Digital India is a flagship programme started by our honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st July 2015 to transform India into a knowledge economy and a digitally empowered society. The Digital India programme is based on three main vision areas:
Digital India
VISION 1: Availability of Digital Infrastructure as a Core Value to every person of the country
- Digital infrastructure means access to high-speed internet to every citizen for faster delivery of various services.
- Every citizen should have a digital identity that is authentic and unique which helps every person to maintain its integrity.
- Participation in financial and digital space through banking and mobiles for financial inclusion
- Creation of a Common Service Centre (CSC) for solving daily problems
- Launching of a public cloud where citizens can submit their documents online to various agencies thereby saving time
- There should be secure and safe transaction and need to protect from cyber-attacks.
VISION 2: E-governance and various services on demand
- Fast services are provided to the common man that includes clearance, documents, and approvals across multiple jurisdictions and authorities.
- Real-time information is available on mobile and other devices with the help of faster broadband connectivity.
- Various benefits like online registration, subsidies, etc. are available on the public cloud
- Improving the business environment in India, trading, paying the taxes, construction permits, etc. through online.
- A cashless transaction helps a person to have numerous e-payment options
- Using Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) to monitor various projects, disaster management and conducting multiple
VISION 3: Transforming the country into a digitally empowered society
- People should have access to the services/resources in regional languages and helps to improve the digital literacy.
- The government documents provided to the citizens should be easily accessible through mobile applications and web portals in a standard format.
- All certificates and documents are made available in the cloud so that while filling a form it would be easy to access the registration number, etc.
- Online services and resources are made available in 12 scripts and 22 local languages.
- A digital platform mygov.in is launched for facilitation of participative and collaborative governance.
Methodology & Approach for Digital India Programme
The Department of Electronics and Information Technology would undertake capacity building, implement some policy guidelines, provide hand-holding and technical support, establish research and development centers, etc. There should be public and private partnerships for implementation of various e-governance projects with strategic control and adequate management.
The ongoing, as well as the existing e-governance schemes, would be aligned with the policies of digital India. For enhancing the delivery of services of the government to its citizens, deploying of mobile and cloud services, use of interoperable and integrated systems, scope enhancement and process re-engineering are undertaken. Moreover, states should have the freedom to identify specific projects for inclusion which are vital for their socio-economic requirements.
There would be a centralized platform for promoting e-governance for ensuring citizen related services, optimum use of ICT resources and infrastructure and interoperability of different e-Governance applications. There should be one authenticated ID to avail the benefits of government schemes. At least ten key ministries should have one Chief Information Officer for designing, developing and faster implementation of different e-Governance projects. Changes would be done at NIC for strengthening the IT support to all departments at State and Centre levels.
How to make Digital India successful?
It is an umbrella programme that covers various government departments and ministries. The plan is coordinated by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology. Our honorable Prime Minister has approved 1 lakh crore for boosting this project. Also, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance group also joined hands with the government by investing 2.5 lakh crore in this project. Currently, the government has allocated Rs. 3,073 crore in 2018-19 and will establish Centres of Excellence.
A Project Development fund has been set up by National e-Governance Division which would be funded by World Bank to give financial assistance to the various states and union territories. A total of fourteen projects were supported in the year 2015-16.
Pillars of Digital India
- Access to Broadband services to every citizen
- Access to mobile connectivity in 55,916 villages in the country
- Launching of Multiservice centers in post offices and common service centers for delivery of business and government services
- Simplifying the government process through e-governance
- Providing online services through E-Kranti
- Active engagement with the citizens through an open data platform (data.gov.in)
- Increasing the manufacturing of electronics in India by targeting net-zero imports
Conclusion
The initiative will boost the economy and place its position as one of the superpowers in the world. Both big and small companies aspiring to take advantage of the system can apply for being funded for their creative ideas. The government has made the process paperless, and people can visit the online portal and submit their applications.