The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with State Governments, is set to introduce the “Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar” Invoice Incentive Scheme, aimed at fostering a culture of requesting invoices for all purchases. This initiative seeks to instigate a profound cultural shift, encouraging consumers to assert their right and demand proper invoices.
Key Details of the Scheme:
1. Launch Date: The scheme is scheduled for launch on September 1, 2023.
2. Initial Pilot Phase: Initially, it will be piloted in the states of Assam, Gujarat, and Haryana, along with the Union Territories of Puducherry, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu.
3. Eligible Invoices: All Business-to-Consumer (B2C) invoices issued by Goods and Services Tax (GST) registered suppliers in the pilot states and UTs will qualify. Invoices must have a minimum value of Rs. 200 to be considered for the lucky draw.
4. Invoice Submission: Invoices can be uploaded through the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’ mobile application, available on both IOS and Android platforms, or on the web portal ‘web.merabill.gst.gov.in.’
5. Nationwide Participation: All Indian residents are eligible to participate in the scheme, regardless of their state or UT of residence. An individual can upload a maximum of 25 invoices per month for inclusion in the lucky draw.
6. Acknowledgement Reference Number (ARN): Upon uploading an invoice, an Acknowledgement Reference Number (ARN) will be generated, which will be used for prize drawings.
7. Prize Structure and Draw Frequency:
- Monthly Draw: 800 prizes with a prize amount of Rs. 10,000 each, and 10 super prizes of Rs. 10,00,000 each.
- Quarterly Bumper Draw: 2 super prizes, each worth Rs. 1,00,00,000.
Invoices eligible for the monthly draw are those issued during the previous month and uploaded by the 5th of the following month. The quarterly bumper draw considers all invoices uploaded in the last three months leading up to the 5th of the bumper draw month.
8. Invoice Details: When uploading invoices, participants must provide specific details, including:
- GSTIN of the supplier
- Invoice number
- Invoice date
- Invoice value
- State/UT of the customer
9. Verification: The system will reject duplicate uploads and invoices with inactive or counterfeit GSTINs.
10. Winner Notification: Winners will be notified via SMS or push notifications exclusively through the app or web portal.
11. Prize Claim: Winning individuals will be requested to provide additional information such as PAN number, Aadhar Card, Bank Account Details, etc., within 30 days from the notification date to facilitate the prize transfer to their bank account.
12. Duration: This pilot scheme will operate for a duration of 12 months.
The “Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar” initiative is a significant step toward promoting transparency in transactions and fostering responsible consumer behavior, aligning with the larger mission of promoting accountable and ethical economic practices in India.
