NPCI Drunix: The Complete Guide to India’s Open-Source Enterprise Blockchain (2026)

Published Jun 2026 · Last updated Jun 2026 · By Keshav Sharma, Simplileap Digital LLP

On 17 June 2026, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) — the organisation behind UPI, RuPay, and IMPS — open-sourced Drunix, a high-performance enterprise blockchain platform built as an enhanced fork of Hyperledger Fabric. For Indian banks, enterprises, and government bodies exploring tokenization and multi-organisation networks, it is one of the most significant distributed-ledger releases to ever come out of India.

This is the most complete, practitioner-written guide to Drunix you will find. At Simplileap Digital LLP, a blockchain and Web3 development company with 6 years of experience building production systems, our engineering team has worked directly with the Drunix codebase since release. Below we cover what Drunix is, how it works internally, how to set it up step by step, how it compares to Hyperledger Fabric and other blockchains, the highest-value use cases for India, common pitfalls, and answers to every question we keep getting asked.

TL;DR: Drunix is a free, open-source (Apache-2.0) permissioned blockchain platform from NPCI. It re-engineers Hyperledger Fabric for higher throughput by (1) splitting the peer into separate endorsement and commit roles, (2) adding SQL-database support (YugabyteDB) for ledger state, (3) decoupling validation into a scalable stateless service, and (4) cutting network calls for private data via a shared transient store. It stays backwards compatible with Hyperledger Fabric v2.5.x and targets tokenization, digital-asset, and multi-organisation use cases.

Drunix at a glance

What is NPCI Drunix?

Drunix is an open-source, permissioned blockchain framework released by NPCI. “Permissioned” means only known, approved organisations can join the network — unlike public blockchains such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, where anyone can participate anonymously. This permissioned model is what makes Drunix appropriate for regulated environments like banking, payments, and public infrastructure, where privacy, identity, and governance are mandatory.

Technically, Drunix is a fork of Hyperledger Fabric, the most widely adopted enterprise blockchain framework, governed by the Linux Foundation (LF Decentralized Trust). Instead of building from zero, NPCI took Fabric’s proven, audited codebase and re-engineered its performance-critical components, while keeping it backwards compatible with Hyperledger Fabric v2.5.x. In practice that means existing Fabric chaincode and tooling translate with relatively little friction.

Drunix is NPCI’s second major open-source blockchain contribution, following Falcon, which focused on blockchain network management and orchestration. Where Falcon handles operations, Drunix tackles the core blockchain runtime and transaction-processing layer.

If you are completely new to blockchain: think of Drunix as a shared, tamper-evident database that several organisations maintain together. Everyone sees the same records, no single party can secretly alter history, and a smart contract (called “chaincode”) enforces the agreed rules. That shared source of truth is what lets parties who don’t fully trust each other transact without a central intermediary.

Why did NPCI build Drunix?

Hyperledger Fabric is robust and widely deployed, but it has two well-documented limitations at large scale, both of which Drunix directly targets:

1. Throughput bottlenecks. In standard Fabric, a single peer process handles endorsement, validation, and commitment. Under heavy load this monolithic peer becomes a chokepoint, and you cannot scale one responsibility without scaling all of them.
2. Limited analytics and querying. Fabric stores ledger state in NoSQL databases (LevelDB or CouchDB). Running structured reports, joins, or complex analytics against that data is awkward and slow.

NPCI built Drunix to remove these constraints — enabling blockchain deployment at scale without sacrificing privacy, governance, or interoperability — and then open-sourced it as reusable infrastructure for India’s broader digital public infrastructure (DPI) ambitions.

Key features explained

1. Segregated responsibility for peers

The single Fabric peer is split into two specialised, independently scalable roles:

• Lite Peer (LP): Stateless, handles only transaction endorsement (simulating chaincode and signing results). It stores no ledger data locally, so you can run many Lite Peers to absorb endorsement-heavy traffic.
• Committing Peer (CP): Handles block sanity checks, coordinates validation, runs Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC), and commits transactions to the ledger and state database.

2. SQL database support (the standout feature)

Drunix adds YugabyteDB, a distributed SQL database, as an on-chain state store alongside Fabric’s NoSQL options. This is the change with the biggest commercial impact: ledger state can now be queried with standard SQL (joins, aggregations, reporting) and benefits from strong consistency and mature analytics tooling — without leaving the blockchain.

3. Stateless validation service

In Fabric, the Validation System Chaincode (VSCC) runs inside the peer. Drunix decouples it into a standalone, stateless validation service that scales horizontally. Transactions are distributed across multiple validation servers and checked in parallel, which is a primary source of Drunix’s throughput gains and frees peers from validation overhead.

4. Reduced network calls for private data

Both peers in an organisation share a KeyDB (Redis-compatible) transient store. This eliminates much of the gossip-based private-data synchronisation that adds latency in Fabric — the Lite Peer no longer needs to distribute private data during endorsement, and the Committing Peer no longer needs to fetch it during commit.

5. Backwards compatibility with Hyperledger Fabric v2.5.x

Drunix inherits the maturity of the Fabric 2.5 line — including features like Raft ordering and the ability to purge private-data history — which lowers migration risk for teams already invested in Fabric.

Drunix architecture deep dive

A Drunix network is made up of several cooperating components. Per organisation, the runtime footprint is larger than Fabric’s — roughly five components versus Fabric’s typical two — which is the trade-off for independent scaling.

Practitioner note from Simplileap: in the Drunix test network the peer indices are inverted from what most Fabric developers expect — index 0 is the Lite Peer and index 1 is the Committing Peer. Get this wrong in setGlobals and your peer commands will hit the wrong node.

How a Drunix transaction works

Follow a single transaction end to end:

1. Endorsement. A client sends a transaction proposal to a Lite Peer. The Lite Peer simulates the chaincode, produces a read-write set, writes any private data to the shared KeyDB transient store, and returns a signed endorsement.
2. Submission. The client gathers the required endorsements, signs the transaction, and submits it to the Orderer.
3. Ordering. The Orderer batches transactions from many clients, establishes their order, and packages them into blocks (the test network uses single-node Raft).
4. Validation. Committing Peers send transactions to the Validation Service in round-robin fashion. The service checks endorsement policies and cryptographic signatures in parallel and returns results. The Committing Peer then performs MVCC validation to detect read-write conflicts.
5. Commit. Valid transactions are written to the ledger and the SQL state database; invalid ones are marked but still recorded for auditability.

Drunix vs Hyperledger Fabric

Bottom line: Drunix is Fabric optimised for high-throughput, analytics-friendly, large-scale deployments. For small or low-volume networks, plain Fabric may still be simpler to run.

Drunix vs other blockchains

A quick orientation for newcomers comparing options:

Smart contracts (chaincode) on Drunix

In Drunix, smart contracts are called chaincode, inherited from the Fabric model. Supported languages are Go, Java, JavaScript, and TypeScript (Go is the default in the sample network). Chaincode defines the business logic — how assets are created, transferred, and queried — and runs during the endorsement phase.

A typical asset-transfer chaincode exposes functions such as InitLedger, CreateAsset, ReadAsset, TransferAsset, and GetAllAssets. Once deployed to a channel, clients invoke these functions to write to the ledger or query them to read state.

Conceptually, a Go chaincode method to create an asset looks like this:

func (s *SmartContract) CreateAsset(ctx contractapi.TransactionContextInterface,
    id string, owner string, value int) error {

    asset := Asset{ID: id, Owner: owner, Value: value}
    assetJSON, err := json.Marshal(asset)
    if err != nil {
        return err
    }
    // Writes to the ledger; on Drunix, state is persisted to the SQL store
    return ctx.GetStub().PutState(id, assetJSON)
}

Because Drunix is backwards compatible with Fabric v2.5.x, chaincode written for Fabric generally runs on Drunix with little or no change — a major advantage for teams with existing Fabric assets.

How to set up a Drunix test network

You can stand up a local two-organisation Drunix network using the official sample test network. Here is a practical, ordered walkthrough.

Prerequisites

A Linux machine with:

• Git
• Docker
• Go (Golang)
• jq
• Bash v4 or higher (macOS ships bash 3.2, so use Linux or upgrade bash)

Step 1 — Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/npci/drunix.git
cd drunix/drunix-network/test-network

Step 2 — Install required binaries and Docker images

./network.sh prereq

Step 3 — Bring up the network and create a channel

./network.sh up createChannel -c mychannel -ca -s yugabyte

This starts a network with two peer organisations — each running one Lite Peer, one Committing Peer, and one validation server — backed by YugabyteDB and a single-node Raft orderer. -ca uses Certificate Authorities for crypto material; -s yugabyte selects the SQL state database.

Step 4 — Deploy sample chaincode

./network.sh deployCC -ccn basic \
  -ccp ../asset-transfer-basic/chaincode-go \
  -ccl go

Step 5 — Invoke and query

# Initialise the ledger
./network.sh cc invoke -c mychannel -ccn basic -ccic '{"Args":["InitLedger"]}'

# Read all assets back
./network.sh cc query -c mychannel -ccn basic -ccqc '{"Args":["GetAllAssets"]}'

Step 6 — Tear down

./network.sh down

Running raw peer commands

To use the peer CLI directly, put the binaries on your path and source the environment helper:

export PATH=$PATH:$(realpath ../bin)
export FABRIC_CFG_PATH=$(realpath ../config)
source ./scripts/envVar.sh
setGlobals 1 1   # Org 1, Committing Peer (remember: 0 = Lite Peer, 1 = Committing Peer)

Working with private data collections

Private data collections let specific organisations share confidential data that is not visible to the whole channel — essential for use cases like sealed bids, pricing, or KYC.

Collections are defined in a JSON config file, with each collection specifying a name, an access policy, peer-count requirements, a blockToLive (how long data is retained), read/write rules, and an endorsement policy. For example, a collection might allow only Org1MSP members to read and write, with data purged after a set number of blocks.

Deploy chaincode with a collection config using the -cccg flag:

./network.sh deployCC -ccn private-data \
  -ccp ../asset-transfer-private-data/chaincode-go \
  -ccl go \
  -cccg ../asset-transfer-private-data/chaincode-go/collections_config.json

Because Drunix routes private data through the shared KeyDB transient store, these flows incur fewer cross-peer network calls than they would on standard Fabric.

Command cheat sheet

Useful flags: -c channel name, -s database type, -ca use CAs, -ccv version, -ccs sequence, -ccep endorsement policy, -cccg collection config, -cci init function, -verbose verbose logging.

Troubleshooting & common pitfalls

• Wrong peer targeted. Remember the inverted indices: 0 = Lite Peer, 1 = Committing Peer. Using the wrong index in setGlobals is the most common early mistake.
• Scripts fail on macOS. The helper scripts require Bash v4+. macOS defaults to 3.2 — run on Linux or upgrade bash via Homebrew.
• Containers won’t start. Confirm the Docker daemon is running and your user can access it; the YugabyteDB and KeyDB containers are heavier than Fabric’s CouchDB, so allocate adequate memory.
• Channel creation hangs. Increase the retry/delay flags (-r and -d) on slower machines.
• Crypto material errors. Be consistent about whether you generate identities with cryptogen (default) or Certificate Authorities (-ca); mixing them across runs without a clean down causes mismatches.
• Stale state between runs. Always run ./network.sh down before bringing the network back up to clear old volumes.

Migrating from Hyperledger Fabric

Because Drunix maintains backwards compatibility with Fabric v2.5.x, migration is realistic but should be planned, not rushed. A typical migration path:

1. Assess your current Fabric version, chaincode, and channel configuration.
2. Test chaincode unchanged against a Drunix test network to confirm compatibility.
3. Introduce the new topology — separate Lite and Committing Peers, the validation service, and KeyDB.
4. Switch the state database to YugabyteDB if you want SQL analytics (or keep CouchDB/LevelDB initially).
5. Load-test to validate that the new architecture delivers the expected throughput gains for your workload.
6. Cut over with a rollback plan.

This is exactly the kind of structured engagement our team handles; see How Simplileap can help.

Security considerations

Drunix is permissioned, so identity and access are enforced through a membership service and Certificate Authorities — every participant is known and authenticated. Standard enterprise practices still apply: protect private keys (ideally with an HSM), use TLS between all components, define least-privilege endorsement policies, and govern channel membership carefully. Security vulnerabilities can be reported responsibly through the project’s GitHub security advisories. As with any newly released platform, we strongly recommend an independent security review and a controlled pilot before production rollout.

Performance & scalability

Drunix’s performance story rests on three levers working together: you can scale endorsement by adding Lite Peers, scale validation by adding validation-service instances, and reduce latency by removing private-data gossip via the shared KeyDB. Parallel validation and batched reads/writes are where most of the throughput improvement over vanilla Fabric comes from.

The honest caveat: this architecture has more moving parts, so its advantages mainly materialise at high transaction volumes. For low-throughput networks, the extra components may add operational overhead without proportional benefit. Determining the break-even throughput for a given workload is a key part of any serious Drunix evaluation.

Top use cases in India

Drunix is purpose-built for tokenization and multi-organisation networks. The highest-potential applications for the Indian market:

What unites these is the need for a shared, trusted record across organisations that don’t fully trust each other — precisely what a permissioned blockchain provides.

When you should (and should not) use Drunix

Good fit when you have:

• Multiple organisations that need a shared, trusted record
• High transaction volumes that justify horizontal scaling
• A need for SQL analytics or reporting on ledger state
• Regulatory requirements for privacy, identity, and governance
• Existing Hyperledger Fabric investments you want to scale further

Probably overkill when:

• A single organisation controls all the data (a regular database is simpler)
• Transaction volumes are low (vanilla Fabric or even no blockchain may suffice)
• You need public, permissionless access or EVM smart contracts (consider Ethereum/Polygon)
• You lack the operational capacity to run a multi-component network (consider managed services)

Glossary

• DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology): A database shared and synchronised across multiple organisations.
• Permissioned blockchain: A network where only approved, identified participants can join.
• Chaincode: Hyperledger/Drunix term for a smart contract.
• Lite Peer (LP): Stateless Drunix peer that handles endorsement only.
• Committing Peer (CP): Drunix peer that validates and commits transactions.
• Validation Service (VS): Standalone Drunix service that checks endorsement policies in parallel.
• MVCC: Multi-Version Concurrency Control — detects read-write conflicts to keep state consistent.
• Orderer: Service that orders transactions into blocks (Drunix uses Raft).
• State database: Stores the current ledger state (Drunix supports YugabyteDB SQL).
• Tokenization: Representing a real-world asset (deposit, invoice, property) as a digital token on a ledger.

How Simplileap can help

Simplileap Digital LLP is a blockchain and Web3 development company with 6 years of experience delivering production-grade distributed-ledger solutions. Our team has been hands-on with Drunix since its release and can help your organisation:

• Assess whether Drunix is the right fit versus alternatives, with a clear cost-benefit and throughput analysis.
• Design and deploy production-grade Drunix networks with proper governance, security, and data residency.
• Migrate existing Hyperledger Fabric deployments to Drunix.
• Build tokenization platforms, custom chaincode, and SQL-powered analytics on top of the ledger.
• Operate networks through managed services and ongoing support.

Explore our blockchain & Web3 development services, or talk to our blockchain team →

FAQs

Is NPCI Drunix free to use? Yes. Drunix is released under the Apache License 2.0, which permits free use, modification, and redistribution, including in commercial projects.

When was Drunix launched? NPCI announced the open-source release of Drunix on 17 June 2026.

Is Drunix the same as Hyperledger Fabric? No. Drunix is an enhanced fork of Hyperledger Fabric. It reuses Fabric’s foundation but adds segregated peers, SQL state storage, and a standalone validation service for higher performance, while remaining backwards compatible with Fabric v2.5.x.

What database does Drunix use? In addition to Fabric’s LevelDB and CouchDB, Drunix supports YugabyteDB, a distributed SQL database, as the on-chain state store — enabling standard SQL querying of ledger state. It also uses KeyDB as an in-memory transient store.

What programming languages does Drunix chaincode support? Go, Java, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Go is the default in the sample network.

Can I migrate my existing Hyperledger Fabric network to Drunix? Yes. Because Drunix is backwards compatible with Fabric v2.5.x, existing chaincode and networks can be migrated, though a structured assessment and load test are recommended.

What are the system requirements to run Drunix? A Linux environment with Git, Docker, Go, and jq. Bash version 4 or higher is required for the helper scripts.

What consensus mechanism does Drunix use? Drunix uses a Raft-based ordering service, inherited from Hyperledger Fabric v2.5.x.

Is Drunix suitable for production? It is engineered for enterprise and public-infrastructure adoption, but as a newly released platform it should be validated through a controlled pilot and independent security review before full production deployment.

What is the difference between a Lite Peer and a Committing Peer? A Lite Peer is stateless and handles only endorsement; a Committing Peer validates and commits transactions to the ledger and state database. Separating them lets each scale independently.

Who should consider Drunix? Banks, NBFCs, enterprises, and government bodies that need a high-throughput, privacy-preserving, multi-organisation ledger — especially for tokenization, trade finance, supply chain, and settlement use cases.

Final thoughts

NPCI’s release of Drunix is a landmark moment for India’s digital public infrastructure. By open-sourcing a high-performance, SQL-capable evolution of Hyperledger Fabric, NPCI has lowered the barrier for enterprises to build tokenization and multi-organisation networks — and created real opportunity for blockchain developers and integrators across the country.

If you are evaluating Drunix for trade finance, tokenization, supply-chain, or any multi-organisation use case, Simplileap Digital LLP can help you move from idea to production. Get in touch for a free consultation