In Phulenagar village, Maharashtra, farmer Samadhan Sonawane has successfully implemented a drip irrigation system funded through India's pilot program for the central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as the e-rupee. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reform India's welfare payment system, which is valued at $80 billion and has historically struggled with corruption and inefficiency. The pilot, involving the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Maharashtra government, and Punjab National Bank, aims to explore the potential of the e-rupee to enhance welfare distribution efficiency. Currently, approximately 10 million users are part of this program, which allows direct transfers of subsidies into digital wallets, covering 80% of costs for farmers like Sonawane. Similar initiatives are underway in Gujarat, where 15,000 beneficiaries are enrolled to receive subsidized food through government ration shops. However, experts caution that the programmed nature of CBDCs may deter adoption if restrictions on spending are too stringent.