A conceptual model for Indian public distribution system using consortium blockchain with on-chain and off-chain trusted data

ABSTRACT

The public distribution system (PDS) of a country plays a vital role in eradicating hunger and ensuring food security. However, operational inefficiencies like poor beneficiary identification, non-uniform transaction records, and lack of integration among stakeholders hinder the success of such a system. This paper proposes a conceptual model to explore the possibility of using blockchain to eliminate such inefficiencies and ensure trust in the system. It first studies the existing operations of Indian PDS and identifies the transactions requiring information exchanges, storage, and verifications. Then, it proposes a blockchain based solution that leverage smart contracts and consortium-based ecosystem that can bring efficiencies in the PDS system. This paper also proposes a conceptual model for off-chain big data and enlists the possible analytics to support the decision-making of various stakeholders. Finally, it explores the suitability of implementing the proposed model as a consortium blockchain using Hyperledger Fabric and big data analytics.

KEYWORDS:

• Indian public distribution system (PDS)
• consortium blockchain
• big data
• conceptual model
• on-chain
• off-chain data

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the MHRD, [Sanction Letter Number: F. No. 5-5/2014-TS.VII, Dt; 04-09-2014], Department of Higher Education, New Delhi, India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 https://uidai.gov.in/my-aadhaar/about-your-aadhaar.html.

2 https://dfpd.gov.in/nfsa-act.htm.

3 BPL families housing income is less than about 27,000 per annum.

4 Beneficiaries of AAY are BPL families headed by widows or terminally ill persons/disabled persons/persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.

5 https://uidai.gov.in/about-uidai.html.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the MHRD, [Sanction Letter Number: F. No. 5-5/2014-TS.VII, Dt; 04-09-2014], Department of Higher Education, New Delhi, India.

Notes on contributors

Sandeep Kumar Singh

Sandeep Kumar Singh is working toward the Ph.D. degree in business process modeling with blockchain enabled smart contracts from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. He is currently a Research Scholar with the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology. His research interests include Business process mining, Petri nets. He is a recipient of the Senior Research Fellowship from the E-Business Centre of Excellence, sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

Mamata Jenamani

Mamata Jenamani is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Her research interests include information system, e-business, web analytics and supply chain traceability. She is the Investigator of several high-valued sponsored and industrial consultancy projects. She is the Principal Investigators of the E-Business Centre of Excellence sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. She has published her work in journals such as IEEE Intelligent Systems; IEEE Systems Journal, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Electronic Commerce Research and Applications; Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review; The European Journal of Operational Research, Computers, and Industrial Engineering; Service Science; Applied Mathematical Modelling; and Annals of Operations Research. She is a recipient of the Emerald/European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards in the category of Enterprise Applications of Internet Technology.

Diptiman Dasgupta

Diptiman Dasgupta is an IBM Executive IT Architect, Open Group Distinguished Architect and IBM Senior Inventor – with 21 years of Industry & Research Experience in Enterprise Architecture (EA), SOA, Enterprise Integration (EI), Blockchain and Digital Platform. In his current role, he is an Executive Architect for Blockchain Technology Practice in IBM India Client Innovation Center (CIC). He is primarily focusing on Technology, Innovation Selling & Delivering Blockchain PoCs/Projects and scaling up the same for IBM Global Clients & Clients in India/SA. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering and Master of Engineering in Computer Science & Information Technology from Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST).

Suman Das

Suman Das, Managing Consultant an IT Architect – Suman is a PMI certified Senior Delivery Manager and an Open Group certified Architect – with 18 years of Industry Experience in Custom ADM, Cloud Solutions, Enterprise Architecture (EA), SOA, Enterprise Integration (EI), Blockchain and Digital Platform. Over the last 11 years in IBM, he has managed projects of various sizes and complexities. He has also authored and co-architected the ‘AI Custom Development’ and ‘IBM Blockchain Innovation Method.’ In his current role as a Consultant and Delivery Manager in Blockchain practice, he is primarily focusing on Technology, Consulting & Delivering Blockchain PoCs/Projects and scaling up the same for IBM Clients, both globally & in India/SA. He is also a PMI India Champion.