Digital India

The National e-Governance Plan approved in 2006 has made a steady progress through Mission Mode Projects and Core ICT Infrastructure, but greater thrust is required to ensure effective progress in electronics manufacturing and e-Governance in the country.

Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy by leveraging IT as a growth engine of new India.

Vision of Digital India

Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen 

• High speed internet as a core utility
• Cradle to grave digital identity -unique, lifelong, online, authenticable
• Mobile phone & Bank account enabling participation in digital & financial space
• Easy access to a Common Service Centre
• Shareable private space on a public cloud
• Safe and secure Cyber-space

Governance & Services on Demand 

• Seamlessly integrated across departments or jurisdictions
• Services available in real time from online & mobile platform
• All citizen entitlements to be available on the cloud
• Services digitally transformed for improving Ease of Doing Business
• Making financial transactions electronic & cashless
• Leveraging GIS for decision support systems & development

Digital Empowerment of Citizens 

• Universal Digital Literacy
• Universally accessible digital resources
• All documents/ certificates to be available on cloud
• Availability of digital resources / services in Indian languages
• Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance
• Portability of all entitlements through cloud

9 Pillars of Digital India

Broadband Highways 

• Broadband for all Rural 250,000 GP by 2016
• Integration of SWAN, NKN, NOFN to be implemented in 2 years

Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity 

• Remaining uncovered villages (~ 42,300 villages) by 2018

Public Internet Access Programme 

• CSCs – made viable, multi-functional end-points for service delivery.
• Post Offices to become Multi-Service Centres

E-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology

• Government Business Process Re-engineering using IT to improve transactions

• Online applications and tracking, Interface between departments
• Use of online repositories e.g. school certificates, voter ID cards, etc.
• Integration of services and platforms – UIDAI, Payment Gateway, Mobile Platform, EDI

• Electronic Databases – all databases and information to be electronic, not manual
• Public Grievance Redressal – using IT to automate, respond, analyze data to identify and resolve persistent problems – largely process improvements

e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services 

• Technology for Education – e-Education
• Technology for Health – e-Healthcare
• Technology for Farmers
• Technology for Security
• Technology for Financial Inclusion
• Technology for Justice

Information for All 

• Online Hosting of Information & documents
• Government pro-actively engages through social media
• 2-way communication between citizens and government
• Online messaging to citizens on special occasions/programs

Electronics Manufacturing 

• Target NET ZERO Imports is a striking demonstration of intent
• Taxation, Incentives, Economies of Scale, Eliminate cost disadvantages
• Skill development + Government procurement

 IT for Jobs

• Train people in smaller towns & villages for IT sector jobs
• Train Service Delivery Agents to run viable businesses delivering IT services
• IT/ITES in NE

Early Harvest Programmes 

• Biometric attendance
• Wi-fi in All Universities
• Public wifi hotspots
• School Books to be eBooks

Impact of Digital India by 2019 

• Broadband in 2.5 lakh villages, universal phone connectivity
• Net Zero Imports by 2020
• 400,000 Public Internet Access Points
• Wi-fi in 2.5 lakh schools, all universities; Public wi-fi hotspots for citizens
• Digital Inclusion: 1.7 Cr trained for IT, Telecom and Electronics Jobs
• Job creation: Direct 1.7 Cr. and Indirect at least 8.5 Cr.
• e-Governance & eServices: Across government
• India to be leader in IT use in services – health, education, banking
• Digitally empowered citizens – public cloud, internet access

Challenges 

• Program on this scale never conceived
• Cyber-Security Issues
• Human Resource Issues
• Financial Resource Issues
• Coordination Issues