The Central government will soon launch Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS) on a larger scale, according to Ravishankar Prasad, Union Minister for Law and Justice and Information Technology.

Speaking at the ‘Digi Dhan Mela’ in Mangaluru on Wednesday, he said that the country has seen digital payment methods such as UPI (universal payment interface) and BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money).

AEPS will be made a mass initiative by linking it with banks. Stating that four to five banks are already there in this system, he said others are in the process of joining. Soon all shopkeepers will able to accept payments through AEPS, he said.

Under AEPS, a customer can transact by using his/her Aadhaar number at merchant establishments. Explaining this, the Minister said a biometric device will be attached to the smart phone of the shopkeeper. The customer can pay the amount to the shopkeeper with his/her Aadhaar number.

The thumb impression of the customer on the biometric device will help authenticate the transaction, and the money will be deducted from the customer’s bank account. However, the Aadhaar number should be linked to the bank account of the customer.

‘Digi Dhan Mela’ in Mangaluru was the 30th mela being held in the country. The Minister also announced the winners of the ‘lucky grahak yojna’ as part of ‘Digi Dhan Mela’. Around 15,000 people get prize money every day under this yojna.

Prasad said the government has given prize money of more than ₹60 crore to 5 lakh customers and about 99,000 shopkeepers under the yojna till date.