Rs 1,500 cr worth transactions have been done using BHIM app: RS Prasad

BHIM or Bharat Interface for Money app for mobile-based transactions was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2017, the 126th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar .

Union Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday informed Parliament that BHIM, a mobile app to make digital payments, has been downloaded by close to two crore people, and transactions worth Rs 1,500 have been made so far.

BHIM or Bharat Interface for Money app for mobile-based transactions was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2017, the 126th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar to boost the digital payments revolution.

The IT Minister said more than 2 crore people have been trained by common service centres on digital payments.

"There have been close to 50 lakh transactions only on the BHIM app worth Rs 1,500 crore," he said while responding to a reference made on it by SP member Jaya Bachchan during the Zero Hour in the House.

While congratulating the government for its intention to move towards digital and cashless payments, Bachchan said inadequte infrastructure was hampering digital payments, reported PTI.

Emphasising that demonetisation caused "confusion and hardship" to people in the country, she called it an improperly planned move.

On November 8, 2016, Prime Minister Modi announced that existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes would cease to legal tenders and the governement introduced new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes with an aim to curb terror financing, black money hoarding and circulation of terror financing.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs