National Blockchain Framework
The National Blockchain Framework (NBF) represents India’s landmark initiative to establish a unified, secure, and transparent digital governance ecosystem based on blockchain technology. Developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the framework aims to strengthen governance by providing verifiable trust and reducing reliance on intermediaries in public service delivery. Launched officially in September 2024 with a total outlay of ₹64.76 crore, the NBF provides an indigenous technological foundation for blockchain adoption across multiple government and industrial sectors.
Evolution and Significance of Blockchain in Governance
Blockchain technology, initially popularised through cryptocurrencies, has evolved into a transformative digital infrastructure enabling trust without centralised authority. Unlike traditional databases, blockchain records transactions in a distributed, immutable ledger, making unauthorised data manipulation nearly impossible. This distributed consensus ensures transparency, auditability, and tamper resistance.
In India’s governance ecosystem, which has historically depended on centralised data repositories, blockchain addresses chronic issues such as fraudulent documentation, procedural opacity, and data tampering. Through decentralisation and cryptographic validation, it facilitates data integrity, accountability, and citizen trust.
Recognising these strengths, MeitY conceptualised the National Blockchain Framework to provide a cohesive architecture for implementing blockchain-based solutions in diverse domains — from public record management and judicial services to logistics and financial governance.
Core Components of the National Blockchain Framework
The NBF comprises four major components forming the technological and operational backbone of India’s blockchain governance ecosystem:
- Vishvasya Blockchain Stack – The indigenous and modular technology platform at the core of NBF, providing Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) infrastructure.
- NBFLite – A sandbox environment for startups and academia to innovate and test blockchain applications.
- Praamaanik – A blockchain-based solution for verifying mobile applications and protecting users from malicious apps.
- National Blockchain Portal – A digital platform guiding blockchain standardisation, innovation, and sectoral integration.
Vishvasya Blockchain Stack: Foundation of India’s Blockchain Infrastructure
The Vishvasya Blockchain Stack is deployed across National Informatics Centre (NIC) data centres located in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad, ensuring resilience and scalability. Its principal features include:
- Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS): Provides shared infrastructure, allowing government departments to develop applications without maintaining their own blockchain systems.
- Distributed Architecture: Offers fault tolerance and high availability through multi-location deployment.
- Permissioned Blockchain Layer: Restricts participation to authorised entities, making it ideal for sensitive government operations.
- Open APIs and Integration Services: Enables seamless integration with existing e-Governance systems for authentication and data exchange.
This stack forms the technological nucleus for blockchain-based governance applications, ensuring security, interoperability, and modular scalability.
NBFLite: Blockchain Sandbox for Innovation
NBFLite facilitates experimentation, capacity building, and application development in a controlled blockchain environment. It supports startups, research institutions, and students in designing and validating blockchain-based solutions using smart contract templates for key domains such as digital certificates, supply chain management, and record verification. This innovation-oriented approach ensures India’s academic and entrepreneurial ecosystem remains aligned with future blockchain demands.
Praamaanik: Blockchain for Application Verification
Praamaanik addresses rising cybersecurity threats by verifying the authenticity of mobile applications through blockchain. When a user scans an app, its details are cross-checked with blockchain records to confirm legitimacy, thereby reducing the risk of fraudulent applications and strengthening public digital trust.
National Blockchain Portal
The National Blockchain Portal serves as India’s strategic hub for blockchain governance. It facilitates cross-sector collaboration, provides standardisation guidelines, and promotes blockchain adoption across industries. As one of the few state-led blockchain ecosystems globally, it exemplifies India’s commitment to digital self-reliance and transparent governance.
Blockchain in Action: Transforming Key Governance Domains
India’s National Blockchain Framework has been deployed across several mission-critical areas, demonstrating measurable outcomes in efficiency and transparency.
1. Certificates and Document Chain: The NIC has implemented blockchain-based solutions for secure storage and verification of official documents such as academic records, income certificates, and ration cards. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has integrated student certificates into this system. As of 21 October 2025, over 34 crore documents have been verified through the blockchain platform, including 48,000 documents via the Document Chain.
2. Logistics Chain: The Aushada system in Karnataka exemplifies blockchain use in pharmaceutical supply chain management, tracking medicines from manufacturers to hospitals. Patients can verify drug quality, expiry, and origin details in real-time. Blockchain ensures transparency, traceability, and elimination of counterfeit drugs.
3. Judiciary Chain: Designed to digitise and secure the justice system, the Judiciary Chain stores court records, summons, and bail orders on an immutable ledger. By October 2025, 665 judicial documents had been verified, significantly reducing manual dependencies and procedural delays.
4. Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS): The ICJS integrates police, courts, prisons, and forensic departments through blockchain. Over 39,000 ICJS documents have been recorded, ensuring synchronised and tamper-proof access to case data.
5. Property Chain: The Property Management System records every land transaction securely, ensuring full ownership traceability. This prevents property fraud and litigation. Over 34 crore property-related records have been verified on the blockchain as of October 2025.
Regulatory and Institutional Integration
Blockchain adoption in India is supported by coordinated initiatives from major institutions:
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): Integrated blockchain-based Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) into the telecom network for spam prevention and SMS tracking. Covering over 1.13 lakh entities, it ensures end-to-end transparency in message delivery.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Employing blockchain in pilot projects such as the Digital Rupee (e₹) to enable secure, traceable, and inclusive digital payments.
- National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL): Implemented blockchain for Debenture Covenant Monitoring, creating a tamper-proof audit trail for investor protection and market transparency.
Capacity Building and Skill Development
MeitY’s Capacity Building Division is nurturing a skilled workforce through structured blockchain education and training initiatives:
- Skill Development Programmes: Over 214 programmes have trained 21,000+ government officials in emerging technologies.
- Post Graduate Diploma in FinTech and Blockchain Development (PG-DFBD): A 900-hour programme integrating blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and regulatory frameworks.
- BLEND (C-DAC): An online course that enables engineering students to gain practical knowledge in blockchain architecture and application design.
- FutureSkills PRIME: A national reskilling initiative under Digital India, focused on building blockchain proficiency among IT professionals.
Roadmap and Future Use Cases
The National Strategy on Blockchain, developed by MeitY, outlines short-term and long-term goals for blockchain integration across governance and industry. Key Proofs of Concept (PoCs) under exploration include:
- Land Records for transparent property ownership.
- Blood Bank for donor tracking and inventory management.
- GST Chain for real-time tax compliance monitoring.
- Public Distribution System (PDS) for secure supply chain management.
These initiatives demonstrate blockchain’s potential to eliminate fraud, enhance accountability, and ensure equitable service delivery.
Towards a Transparent and Aatmanirbhar Digital Future
The National Blockchain Framework aligns with the goals of Digital India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, reinforcing India’s position as a global leader in blockchain governance. By creating an interoperable, scalable, and secure blockchain ecosystem, NBF bridges the gap between technology and trust in governance.