The Next Stage

India's digital transformation has been fuelled by initiatives suuch as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker. Moving ahead, the country needs to incorporate emerging technologies and address data privacy concerns as more countries seek to emulate the digital infrastructure

- NAVNEET DUBEY

AFTER SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATING the prowess of India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) during the G20 Summit held here last year, the country is turning its focus towards the increased digitalisation of the economy as it aims to become developed by 2047.

It is building on initiatives like the identity system Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and the document-storing platform DigiLocker that have ensured services are delivered efficiently, transparently, and directly to citizens.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Union Budget speech on July 23, lauding the technologies for improving productivity and bridging inequality, said, “Public investment in digital infrastructure and innovations by the private sector has helped in improving access of all citizens, particularly the common people, to market resources, education, health, and services.”

The focus now is on scaling this ecosystem, ensuring its responsible use, and exploring new frontiers. But this journey to a fully digital India is fraught with challenges that require careful navigation, especially since other countries too have shown an interest in adapting the India Stack bouquet of digital services to their own conditions.

EMBRACING CHANGE

The DPI ecosystem, built on a foundation of trust, needs more robust governance frameworks that prioritise transparency and accountability.

There has been significant progress in adopting digital governance processes, says Santosh K. Misra, Partner at consultancy firm PwC. Almost all citizen and business services are offered on mature e-governance platforms, and more services are being added to this bouquet. Obtaining permits and licences has become smoother.