
Further rollout to other Rajasthan cities and integration with existing state MSME schemes remains the next milestone to watch.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma addressed the ONDC-DigiDukaan Launch Jaipur 'Vyaparik Sammelan' (Business Conference) on Saturday, 20 June 2026, declaring that Jaipur has become the second city in India after Hyderabad to formally launch the DigiDukaan platform, calling it a matter of pride for Rajasthan.
Context
Speaking at the conference, CM Sharma said — 'हैदराबाद के बाद जयपुर देश का दूसरा शहर है, जहाँ DigiDukaan का शुभारंभ हुआ है' ('After Hyderabad, Jaipur is the second city in the country where DigiDukaan has been launched'). The event brought together traders and small business owners under the banner of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-backed initiative aimed at democratising digital commerce in India.
DigiDukaan is an ONDC-linked digital storefront tool that allows small traders and micro-enterprises to list their products across multiple buyer applications without incurring the heavy platform fees typically associated with large private e-commerce players.
Policy Backdrop
ONDC was conceived as an open-protocol alternative to concentrated private e-commerce platforms, with pilot operations beginning in 2022 across select Indian cities. The network operates on interoperability principles, meaning a seller registered on one platform can be discovered by buyers on any other participating app within the ecosystem.
The central government has pursued a phased, city-by-city expansion of ONDC to pull unorganised retail — particularly small kiranas and MSMEs — into formal digital supply chains. Jaipur's inclusion as the second DigiDukaan launch city signals Rajasthan's active alignment with this national digital public infrastructure push.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries are Rajasthan's small traders, local artisans, and MSME operators who have historically been excluded from e-commerce due to high onboarding costs and opaque platform algorithms. DigiDukaan offers them a low-barrier entry point into digital retail without dependence on any single private marketplace.
For Jaipur — a city with a dense base of handicraft producers, textile traders, and gem merchants — the platform could open direct-to-consumer digital channels that preserve margins and reduce intermediary dependence. The 'Vyaparik Sammelan' format also signals an intent to build grassroots awareness and onboarding capacity among the trader community.
What's Next
Attention will now shift to whether Rajasthan announces a state-level integration of DigiDukaan with existing MSME and artisan support schemes, and how quickly onboarding rolls out beyond Jaipur to other commercial centres in the state such as Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Kota. The pace and depth of merchant adoption in Jaipur will be a closely watched indicator of whether city-level ONDC launches translate into sustained digital commerce participation for small traders.
Point of View
And CM Sharma is clearly positioning Rajasthan as an early mover in the ONDC expansion arc. By framing the city's selection as a matter of state pride, the government is also deploying the launch as a political signal to the trader community — a constituency that matters in Rajasthan's urban electoral geography. The real test, however, will be post-launch merchant onboarding numbers and whether the platform gains traction beyond the conference hall. If Rajasthan can demonstrate meaningful adoption, it could accelerate the ONDC rollout to other Tier-2 cities across the country.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DigiDukaan and how does it work?
DigiDukaan is an ONDC-linked digital storefront tool that lets small traders list their products across multiple buyer apps without paying heavy platform commissions. It operates on the open-protocol ONDC network, making sellers discoverable across all participating buyer applications.
Which city launched DigiDukaan first in India?
Hyderabad was the first Indian city to launch DigiDukaan. Jaipur became the second city to host the launch, as announced by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on 20 June 2026.
What is ONDC and who runs it?
ONDC, or the Open Network for Digital Commerce, is an initiative backed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). It is designed as an open, interoperable alternative to private e-commerce platforms, with pilot operations beginning in 2022.
Who will benefit from the DigiDukaan launch in Jaipur?
Small traders, kirana store owners, artisans, textile merchants, and MSMEs in Jaipur and Rajasthan stand to benefit. The platform gives them low-cost access to digital retail channels without dependence on any single private marketplace.
Will DigiDukaan expand to other cities in Rajasthan?
No official announcement has been made yet for other Rajasthan cities. Observers are watching for rollout plans covering commercial hubs like Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Kota following the Jaipur launch.
