One of the key steps in India’s journey towards financial inclusion is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in 2014. This program aimed to provide every household in India with a bank account and access to other financial services like insurance and pensions. It helped people receive government benefits directly into their bank accounts, reducing losses and improving efficiency in delivering welfare.

The Aadhaar system, India’s biometric identification program, has been crucial in this effort. Aadhaar makes it easier to open bank accounts with less paperwork. Linking Aadhaar to bank accounts has made it simpler for people to access various financial services.

Recently, India has seen a boom in digital payments, thanks to systems like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). UPI, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has revolutionized digital payments. In one year, UPI transactions grew by 54% in volume and 42% in value. This widespread use of UPI has made digital payments accessible to many, allowing easy peer-to-peer and merchant transactions.

The rapid growth of UPI transactions shows how quickly India is moving towards a cashless economy. Up to 2022, this trend was driven by more people using smartphones, government incentives, and the convenience of UPI. However, challenges like cybersecurity risks, gaps in digital literacy, gender disparities, and connectivity issues in remote areas remain. Overcoming these challenges is essential to maintaining the growth of UPI and ensuring everyone benefits from digital payments.

Procedural law encompasses the rules and processes for enforcing legal rights and obligations through the court system. It includes the steps for filing a lawsuit, pre-trial procedures, trial conduct, and rules for appeals and post-trial activities. Some examples of Procedural law are CrPC ( now BNSS), CPC, IEA ( now BSA).  The primary aim of procedural law is to ensure that legal proceedings are fair and just.

Substantive law, in contrast, defines the actual rights, duties, and obligations of individuals and entities.  Substantive law specifies what actions are considered crimes, how to establish liability for breaches of contracts, and the consequences of violating property rights. Some examples of Substantive laws are IPC (now BNS), TPA, Contract Act, SRA, SOGA.

In essence, procedural law governs the methods and processes of legal enforcement, while substantive law delineates the specific rights and responsibilities under the law.

Procedural law cannot create rights or obligations that are not already established by substantive law, nor can it diminish the rights or obligations provided by substantive law. Therefore, procedural law is subservient to substantive law. Its primary role is to facilitate and advance the cause of justice, which is why it is often said that “procedure is the handmaid of justice, not its mistress.”  However, when the strict application of a procedural rule would defeat the purpose of justice, courts may interpret the rule more liberally to align with its intent, ensuring that the ultimate goal of serving justice is achieved.