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E-Pay Gateway Integrated with Departmental Portal to Streamline Advance Payments and Fund Transfers
Pooja Srivastava
Anytime News Network
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken another step towards digital governance and financial transparency, with the state Excise Department formally exchanging an agreement deed with the State Bank of India (SBI) to strengthen its digital payment infrastructure.
The initiative, introduced under the effective implementation of the Excise Policy for 2026–27, integrates SBI’s E-Pay payment gateway with the department’s portal. The system is intended to make transactions more convenient, secure and systematic for retail licensees.
Payments Through a Digital Gateway
Under the new arrangement, retail licensees can select SBI’s E-Pay gateway to make advance payments against their indents for wholesale licences. The facility is designed to simplify the payment process and support digital transactions within the department’s licensing framework.
The integration is expected to improve transaction management and facilitate the maintenance of payment records. It also represents an effort to reduce procedural difficulties associated with the handling of payments.
Pool Account Mechanism
The new system introduces a pool account mechanism for managing advance payments. Funds deposited by retail licensees will initially be held in the designated pool account. Once the withdrawal of the relevant indent against the wholesale licences is completed, the amount will be transferred to the corresponding accounts in accordance with the prescribed process.
The arrangement aims to establish a more structured flow of funds and improve transparency in the handling of financial transactions. Its practical effectiveness will depend on timely processing, reliable technical operations and appropriate monitoring.
Senior Officials Attend the Exchange
The formal exchange took place in the presence of senior officials from the Uttar Pradesh government and SBI.
Representing the Excise Department were Additional Chief Secretary Veena Kumari, Excise Commissioner Adarsh Singh and Additional Excise Commissioner (Administration) Navneet Sehara.
SBI was represented by Lucknow Circle Chief General Manager Dipesh Raj, General Manager (NW-1) Vimal Kishore and Deputy General Manager (TBU) Mukesh Kumar, along with other officials.
Focus on Transparent Governance
The collaboration reflects the growing role of digital banking infrastructure in government administration. By integrating an established banking payment gateway into the excise portal, the department aims to make transactions easier to manage and improve the flow of funds.
The initiative’s long-term impact will depend on the efficiency of implementation, system reliability and the extent to which the new facility delivers simpler payment procedures for licensees.
