In a significant stride towards digital transformation and enhanced transparency, the Indian Army has unveiled a blockchain-powered Vendor Registration Application aimed at optimizing the procurement process for dry rations. This initiative, part of the Army’s “Year of Transformation,” is set to modernize the onboarding of vendors into the military supply chain.
The application was a collaborative effort between the Directorate General of Supplies and Transport (DGST) and the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), which operates under the purview of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
During the launch, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, articulated the application’s significance as a transformative tool for enhancing transparency and bolstering operational readiness within military logistics.
Employing blockchain technology, the new platform guarantees that each vendor registration is secure, trackable, and resistant to tampering. Vendors can now register online, keep track of their application status in real time, respond to feedback, and address any discrepancies swiftly, thereby removing the traditional burdens of excessive paperwork and the need for personal visits.
A prominent feature of the application is its seamless integration with national databases, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Goods and Services Tax (GST), and GS1. This integration allows for immediate verification of vendor credentials via application programming interfaces (APIs), which is expected to halve processing times and enhance accountability.
Moreover, this initiative aims to invite a more diverse range of suppliers, notably startups and small enterprises, into the Army’s procurement landscape. Officials highlighted that this application supports the Army Purchase Organisation’s transition to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform, which currently facilitates dry ration procurements amounting to approximately ₹14,000 crore annually.
Emphasizing the motto of the Army Service Corps, “Seva Asmakam Dharma,” the Army articulated that the new application transcends mere technological advancement. It signifies the Indian Army’s steadfast dedication to fostering transparent practices, streamlining processes, and establishing a robust logistics framework that is responsive to the dynamic demands of modern defense scenarios.
