Mizoram Partners with SBI to Digitize Village Council Revenue Collection

Aizawl: Mizoram officials inked a deal with the State Bank of India this Tuesday to shift village council revenue collections online. The agreement connects local tax systems to the SAMARTH digital payment gateway. Rural Development and Administration Minister Lalnilawma hosted the signing at his Aizawl office. RD&AD Director Lalngura Tlau signed for the state, while Deputy General Manager Manish Uppal represented the bank.

This move makes Mizoram the first state in the Northeast and the third nationwide to adopt the SAMARTH framework. The digital shift allows councils to track and record transactions in real time. Lalnilawma noted, "Mizoram was the first state in the Northeast and the third in the country to sign such an agreement with SBI under the SAMARTH initiative."

Better revenue numbers matter. Councils that boost their own-source collections qualify for performance grants from the 16th Finance Commission. Under the Mizoram Village Council Act, 2025, these bodies hold the legal authority to tax residents. Officials expect this competition to drive revenue and help hit the national Viksit Bharat 2047 targets.