Context:

• The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) under the Department of Food and Public Distribution held a conference on e-NWR (National Warehousing Reciepts) based pledge finance with Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).

More about the News:

• The conference was held to create awareness amongst the RRBs about the ecosystem of WDRA and benefits of pledge finance through e-NWR.
• All the RRBs were requested to onboard with WDRA repositories so that they can start lending through electronic- negotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWR).
• RRBs were urged to enter into MOUs with WDRA to promote pledge finance just as other banks such as SBI, PNB and Federal Bank have done. 
• WDRA has digitized its operations since 2017 and WDRA’s e-NWR is the first digitized negotiable warehouse receipt in India. 
• RRBs were requested to be a part of the Digital Gateway being created by WDRA in partnership with NABARD aimed at reducing pledge processing time and improving the ease of doing business.

Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority(WDRA):

• WDRA was set up by the Government of India to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing (Development & Regulation) Act, 2007. 
• Objective: The main objective of WDRA is to implement Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System in the country.
• Functions: To make provisions for the development and regulation of warehouses which includes negotiability of warehouse receipts, registration of warehouses, promotion of scientific warehousing of goods, improving fiduciary trust of depositors and banks, enhancing liquidity in rural areas and promoting efficient supply chain.

News Source: PIB