How IT helps in evolving governance

in india
06.11.2023
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Akshat Gupta ( 08 )
Anmol bhagat ( 11 )
MBA sem - 1 ,Section - A
IT application in Management
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INTRODUCTION
Introduction This assignment covers the approach of governments to information
technology and their relationship with application of information, business knowledge,
information systems, and information and communication technologies in the process of
enabling good governance. Good governance is based on the premise that government
and its associated bodies are accountable, transparent, effective and efficient, participatory
and consensus-oriented. Governments are responsible for managing the present and
long-term needs of the society and its resources at large. As citizens’ expectation of
governance is growing, governments are trying to leverage the power of Information,
Communication and Technology (ICT)to provide high quality services on time, and
professionally manage decisions throughout its associated organizational machinery. ICT,at
any governmental department, is envisioned as a business transformation tool and it plays
an integral role in effectively and efficiently managing all kinds of resources on a day-to-day
basis.

According to the United Nations reports on various parameters that enable the
e-governance drive, there is a divide in trends among developed and developing nations. In
line with the assessment of UNDESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs), it is foreseen that e-governance will continue to grow and expand rapidly, but with
different directions, drivers, and opportunities in different parts of the world. Almost every
country and government around the world today has e-governance or IT implementation in
some manner and has its own vision, roadmap and objectives for future course. Although
all governments have many commonalities in their functions, structures and processes,
implementation of e-governance projects have not been homogeneous. e-governance can
enhance the speed and efficiency of operations by streamlining processes, lowering costs,
improving research capabilities and improving documentation and record-keeping.
e-governance can enable the government to become leaner, more cost-effective and
citizen-friendly. By using appropriate technologies,egovernance can facilitate
communication and improve the coordination of authorities within the different tiers of
government, starting with the Central / Federal Government and spanning across state
levels to extend through municipal corporations and local self-governments. Success of
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e-governance can be measured in the true sense when it impacts all the stakeholders
involved.

Although different e-government initiatives strive to accomplish different goals, some

observers argue that one of the overarching themes of e-governance is to fully realize the
capabilities of available information technology so as to transform the government from an
agency-centric, limited service operation into an automated, citizen-centric operation,
capable of delivering services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies 24 X
7. However, for a variety of technical, economic, and political reasons, it will take time for
these initiatives to evolve into their full potential. For that reason, some observers use a
common schema for classifying the stages of evolution of e-government programs. The
schema is based on the degree to which the properties of IT have been utilized to enable
the delivery of services electronically. Using this school of thought, there are four stages of
evolution:

1. Presence
2. Interaction
3. Transaction
4. Transformation

It is important to note that an e-government initiative does not necessarily have to start at
the first stage and work its way through all of the stages. Instead, a project can skip levels,
either from its inception or as it develops. Transformation is the highest order of evolution
for e-government initiatives, and the effort should be to utilize the full capabilities of the
technology to transform how government functions are conceived, organized, and
executed. Such initiatives would have the robust GRP (Government Resource Planning) and
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) capabilities required to handle a full range of
questions, problems, and needs of citizens. Currently, there are very few examples of this
type of initiative, in part due to administrative, technical, and fiscal constraints. One of the
distinctions of these initiatives is that GRP and CRM facilitate the seamless flow of
information and collaborative decision-making between federal, state, local, public, and
private partners. In other words, transformative e-government initiatives often seek to
remove the organizational barriers that promote agency centric solutions and instead,
promote customer-centric solutions. Some advocates suggest that, at its most advanced
level, e-governance could potentially reorganize, combine, and/or eliminate existing
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agencies and replace them with virtual organizations. Governments started emphasizing
and giving special attention to Green ICT / Environmental ICT issues. Other trends observed
are the use of Government 2.0 mashups using Web 2.0 technology. In particular, there is an
increase in real-time social networking site applications such as Twitter in government
sites. This leads to another trend -- the increase in the quality and depth of e-participation
between citizens and governments. Stronger linkages between local and central
government are also implemented. Cloud Computing is another topic of great interest to
many governments with a view towards reducing operating costs as well as carbon
footprints.

Different Classes of Applications in e-governments

Although e-government encompasses a wide range of activities and actors, three distinct
sectors can be identified. These include Government-to-Government (G2G),
Government-to-Business (G2B), and Government-toCitizen (G2C). There are other sectors
like Government-to-Employee (G2E). However, since G2E operations are intra-agency
activities, these sometimes are considered a subset of G2G. Similarly, Government - to
NonGovernment (G2N) are also part of G2C sometimes. Different categories are briefly
explained to show how G2G, G2B and G2E are encompassed in GRP.

• Government-to-Government (G2G):

It is the backbone of e-government and Government Resource Planning. It focuses on its

own internal departmental systems and procedures to enable commencement of
electronic transactions with citizens and businesses. The objective of these services is to
establish partnership among various levels of government, in order to provide better
services. This involves sharing of data and improving collaboration between Federal, State
and Local Governments. This means both intra and inter-departmental exchanges that
facilitate collaboration between levels of government and empower state and local
governments to deliver services more effectively. This can also be referred to as
e-administration. It involves improving government processes by cutting costs, by
managing performance and by making strategic connections within the government
through empowerment. It will involve networking with government offices so as to produce
synergy among them. Some examples of G2G services include nationwide Government
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Resources Planning (GRP) by the federal government and administration of the various
processes at secretariats through the Internet. In many respects, the G2G sector
represents the backbone of e-government. Hence, governments (federal, state, local) aim
to establish their own internal systems and procedures before electronic transactions with
citizens and businesses can be successful. G2G e-governance involves sharing data and
conducting electronic exchanges between governmental units.

• Government-to-Business (G2B)

It represents the relationship between the public and private sector. This covers the
relationships between government and corporate bodies and organizations of the private
sector. The aim is to reduce burden on businesses, provide one-stop access to information
and enable electronic communication. Online government to business allows
entrepreneurs to access information about legislations and regulations. This sector also
gives access to the relevant forms that are needed to comply with governmental
requirements for their business. The main objective of G2B is a national economy with
flexibility and competitiveness within the global markets. Some examples of G2B services
include corporate tax filing or government procurement processes through the Internet. .
www.ramco.in 07

• Government-to-Citizen (G2C)

services enable citizens to interact with the government through a single window 24/7.
Citizens enjoy immediate access to government processes and representatives through
electronic governance portals that host application forms, legislation, news and assorted
information. In a political sense, a ‘Citizen’ is a person who possesses political rights.
Therefore, G2C describes the internet-based communication between the government and
the citizens in political affairs. e-governance provides one-stop access to interactive
government information. An e-government performs in a manner that citizens and what
they need quickly and easily, and access information in minutes or seconds, instead of days
or hours. Some examples of G2C services include online payment of utility bills or
submission of various government forms from the Internet.

• Government-to-Employee (G2E)

solutions are about empowering government employees so that they can effectively
support citizens, speed up their internal administrative processes and render optimal
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solutions. It streamlines internal processes, improves knowledge sharing, collaboration and

productivity. In this case, the government acts as an employer, and interacts with its
employees, specially the civil servants, using information technology to enhance internal
management efficiency with low administrative costs. It allows coordination with other
government employees anytime, anywhere. Some examples of G2E services include
software for maintaining personnel information and records of sta, which can be accessed
easily and conveniently.

• Government-to-NGO (G2N)

It refers to building interactions beyond the boundaries of government, by developing

communities and partnering with civil society. It will involve building various associations or
interest groups that will ensure the betterment of society. Such initiatives deal particularly
with the relationship between government and citizens, either as voters/stakeholders from
whom the public sector derives its legitimacy, or as customers who consume public
services.

India’s Approach towards Informational Technology

india today is the world’s largest digitally connected democracy, with 830 million Internet
users. Digital transactions have grown manifold in recent years, making India the
undisputed leader in real time digital payments.

The widespread adoption of smartphones and affordable mobile data plans has also
contributed to the growth of India's digital economy. E-commerce, mobile payments, digital
banking, healthcare, tourism, and business are some of the sectors that have seen
significant growth in recent years.

What accelerated Digital Transformation in India?

India's digital transformation has been remarkable, with improved connectivity and
technological capabilities leading to increased digital access and inclusivity for its citizens.
Initiatives such as the Digital India program, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Saksharta
Abhiyan (PMGDSA), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI), etc. have played a significant
role in transforming India into a digitally empowered society and a major player in the
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digital economy. Some of the initiatives like the Telecom development plan, aspirational
district scheme, and initiatives in areas affected by left-wing extremism have improved
accessibility, connectivity, affordability, and inclusivity pan India. Initiatives like the
Common Service Centers (CSCs) have provided services such as e-governance, education,
healthcare, and banking to underserved communities in rural areas.

What is the Digital India Programme?

The Digital India program, launched in 2015, aims to transform India into a digitally
empowered society and a knowledge-based economy. Its key objectives include
strengthening digital infrastructure, delivering services digitally, and promoting digital
financial inclusion. As a result of dedicated digital drives across the country, internet
subscriptions have increased by 150% in both rural and urban areas. As per the data,
95.76 million internet subscribers were added in rural areas, while 92.81 million were
added in urban areas between 2019-2021. Digilocker which was launched under this
programme has witnessed over 16 crore registrations. Users can share and access any
documents and certificates digitally since its launch.

What is Pradhan Mantri Grameen Digital Sakshata Abhiyan?

PMGDSB was launched in 2017 and is promoting digital literacy in rural India. The
PMGDSA has resulted in improved accessibility, connectivity, affordability, and inclusivity
pan-India. It has trained 5.96 crore candidates and certified 4.44 crore students in digital
literacy. It’s the world’s largest digital literacy programme under which so far 6.92 crore
candidates have been registered.

How is Digital Technology Impacting Different Sectors in India?

Healthcare:
Digital technology helped run the world's largest and most efficient Covid-19 vaccination
program initiatives in the country. The National Digital Health Mission and National Digital
Health Blueprint have been instrumental in strengthening healthcare delivery. Whether it
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is Telemedicine, AI-enabled medical devices, or electronic medical records, digital

technology is quickly making inroads in the Indian health systems. Initiatives like the
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission have further accelerated the pace of digitisation of
Health systems in India. The Indian healthcare system is becoming more citizen-centric,
holistic, and proactive with the use of technology.

Tourism:
Another sector that has seen a profound transformation as a result of the digital
revolution is tourism and travel.The internet has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing
how people explore, plan and experience travel.From online bookings to virtual tours and
travel content creation the internet has become an indispensable tool for travelers.

Businesses:
Digital payments have transformed businesses by simplifying the payment process,
reducing operational work, and increasing productivity.The rapidly expanding digital
payments landscape has transformed businesses, particularly small and medium-sized
enterprises, by simplifying the payment process.Nowadays, businesses are able to save
both time and money, while also concentrating on their core competencies. This is made
possible by offering digital payment options, which enable them to tap into a larger
market and attract new customers.

What is the Current Scenario of India’s Digital Payments?

India’s Digital Payment Revolution:

The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure has resulted in a remarkable transformation
in India’s payment landscape. A financial transaction model has witnessed a dramatic
shift towards digital payments paving the way for a modern digital and cashless economy
by placing utmost importance on promoting digital payments. Over the past few years,
India has witnessed an unprecedented surge in digital payment transactions.
User-friendly and convenient digital payment methods such as: Bharat Interface for
Money - Unified Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI), IMPS (Immediate Payment Service),
Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) and
National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) have experienced substantial growth
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revolutionizing the digital payment landscape by facilitating both person to person and
person-to-merchant payments.

UPI Takes the Lead in Global Digital Payments:

India leads the world in digital payments with 89.5 million transactions in 2022 with UPI
emerging as a revolutionary product. As per the data, India accounted for 46% of global
real time payments in the year. Brazil was second on the list followed by China, Thailand
and South Korea. The exponential growth is reflected in the fact that digital payment
transactions in India are more than the other four leading countries combined. UPI
transactions are on course to reach 1 billion a day by 2025 accounting for 90% of retail
digital payments in the country.

Traditional Payment Methods:

Traditional payment methods such as debit cards, credit cards, National Electronic Fund
Transfer (NEFT), and Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) have also experienced
rapid expansion.

How is India Addressing Data Protection in the Digital Age?

India has passed the Landmark Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 to ensure the
safety and trustworthiness of the digital world. The Bill aims to safeguard personal data
from misuse and enable the flow of global tech-based investments, making the sector a
key driver in India's journey towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy. The bill ushers in
a new era in India’s digital development journey, one which recognises the value and
centrality of personal data in today’s globally interconnected digital economy and also
takes cognizance of the need to safeguard such personal data from misuse.
What is India's Global Vision for Digital Transformation? India's digital transformation
journey has impacted every aspect of society, ensuring digital access, digital delivery of
services, and digital inclusion for all, based on sustainable, affordable, and transformative
technology. Pushing this transformation to the rest of the world, India has called for a
governance framework and digital public infrastructure at the G20 to ensure that it is
accessible to all countries equally. Data for development is an integral part of the overall
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theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” i.e.Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, during India’s
G20 presidency.

Digital governance

India’s governance framework was built for the tangible world and laws and regulations
need to be adapted for the digital world to build an equitable digital economy. India now
needs to focus on improving its digital governance framework.

To improve digital governance, India needs to reduce the digital divide that currently exists,
improve digital platforms and digital enablers and scale up digital safeguards and data
protection. Improving digital governance is important, as our economic and social lives
have increasingly moved online and the digital and physical domains have become
increasingly more integrated than ever.

Policymakers cannot leave digital governance and digital data protection in the hands of
enterprises that designed it. The big tech companies now have a huge and unfair
advantage, as they make a huge gain from intangible assets such as data, algorithms and
intellectual property, compared to their tangible assets such as physical labour or goods
and services. They have taken advantage of weak digital governance to avoid paying taxes.

And now more than ever, data protection has become important. The digital revolution
provides data inputs to enterprises, which transcend other inputs— like labour and
capital— and data inputs can also create downside risks.

Data collected for one purpose have the potential to generate economic and social value in
applications far beyond those originally anticipated. This runs the downside risk of data
being used for other purposes that can harm individuals and societies.

The more data are reused, the greater the risk of data misuse. This risk is growing in
cybercrimes and the potential for politically or commercially motivated surveillance. The
scope for discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, race, gender, disability status, or
sexual orientation may be further exacerbated by the growing use of algorithms.
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Addressing these concerns calls for the regulation of personal data grounded in a human
rights framework, supported by policies that secure both people and the data systems on
which they depend.

India has been preparing for years a regulatory framework to promote data protection.
This has three pillars--protect personal data as an essential facet of informational privacy,
expand the growth of the digital economy to enable the use of data as a critical means of
communication between persons and create a collective culture that fosters a free and fair
digital economy, respecting the informational privacy of individuals and ensuring
empowerment, progress and innovation through digital governance and inclusion.

However, a rising concern in this regulatory framework is governance, as a big regulatory

vacuum exists around surveillance law in India which will not adequately protect citizen
privacy, as there are no clear rules that govern government use of data. India can easily
rebalance and reset the rules of the game for data governance, implementation of this
vision needs to allow the flow of data among a wide array of users in a way that facilitates
the safe use and reuse of data.

Improved digital governance has the potential to vastly improve the delivery of government
services. In many countries, citizens can vote, pay taxes, check their medical records, apply
for loans, or register new businesses online in a matter of minutes. India is still much
further behind.

The digital divide between leading and lagging regions within India remains huge to
improve the delivery of government services. Data systems for public and private intent
data alike tend to exclude poor people and statistical capacity and data literacy remain
limited in the lagging regions.

To reduce the digital divide and improve digital governance, India needs to scale up
investments in digital infrastructure. How will one million community health workers in
India provide health care to rural areas and how can India improve the skills of 100 million
young people seeking better jobs?

India has the potential to become a global leader in improving digital government services.
To achieve it, India needs a stronger strategy to align digital technology with sustainable
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development, especially how the government can use electronic IDs to secure personal
data, rationalise online navigation, boost financial inclusion and expand public service
delivery.

India has the potential to benefit from an integrated and improved national data system
with the development of a data governance framework.

Services Offered By Digital India Portal

In an effort to bridge the digital divide and extend the benefits of digital technology to
every corner of India, the Government of India initiated the Common Service Centers
(CSCs) program. These centers, operating under the Digital India initiative, have become a
lifeline for millions of rural and remote citizens by providing a wide range of digital services.
This article explores the role of CSCs in transforming the lives of individuals and
communities in rural India.

Common Service Centers (CSCs) are physical centers established in rural and remote areas
to deliver various digital services to citizens. They act as access points for government,
banking, and business services, enabling individuals to avail themselves of these services
without having to travel long distances. CSCs are run by Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs)
who act as the primary facilitators, making digital services accessible and affordable for
rural communities.

Opening a CSC center is now made easier and more accessible through the Digital India
Portal website. Individuals who aspire to become Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and
establish their own CSC centers can register and initiate the process on the portal. By
navigating to the website, prospective VLEs can find comprehensive information on the
requirements, guidelines, and registration procedures. The user-friendly interface of the
Digital India Portal website ensures a smooth registration experience, empowering
individuals to embark on their entrepreneurial journey and contribute to the digital
transformation of rural India.
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What is the Digital India Portal?

Website:-https://digitalindiaportals.in/
The Digital India Portal is an integral part of the broader Digital India program,
spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its primary objective is to promote the
adoption of digital technologies and improve access to government services throughout
the country. The portal serves as an online platform, granting citizens easy access to a
plethora of government services, banking and insurance facilities, and the ability to apply
for certificates and other essential documents online.

Services Provided by the Digital India Portal:

Aadhaar Services:
The CSCs, through the Apna CSC portal, offer Aadhaar services, including mobile updates
and other related facilities. Individuals can conveniently update their mobile phone
numbers, email IDs, and residence information using biometric authentication. These
services play a vital role in ensuring the accuracy and security of Aadhaar data, benefiting
millions of citizens.

Banking and Pension Services:

To promote financial inclusion and digital literacy in rural areas, the Digital India Portal has
introduced digital financial services. The CSCs provide a range of banking services,
including deposits, withdrawals, balance inquiries, bank transfers, and information on
loans and credit cards. Additionally, citizens can access pension services, such as opening
accounts and contributing to national pension schemes.

Electricity Services:
The Digital India Portal simplifies electricity services by enabling users to pay their bills
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online and register and manage new power connections. This convenience eliminates the
need for time-consuming manual processes and enhances efficiency in the energy sector.

Government Services:
The Digital India Portal acts as a one-stop solution for various government services.
Individuals can avail themselves of services such as Aadhaar, PAN card application, driving
license issuance, voter ID card registration, and certification services for documents like
birth certificates, income certificates, and more. Additionally, individuals can access social
welfare schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana and obtain labor and ration cards
through the portal.

Travel Related Services:

The Digital India Portal integrates government and private bus operators, making it the
world’s largest integrated online ticket portal for buses. Users can conveniently plan and
book bus trips within Indian cities. Furthermore, the portal offers flight ticket booking, train
ticket reservation, and other travel-related services, ensuring seamless connectivity for
travelers across the country.

Benefits of Digital India Portal:

The Digital India Portal is a transformative initiative by the Government of India that aims
to bridge the digital divide and empower citizens across the country. By leveraging digital
technologies and providing a comprehensive range of services, the portal offers numerous
benefits to individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole. This article explores the
key advantages of the Digital India Portal and how it is revolutionizing governance, service
delivery, and inclusivity in India.

Enhanced Access to Government Services:

One of the primary benefits of the Digital India Portal is the seamless access it provides to a
wide array of government services. Citizens can conveniently avail themselves of services
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such as applying for certificates, licenses, and permits, and accessing social welfare
schemes. The portal eliminates the need for long queues and physical visits to government
offices, saving time and effort for individuals, particularly those in remote and rural areas.

Streamlined Service Delivery:

The Digital India Portal has significantly streamlined service delivery by digitizing various
processes. From applying for passports and PAN cards to obtaining birth and death
certificates, individuals can complete these tasks online, reducing paperwork and
bureaucratic delays. The portal’s integrated approach brings different government
departments and services onto a single platform, facilitating seamless coordination and
efficient service delivery.

Financial Inclusion and Digital Payments:

The Digital India Portal has played a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion, especially
in rural areas. It has facilitated the establishment of banking correspondents and Common
Service Centers (CSCs) where individuals can access banking services, make digital
payments, and avail themselves of micro-insurance and loan facilities. By enabling digital
transactions, the portal supports the government’s vision of a cashless economy and
empowers citizens with financial literacy and access to formal banking services.

Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities:

The Digital India Portal has opened up avenues for employment and entrepreneurship,
particularly through the establishment of CSCs. Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) operate
these centers, creating jobs at the local level. The portal also offers various training
programs and skill development courses, equipping individuals with digital literacy and
vocational skills necessary for employment and entrepreneurship. This focus on digital
skills enhances employability and empowers individuals to explore new business
opportunities.
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Digital Literacy and Education:

Digital literacy is a key focus of the Digital India Portal. The portal offers digital literacy
programs and initiatives to equip citizens with the necessary skills to navigate the digital
landscape effectively. Additionally, it provides access to educational resources and online
training courses, empowering individuals with knowledge and opportunities for personal
and professional growth. By fostering digital literacy and education, the portal contributes
to bridging the digital divide and empowering individuals to participate fully in the digital
age.

Inclusive Governance and Citizen Engagement:

The Digital India Portal promotes inclusive governance and citizen engagement by
providing platforms for individuals to voice their opinions, participate in surveys, and
provide feedback on government services. Through citizen-centric initiatives like
e-governance services and grievance redressal mechanisms, the portal strengthens the
bond between the government and its citizens. It fosters transparency, accountability, and
responsiveness, thereby enhancing trust and improving governance outcomes.

Achievements Made under Digital India Programme

The Government has launched the Digital India programme with the vision of transforming
India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge-based economy, by ensuring
digital access, digital inclusion, digital empowerment and bridging the digital divide. The
programme is centered on three key vision areas, namely digital infrastructure as a core
utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of
citizens. The overall goal is to ensure that digital technologies improve the life of every
citizen, expand India’s digital economy, and create investment and employment
opportunities and create digital technological capabilities in India.

Digital India has considerably reduced the distance between Government and citizens. It
has also helped in delivery of substantial services directly to the beneficiary in a
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transparent and corruption free manner. In the process, India has emerged as one of the
pre-eminent nations of the world to use technology to transform the lives of its citizens.

Digital India is an umbrella programme that covers multiple projects of various Central
Ministries/Departments and States and Union Territories (UTs). The status of some of the
key initiatives undertaken under the programme across the country, including in Rajasthan,
are at Annex-I.

The Government had launched the India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) andthe North East
BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) under the Digital India programme, with the aim of
creating employment opportunities and dispersal of the Information Technology and
Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) industry in small cities and towns by
incentivising the setting up of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and ITES operations by
providing financial support of up to ₹ 1 lakh per seat in the form of viability gap funding
towards capital and operational expenditures. Under IBPS and NEBPS, 246 BPO/ITES units
have started operations covering 27 States/UTs and are providing direct employment to
over 51,584 persons. State-wise details of BPO/ITES units setup and direct employment
generated are placed at Annex-II.

ANNEX-I
The present status of some of the key initiatives undertaken by MeitY under Digital India
programme across the country is as follows:

Aadhaar:

Aadhaar provides a 12 digit biometric and demographic based identity that is unique,
lifelong, online and authenticable. Further to give statutory backing to Aadhaar ‘The
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act,
2016’ was notified on 26th March 2016. Over 135.5 crore residents have been enrolled.

Common Services Centres

CSCs are offering government and business services in digital mode in rural areas through
Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs). Over 400 digital services are being offered by these
CSCs. So far, 5.21 Lakh CSCs are functional (including urban & rural areas) across the
country, out of which, 4.14 Lakh CSCs are functional at Gram Panchayat level. There are
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23,035 CSCs functional in the State of Rajasthan, out of which 18823 CSCs are functional at
the Gram Panchayat level.

DigiLocker:
Digital Locker provides an ecosystem with a collection of repositories and gateways for
issuers to upload the documents in the digital repositories. Digital Locker has more than
13.7 crore users and more than 562 crore documents are made available through
DigiLocker from 2,311 issuer organizations.

Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG)

It is for providing government services to citizens through mobile. More than 1668
e-Services and over 20,197 bill payment services are made available at UMANG.

e-Sign:
e-Sign service facilitates instant signing of forms/documents online by citizens in a legally
acceptable form. The services are being leveraged by various applications using OTP based
authentication services of UIDAI. More than 31.08 crore e-Sign issued by all agencies
wherein, 7.01 Crore e-Sign issued by CDAC.

MyGov :
It is a citizen engagement platform that is developed to facilitate participatory governance.
Presently, over 2.76+ crore users are registered with MyGov, participating in various
activities hosted on MyGov platform.

MeriPehchaan :
National Single Sign-on (NSSO) platform called MeriPehchaan has been launched in July
2022 to facilitate / provide citizens ease of access to government portals. Total 4419
services of various Ministries/States integrated with NSSO.

Digital Village:
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MeitY has also initiated the ’Digital Village Pilot Project” in October, 2018. 700 Gram
Panchayats (GPs)/Village with at least one Gram Panchayat/Village per District per State/UT
are being covered under the project. The digital services being offered are Digital Health
Services, Education Service, Financial Services, Skill Development, Solar panel powered
street lights including Government to Citizens Services (G2C), Business to Citizen (B2C)
Services.

National Rollout of eDistrict MMP:

e-District is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) that aims at electronic delivery of identified high
volume citizen centric services at the district or sub-district level. Presently 4,671 e-services
have been launched in 709 districts across India.

Open Government Data Platform:

To facilitate data sharing and promote innovation over non-personal data, Open
Government Data platform has been developed. More than 5.93 lakh datasets across
12,940+ catalogues are published. The platform has facilitated 94.8 lakh downloads.

e-Hospital/ Online Registration System (ORS):

e-Hospital application is the Hospital Management Information System for internal
workflows and processes of hospitals. Currently, 753 Hospitals have been on-boarded on
e-Hospital and ORS has been adopted by 557 hospitals across the country with over 68 lakh
appointments booked from ORS.

CO-WIN :
It is an open platform for management of registration, appointment scheduling &
managing vaccination certificates for Covid-19. It has registered 110 crore persons and has
facilitated administration of 220 crore doses of vaccinations.

Jeevan Pramaan:
Jeevan Pramaan envisages to digitize the whole process of securing the life certificate for
pensioners. With this initiative, the pensioner is no longer required to physically present
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himself or herself in front of a disbursing agency or the certification authority. Over

685.42lakh Digital Life certificates have been processed since 2014.

NCOG-GIS Applications:
National Centre of Geo-informatics (NCoG) project, is a GIS platform developed for sharing,
collaboration, location based analytics and decision support system for Departments. So
far, 659 applications across various domains are operational.

National Knowledge Network:

A high speed data communication network has been established to interconnect
institutions of higher learning, and research. So far, 1752 links to Institutions have been
commissioned and made operational. 522 NKN links have been connected to NIC district
centers across India.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA):

The Government has approved a new scheme titled “Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital
Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)” to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 Crore
rural households (one person per household). It has 6.63 crore registered candidates and
out of this, 5.69 crore candidates have been trained and 4.22 crore have been certified.

Unified Payment Interface (UPI) :

It is the leading digital payment platform. It has on boarded 376 banks and has facilitated
730 crore transactions (by volume) worth Rs 11.9 lakh crore.

FutureSkills Prime:
MeitY in collaboration with NASSCOM has initiated a programme titled FutureSkills PRIME.
The programme is aimed at re-skilling/ up-skilling of IT professionals in 10 new/emerging
technologies which include Augmented/Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, Big Data
Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, Additive Manufacturing/ 3D
Printing, Cloud Computing, Social & Mobile, Cyber Security and Blockchain.
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Cyber Security:
The Government has taken necessary measures to tackle challenges with regard to data
privacy and data security through administering the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000
which has necessary provisions for data privacy and data security. India has made it to the
top 10 in Global Cyber security Index (GCI) 2020 launched by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) on June 29, 2021, moving up 37 places to rank as the tenth
best country in the world on key cyber safety parameters.

Electronics Manufacturing:
I. Modified Special Incentive Package (M-SIPS): As on date, 315 applications with
proposed investment of approximately Rs. 85,632 crore have been approved.
II. Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMC): Under EMC scheme, 19 Greenfield EMCs
and3 Common Facility Centres (CFCs) measuring an area of 3,464 acres with project
cost ofRs. 3,732 crore including Government Grant-in-aid of Rs. 1,529 crore have
been approved in 15 states across the country. Based on closure of receipt of
applications under EMC scheme, MeitY notified Modified Electronics Manufacturing
Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme on 1st April, 2020 for further strengthening the
infrastructure base for electronics industry in the country and deepening the
electronics value chain.

ANNEX-II-

State-wise details of unites set up and direct employment generated under BPO Schemes (IBPS &
NEBPS):

Sr. No. State No. of Units Direct Employment Generated

1 Andhra Pradesh 46 12925

2 Arunachal Pradesh 1 37
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3 Assam 8 193

4 Bihar 11 1318

5 Chandigarh U.T. 1 15

6 Chhattisgarh 3 156

7 Haryana 2 172

8 Himachal Pradesh 4 202

9 Jammu and Kashmir U.T. 3 198

10 Jharkhand 18 3868

11 Karnataka 10 1408

12 Kerala 3 871

13 Madhya Pradesh 5 1012

14 Maharashtra 13 2508

15 Manipur 5 191

16 Meghalaya 2 256
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17 Nagaland 1 130

18 Odisha 21 2455

19 Puducherry U.T. 1 58

20 Punjab 9 6858

21 Rajasthan 3 621

22 Tamil Nadu 48 14204

23 Telangana 2 134

24 Tripura 2 14

25 Uttar Pradesh 12 874

26 Uttarakhand 6 632

27 West Bengal 6 274

Total 246 51584

Conclusion
The Digital India project represents a more dedicated attempt on the part of the
current government to make the dream of digitally empowered India come true.
This vision well integrates with the reforms that are currently being carried out and
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the overall National Economic agenda of India such as that primarily focuses on
economic revival and inclusive growth. In recent flagship initiatives of viz. Jan Dhan
Yojana, Aadhaar, Direct Benefit Transfer, PM’s Bima Yojana, Smart Cities, Ease of
Doing Business, Make in India, Start up and Stand up India etc. technological
infrastructure and development of “broadband highways” play a significantly crucial
role. However, to make this programme a success challenges must be overcome
such as timely development of technological infrastructure with wide reach,
efficient coordination amongst various departments like as DeitY, DoT, Finance, law
etc., providing high speed internet to remote corners and ensuring cyber security,
creating awareness about how and why to adapt to latest technological
developments and facilitating their adoption by making them affordable keeping in
mind the problem arising from Digital Divide. Digital India programme has the
potential to transform the India and enhance its international competitiveness but
just like any great plan require sincere dedication in its implementation only the
actions and not planning will determine its future.

References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319215297_A_Review_of_Digital_India_Program

www.investindia.gov.in

www.Pib.gov.in

Medium.com

www.businessworld.in

www.drishtiias.com

https://www.ramco.com/