NITI Aayog to rank states on digital metrics: Govt

New Delhi: To foster competition among states, the government's think tank NITI Aayog has decided to rank the states/UTs on the basis of digital transactions, Parliament was informed today.

"It has been decided by NITI Aayog to rank the states/UTs on the basis of digital transactions. Details of the parameters are being worked out," Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

NITI Aayog had constituted a Committee of Chief Ministers on digital payments which submitted its interim report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 24, 2017.

The committee has, inter-alia, recommended various incentives for consumers and merchants in the form of cashback on digital spends, discounts on government payments via digital means, incentives to banking correspondents and small merchants for digital transactions.

The minister further said in order to attract general public and facilitate significant behavioural change among public towards digital transactions two major schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana for consumers and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana for merchants have been launched.

Replying to a separate question, the minister said that the expert group constituted by NITI Aayog on Land Leasing has suggested a Model Act on agriculture land leasing to facilitate the states to enact their land leasing laws to enhance the agriculture productivity.

Explaining further, he said the land owners may lease out land for agricultural purposes and thus help occupational mobility of rural poor and help in rural poverty reduction. Besides, it may also provide opportunity for occupational diversification to land owners to opt for non-farm employment. The Model Act has been made public on April 12, 2016.