ONDC Registration Simplified for Small Sellers
What happened
Registering on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is now "easier than Flipkart," a mentor said in a recent vendor webinar. Small sellers reportedly only need a GST and Aadhaar number to get started on the government-backed e-commerce network.
Why it matters
- The network has expanded its reach to over 7.6 lakh sellers and service providers across more than 600 towns and cities. - ONDC operates as an open network, not a centralized platform, meaning a seller's products, once listed via a seller app, are visible to customers on any buyer app within the network, such as Paytm. - To counter the high commission fees on major platforms, which can range from 18% to 40%, ONDC's model aims for significantly lower costs, with some seller apps charging only a small percentage of the transaction. - The initiative is designed to unbundle core e-commerce operations—catalogs, logistics, and payments—giving sellers the flexibility to choose their preferred service providers rather than being locked into a single platform's ecosystem. - Key figures in India's technology and commerce sectors, including former DPIIT Additional Secretary Anil Agrawal, guide the initiative's advisory council, which was established in 2021 to accelerate adoption. - The government's stated goal for ONDC is to "democratise" digital commerce, breaking the market concentration of dominant platforms and providing a level playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises. - As of early 2025, the network had processed over 200 million cumulative transactions, with a significant acceleration seeing 100 million of those transactions occur in the last six months of the period. - Sellers can register on the network through various ONDC-compliant seller apps by providing essential documents like a PAN card, GST certificate, and bank account details, a process designed to be streamlined and accessible.
Key numbers
- - The network has expanded its reach to over 7.6 lakh sellers and service providers across more than 600 towns and cities.
- To counter the high commission fees on major platforms, which can range from 18% to 40%, ONDC's model aims for significantly lower costs, with some seller apps charging only a small percentage of the transaction.
- Key figures in India's technology and commerce sectors, including former DPIIT Additional Secretary Anil Agrawal, guide the initiative's advisory council, which was established in 2021 to accelerate adoption.
- As of early 2025, the network had processed over 200 million cumulative transactions, with a significant acceleration seeing 100 million of those transactions occur in the last six months of the period.
What happens next
- To counter the high commission fees on major platforms, which can range from 18% to 40%, ONDC's model aims for significantly lower costs, with some seller apps charging only a small percentage of the transaction.
Quick answers
What happened in ONDC Registration Simplified for Small Sellers?
Registering on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is now "easier than Flipkart," a mentor said in a recent vendor webinar. Small sellers reportedly only need a GST and Aadhaar number to get started on the government-backed e-commerce network.
Why does ONDC Registration Simplified for Small Sellers matter?
The network has expanded its reach to over 7.6 lakh sellers and service providers across more than 600 towns and cities. ONDC operates as an open network, not a centralized platform, meaning a seller's products, once listed via a seller app, are visible to customers on any buyer app within the network, such as Paytm. To counter the high commission fees on major platforms, which can range from 18% to 40%, ONDC's model aims for significantly lower costs, with some seller apps charging only a small percentage of the transaction. The initiative is designed to unbundle core e-commerce operations—catalogs, logistics, and payments—giving sellers the flexibility to choose their preferred service providers rather than being locked into a single platform's ecosystem. Key figures in India's technology and commerce sectors, including former DPIIT Additional Secretary Anil Agrawal, guide the initiative's advisory council, which was established in 2021 to accelerate adoption. The government's stated goal for ONDC is to "democratise" digital commerce, breaking the market concentration of dominant platforms and providing a level playing field for small and medium-sized enterprises. As of early 2025, the network had processed over 200 million cumulative transactions, with a significant acceleration seeing 100 million of those transactions occur in the last six months of the period. Sellers can register on the network through various ONDC-compliant seller apps by providing essential documents like a PAN card, GST certificate, and bank account details, a process designed to be streamlined and accessible.
