Digital India

August 2015

View the original document

Strategies and Action Plans

Digital India is a government initiative aimed at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It focuses on leveraging technology to drive comprehensive change across various sectors of the country. Coordinated by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), the program encompasses multiple departments, weaving together various initiatives under a single, unified vision.

Key Areas of Focus

  1. Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
    • Providing high-speed internet as a fundamental utility.
    • Ensuring digital identity from cradle to grave.
    • Enabling mobile phone and bank account access for digital and financial inclusion.
    • Facilitating easy access to Common Service Centers (CSCs).
    • Providing shareable private space on a public cloud.
    • Ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace.
  2. Governance and Services on Demand
    • Seamless integration across different departments and jurisdictions.
    • Real-time availability of services through online and mobile platforms.
    • Cloud-based access to all citizen entitlements.
    • Digitally transforming services to enhance the ease of doing business.
    • Promoting electronic and cashless financial transactions.
    • Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for decision-making and development.
  3. Digital Empowerment of Citizens
    • Achieving universal digital literacy.
    • Ensuring universally accessible digital resources.
    • Making all documents and certificates available on the cloud.
    • Providing digital resources and services in Indian languages.
    • Encouraging participative governance through collaborative digital platforms.
    • Ensuring the portability of all entitlements via the cloud.

Nine Pillars of Digital India

  1. Broadband Highways
    • Expanding broadband connectivity to 250,000 gram panchayats by December 2016.
    • Establishing nationwide broadband connectivity by March 2017.
  2. Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity
    • Ensuring mobile connectivity in the remaining 42,300 uncovered villages by FY 2014-18.
  3. Public Internet Access Program
    • Making CSCs viable, multi-functional service delivery points.
    • Transforming 150,000 post offices into multi-service centers.
  4. e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology
    • Simplifying forms and processes, online applications, and service integration.
    • Digitizing databases and automating workflows.
  5. eKranti – Electronic Delivery of Services
    • Implementing technology in education (e-Education), health (e-Healthcare), planning, agriculture, security, financial inclusion, and justice.
  6. Information for All
    • Hosting information and documents online for easy citizen access.
    • Engaging citizens through social media and web-based platforms.
  7. Electronics Manufacturing
    • Targeting net zero imports by 2020 through coordinated efforts in taxation, incentives, and manufacturing.
    • Promoting skill development and innovation in electronics manufacturing.
  8. IT for Jobs
    • Training one crore students for IT sector jobs over five years.
    • Establishing BPOs in Northeast states.
    • Training rural workforce for telecom service needs.
  9. Early Harvest Programs
    • Implementing initiatives such as biometric attendance, secure government email, Wi-Fi in universities, and public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Institutional Mechanisms

The Digital India program is monitored and guided by a high-level committee chaired by the Prime Minister, with the involvement of various ministers, senior officials, and state governments. This ensures coordinated efforts across different levels of government.

Estimated Costs and Impacts

  • The overall cost of the Digital India program is approximately Rs 113,000 crore.
  • By 2019, the program aims to achieve broadband connectivity in 2.5 lakh villages, universal phone connectivity, the establishment of public internet access points, digital inclusion through IT and telecom job training, and widespread e-governance and e-services.
  • The program aims to position India as a leader in IT use across various sectors and empower citizens digitally.

Challenges and Required Changes

Implementing a program of this scale involves significant challenges, including human resource issues, financial resources, and coordination across departments. Key measures include restructuring the National Informatics Centre (NIC), appointing Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in major ministries, and securing necessary financial resources through better focus and restructuring of ongoing programs.