Guwahati: The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) would provide small shops equitable access to the benefits of the digital world and allow them to trade on a single platform, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

The government began the test phase of ONDC, a UPI-like protocol, in five cities on April 29. Its goal was to democratise the rapidly increasing e-commerce sector by assisting small shops and limiting the power of online retail giants.

According to Goyal, the rising dominance of big format e-commerce corporations, who are engaging in many illegal actions and are under investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement, might threaten the very survival of small merchants.

Sellers are exploited as a result of such actions, he noted.

"Consumers will have a plethora of options thanks to ONDC… It is, in some ways, a means for democratising e-commerce. It will provide all sellers equal possibilities to offer their items, and all consumers will have a wide range of options "Goyal stated.

ONDC is a collection of voluntary standards for sellers, logistics providers, and payment gateways to embrace.

When asked about the news report regarding Turkey rejecting an Indian wheat cargo due to phytosanitary concerns, the minister stated that he investigated the matter and discovered that ITC had sold wheat to a Dutch customer after following the proper protocol and quality check.

He went on to say that ITC is a reputable corporation that exports high-quality wheat, and that "I am confident that Indian wheat is of the highest quality."

India exported 70 lakh tonnes of wheat in the previous fiscal year and 14.5 lakh tonnes in April, indicating that "Indian wheat is welcomed worldwide," he added.