[alephnerd]

> They are a massive failure of local governance in India. And getting defensive about it won’t help you in the long run, if you live in India. Sooner or later, you’ll be affected too.

Yep. Welfare Schemes are distributed via UPI, and internet shutdowns often affect regions where there are a number of residents who are eligible for welfare schemes like MGNREGA, PMSBY, etc.

Look at Manipur for example or portions of UP during law and order flairups.

That said, in my ancestral village it is being used as a cash alternative. Almost no one there is eligible for a credit card, and "payment disputes" are resolved with lathis or bandhs.