Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Source: NIE

Subject:  Government Scheme

Context: Online ticket booking for 170+ centrally protected monuments and museums has been enabled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

About Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):

What it is?

• ONDC is an open, interoperable digital network that enables buying and selling of goods and services across platforms using open protocols, without platform monopolies.

Launched in: April 2022

Ministry:

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Aim:

• Democratise digital commerce by breaking platform silos.
• Create a level playing field for sellers (especially MSMEs), buyers, and service providers.
• Promote inclusivity, competition, innovation, and cost efficiency in e-commerce.

How ONDC works?

• ONDC functions as a decentralised digital network, not a central marketplace. It does not own listings, control sellers, or process orders; instead, it connects independent platforms through common digital rules.
• Using open protocols and standardised APIs, any buyer app can discover products or services listed on any seller app across the network, regardless of the company that built the app. Once a buyer places an order, different specialised participants handle each part of the transaction.
  • Buyer Applications provide the customer interface for search, price comparison, and ordering.
  • Seller Applications manage product catalogues, inventory, pricing, and order confirmation.
  • Logistics Providers handle pickup, delivery, and tracking across regions.
  • Technology Enablers supply the digital infrastructure, integrations, and tools.
• Because all participants follow the same open standards, any ONDC-compliant app can seamlessly discover, connect, and transact with any other, ensuring interoperability, competition, and freedom of choice for users.

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