Integrated IFMS–PFMS system promises faster payouts, real-time tracking, and a tamper-proof audit trail, marking a decisive shift to fully digital subsidy governance

In a major step toward digitising India’s agricultural subsidy architecture, the Centre on Thursday launched an integrated e-Bill platform that will enable the processing of nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in annual fertiliser subsidies through a fully online, end-to-end system.

Inaugurating the platform, Union Fertilisers Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said the initiative represents a decisive move away from manual, paper-based workflows toward transparent, technology-driven governance. “This online system will play a significant role in strengthening efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public financial management,” he said.

The new platform has been developed through the integration of the Department of Fertilisers’ Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under the Ministry of Finance. Together, the two systems create a single digital pipeline for submission, verification, approval, and disbursal of fertiliser subsidy claims.

Fertilisers Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra described the launch as “a major milestone in modernising the department’s financial operations,” noting that the elimination of physical bill movement would significantly reduce delays and administrative friction that have long plagued subsidy payments.

According to CGA Santosh Kumar, the platform strengthens fiscal oversight by creating a centralised, tamper-proof digital audit trail for every transaction. “The system significantly enhances transparency and accountability, enabling easier monitoring, real-time expenditure oversight, and more effective audits,” he said.

The e-Bill platform allows fertiliser companies to submit subsidy claims online, track payment status in real time, and avoid physical visits or manual follow-ups with government offices. It enforces a standardised electronic workflow, including first-in-first-out (FIFO) bill processing, ensuring uniformity, rule-based compliance, and predictability in payments.

Manoj Sethi, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Fertilisers, said the system would materially accelerate payment timelines, including the timely release of weekly fertiliser subsidy disbursements—an issue of critical importance for companies managing tight working capital cycles.

Built-in validation controls automatically check claims against predefined criteria, log every action for audit purposes, and reduce the scope for errors and fraud. All payments are tracked and reported centrally, strengthening financial discipline across the subsidy ecosystem.

With fertiliser subsidies forming one of the largest recurring expenditures in India’s agricultural budget, the rollout of the e-Bill platform signals the government’s intent to bring scale, speed, and credibility to subsidy administration—while aligning public finance with the broader push for digital governance.