FAQs for AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge

 

Q.No.01) Where should the Application be submitted?

Ans.01) The application should be submitted on https://innovate.mygov.in/app-challenge/#tab1

Q.No.02) Is it mandatory to have a mygov.in account?

Ans.02) Yes, it is mandatory to have a mygov.in account. Applicants can create a new account or also log with their Social Accounts i.e. Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn or Github.

Q.No.03) What is the last date for submission?

Ans.03) The last date for submission is 17.30 hrs, July 18^th 2020

Q.No.04) Is there any participation fees?

Ans.04) No, there is no participation fees.

Q.No.05) Can I participate as an Individual?

Ans.05) Yes one can participate as an Individual.

Q.No.06) Is a working prototype necessary?

Ans.06) A working prototype is preferred, though not mandatory in the initial phases.

Q.No.07) How to contact the organisers, if required?

Ans.07) Participants can touch base with the organising team via mail at: connect@mygov.nic.in

Please note Any correspondence with participant will be done through an email provided by the participant at time of filling the application form. Organizers are not liable in case of email delivery failures.

Q.No.08) What are the broad categories for which Applications can be submitted?

Ans.08) The AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge invites applications for the following 8 broad categories:

 

1.      Office Productivity & Work from Home

2.      Social Networking

3.      E-Learning

4.      Entertainment

5.      Health & Wellness

6.      Business including Agritech and Fintech

7.      News

8.      Games

Q.No.09) Will there be sub-categories within the main categories?

Ans.09) Yes, there will be sub-categories within the main categories. Jury will take the decision to create sub categories. The number of sub-categories will depend on the number of applications received and the concepts around the applications.

Q.No.10) What are documents to be submitted along with the Application?

Ans.10) Personal Bio Data – PDF Document not exceeding 2 MB

Application Concept – 5000 characters.

If Application is ready for use:

·         Application Link

·         Application User Manual – PDF Doc within 4mb

·         Application available on _ Android, iOS, Windows, Web Browser

·         Additional supporting document if any - PDF within 2MB(Explaining how the solution is Robust, Scalable, Secure, Data Integrity Policy and UI UX features)

·         Number of downloads

·         Servers (Web/Data/Cloud) Location - Select India / Outside India

·         Number of Monthly Active Users

·         Privacy Policy - PDF within 2MB

·         Permissions sought in app

If Application is NOT Ready for use:

·         Development phase/doc - PDF within 2MB

·         Source code url (GitHub/Other)

·         Expected date of completion

Q.No.11) Can I edit the submitted Application?

Ans.11) No, once the application is submitted, editing is not permitted.

 

Q.No.12) Can Multiple entries be submitted?

Ans.12) Yes, multiple entries can be submitted.

Q.No.13) Will I receive a conformation SMS/Email on successful submission of the Application?

Ans.13) On successful submission of the application, you will receive a Pop-Up message. Participants will not receive any SMS/email

 

 

Semi-Inspiration for this Blog Post:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6685118400269713408/

 

Disclaimer: This is only an attempt to increase the number of submissions. I am solely responsible for any errors in the FAQs.

 

 

 

 

 

An Analysis of BBPS June 2020 Daily Volumes

An Analysis of BBPS June 2020 Daily Volumes

Topline: The focus is on moving 90% of Retail Bill Payments to BBPS in the next 5 years.

• BBPS Volumes tend to go down on Sundays. Is it because bank account holders prefer to postpone not so important bill payments to the next working day?

• BBPS Volumes tend to go up on Mondays. Is it because pending bills are verified on Sundays and the payments made on Mondays?

• BBPS average transaction value goes up during month ends. Is this because overdue bills are paid by the month end to avoid defaults?  

Urjanet – Any plans to integrate with India’s BBPS?

Topline: I wish to see 90% of Retail Bill Payments being routed via BBPS (Bharat Bill Payment Systems) in the next 5 years

Urjanet is connected to over 6,000 utility providers worldwide. Urjanet operates a utility bill capture for payments solution, which supports bill payment and streamlined accounts payable operations for corporates.

Quote

Our flexible technology allows us to integrate with virtually any provider. Chances are, we already work with yours. Search for your provider to see if it’s integrated into the Urjanet Utility Data Platform. To view all covered utilities in a certain region, type in the state or country.

Unquote

Unfortunately, Urjanet is not yet connected to any utility providers in India. In India, Urjanet has an office in Chennai. This eases the process to expand its services in India.

The number of Utility Billers is on the increase as LPG Gas is delivered to residents via pipes.

In the first week of July 2020, in yet another reform initiative in the oil and gas sector, the government is set to throw open city gas distribution (CGD) networks across the country to competition, allowing participation of more than one player in a circle vying to attract consumers.

Quote

"We have finalised regulations on allowing competition in CGD areas that will be notified in next seven to 10 days," Petroleum and Natural Gas and Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Chairman D.K. Sarraf told IANS.

 Unquote

This will increase the number of consumers serviced by Utility Service providers all over India.  As more and more billers on board BBPS, the data available will be valuable to analyse customer behaviour.

            The news about Urjanet securing $14.65 million in Series D funding in the last week of June 2020 from varied investors that include Equifax and existing backers Oak HC/FT, Pete Kight, Grotech Ventures and Correlation Ventures adds value to alternate data requirements for processing loan applications.

The company aims to expand the sources of data from which financial services providers can pull for underwriting and other services. In the company’s funding announcement, Equifax president of United States Information Services Sig Singh said the firm is “erasing the problem of thin credit files or credit invisibility” to support access to financing for consumers and businesses.

The major benefit I see from Urjanet integrating with BBPS is the ability for companies to pay their Utility Bills via BBPS instead of paying via Cheques /Demand Drafts or other modes.

For Eg: Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd has made mandatory  Digital payments for all bills above Rs 50000 w.e.f 1st July 2019. 

This has led to corporates paying their electricity bills via RTGS/NEFT.

The bill payment via RTGS/NEFT is a bit cumbersome and can be more customer-friendly.

Just read this article of July 2018 - Rs 100 crore in one day: PSPCL realises the magic of digital payments @ https://egov.eletsonline.com/2018/07/rs-100-crore-in-one-day-pspcl-realises-the-magic-of-digital-payments/

 

Avoid Fake Electricity Bills Payment Sites – Pay only via BBPS (Bharat Bill Payment Systems)

            Part Inspiration from @ Bescom customers being duped by fraudulent sites

            Just was surfing Google and the above article caught my eye. This article is of a bygone era i.e 2014. Way back in 2014 too, Utility companies’ customers were willing to settle their bills via the Digital mode.

            This was very much before BBPS went live. One of the most popular web portal to pay Utility Bills  i.e Electricity, Water etc in Karnataka is www.karnatakaone.gov.in

            A wide range of Utility Bills can be paid at  BangaloreOne and KarnatakaOne physical locations and via the portal too.

            Few fraudsters saw an opportunity and created fake web portals to con unsuspecting consumers.

            The standard disclaimer in most bill payment portals i.e that the payment will take upto 3 days to reflect in the customers utility bill account is a loophole that fraudsters can exploit.

            The BBPS – Fetch and Pay is a wonderful tool for bill payments.

For making payment of your utility Bill, customers just need to key in the unique customer id in the Biller Screen, and the outstanding bill amount is fetched.

There is no need to enter your bill amount, system will fetch amount from biller and displays it on the screen.

This ensures that the payment is done to the correct customer’s account and only the due amount from the customer is remitted to the biller.

The consumer would get an instant confirmation from NPCI_BBPS Team  and receipt once the transaction is successfully completed.  An SMS would also be triggered by the bank/non-bank too.

Availability of payment options (Fetch/Quick pay) is subject to facility offered by the Biller concerned.

3 Days default:

Extract from Amazon.in :-

How much time will it take for a payment to be accepted by the biller?

Some billers take a maximum of 3 business days to accept the payment after the transaction is completed on Amazon.in. We request you to pay your bills at least 3 business days before the payment due date to avoid inconvenience

 

---

Extract from https://support.google.com/pay/india/answer/7579062?hl=en-GB

Note: It usually takes up to 3 business days for payments to show up in your account.

---

Extract from https://www.online.citibank.co.in/portal/blogs/Utility-Bill-Payments/index.htm#home

In most cases, the funds should reflect in your billers account within 2 working days (excluding Saturdays, & Sundays and any public holidays). To ensure there is no disruption in service from the biller’s side, please ensure bills are paid at least 3 working days before due date.

Titbits about BangaloreOne and KarnatakaOne :

About BangaloreOne - BangaloreOne project is an Integrated citizen services project wherein BangaloreOne citizen service centres have been set up in different parts of Bangalore city to offer services of multiple Government Organizations and Private Companies under one roof in a citizen friendly manner. Centres set up in Bangalore are named as “BangaloreOne centres”.

Services of BangaloreOne are also offered through the KarnatakaOne portal(www.karnatakaone.gov.in).

About KarnatakaOne - KarnatakaOne Project was taken up for implementation by Government of Karnataka for replicating BangaloreOne to other cities of Karnataka for delivering services of multiple Government Organizations and Private Companies under one roof in a citizen friendly manner.

Currently KarnatakaOne is operational at 14 cities Viz., Bellary, Belagavi, Davanagere, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad, Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur, Bagalkot, Karwar, Udupi,Gadag, & Vijayapura.

Services are also being delivered through KarnatakaOne Portal (www.karnatakaone.gov.in)to facilitate online payments. Centres set up in various cities of Karnataka other than Bangalore are named as “KarnatakaOne centres”.

So, pay all your bills via BBPS only.

 

BBPS adds 29 Billers in June 2020

            In June 2020, 29 New Billers onboarded BBPS, India’s latest gift to Digital Transactions world.

            Municipal Taxes and Housing Societies are the latest Biller Categories.

Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) is an integrated bill payment system in India offering interoperable and accessible bill payment service to customers through a network of agents of registered member as Agent Institutions (AI), enabling multiple payment modes, and providing instant confirmation of payment.

The Multiple Payment Modes under BBPS are :

Ø  Cash

Ø  Wallets

Ø  Credit Card

Ø  IMPS

Ø  Debit Card

Ø  UPI

Ø  Prepaid Card

Ø  Net Banking

 

BBPS Payment Channels are:

v  KIOSK Agent

v  ATM

v  Internet

v  Bank Branch

v  Mobile

v  Business Correspondents

Please note all payment modes are not available at all payment channels. Please check the payment mode availability at the respective payment channel.

Biller Categories with NIL Additions

Cable TV

DTH

Electricity

Gas- Cylinder

Insurance (Health)

Telecom-Broadband

Telecom-Landline

Telecom-Postpaid

Biller Categories with ONE Additions

Education Fees - New Biller is: -

·         Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College

Gas - New Biller is: -

·         Naveriya Gas Pvt Ltd

Insurance (Life) - New Biller is: -

·         Bajaj Allianz

Biller Categories with TWO Additions

FASTag Recharge – New Billers are: -

·         HDFC Bank-FAStag

·         IDFC FIRST Bank - FasTag

Housing Society – New Addition - New Billers are: -

·         Parisar Co Operative Housing Service Society Limited

·         Ebony Greens Apartments Owners Association

 

Biller Categories with FOUR Additions

Municipal Taxes - New Addition - New Billers are: -

·         Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration and Development - Property Tax

·         Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation

·         Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

·         Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation - Property

 

Biller Categories with Maximum (17) Additions

Loan Repayment - New Billers are: -

 

1.      Arohan Financial Services Ltd

2.      AU Bank Loan Repayment

3.      Axis Finance Limited

4.      Camden Town Technologies Pvt Ltd (Zest Money)

5.      Cars24 Financial Services Private Limited

6.      DMI Finance Private Limited

7.      Easy Home Finance Limited

8.      Jain Autofin

9.      Kinara Capital/Visage Holding

10.  Kissht (SI CREVA CAPITAL SERVICES PVT LTD)

11.  LoanTap CREDIT PRODUCTS PRIVATE LIMITED

12.  MoneyMitra IT Solutions Pvt Ltd (RupeeRedee)

13.  Muthoot Microfin Limited

14.  Oxyzo Financial Services Pvt Ltd

15.  Shriram Housing Finance Limited

16.  Shriram Transport Finance Company Limited

17.  Toyota Financial Services