Digital India: Difference between revisions

As of 31 December 2018, India had a population of 130 crore people (1.3 billion), 123 crore (1.23 billion) [[Aadhaar]] digital biometric identity cards, 121 crore (1.21 billion) mobile phones, 44.6 crore (446 million) smartphones, 56 crore (560 million) internet users up from 481 million people (35% of the country's total population) in December 2017, and 51 per cent growth in [[e-commerce]].<ref name=indint1>[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aadhaar-driving-licence-linking-ravi-shankar-prasad-5525713/ Govt will soon make Aadhaar-driving licence linking mandatory: Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad], Indian Express, 7 Jan 2019.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iamai.in/node/4990#in|title=The Internet and Mobile Association of India|website=www.iamai.in|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627010316/http://www.iamai.in/node/4990#in|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==

Digital India was launched by the Prime Minister of India [[Narendra Modi]] on 1 July 2015, with an objective of connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy.<ref name="launch">{{citation|last=DNA Webdesk|title=Here's what you need to know about the Digital India initiative|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-changing-your-facebook-profile-picture-is-not-enough-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-digital-india-initiative-2129525|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=28 September 2015|place=[[Mumbai]]}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Government School in Remote Bandahalli Village Gets Inspired by make in India |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Government-School-in-Remote-Bandahalli-Village-Gets-Inspired-by-Digital-India/2016/03/15/article3327858.ece |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=15 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name=tie>{{citation |title=Digital India Week: Digital Locker, MyGov.in, and other projects that were unveiled |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/projects-and-policies-launched-at-digital-india-week |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=5 July 2015 }}</ref> The vision of Digital India programme is inclusive growth in areas of electronic services, products, manufacturing and job opportunities. It is centred on three key areas – digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.livemint.com/Politics/dzh7hnHafnvVI8hoIlNqPI/GST-to-take-care-of-many-of-ecommerce-firms-tax-issues-IT.html|title= GST to take care of many of e-commerce firms' tax issues: IT minister|work= Live Mint|date=21 November 2014 }}</ref>

==Digital India initiative==

The Government of India's entity Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) which executes the [[Bharat Broadband Network|BharatNet]] project is the custodian of Digital India<ref>{{Cite web|title=Digital India For Atmanirbhar Bharat – Transforming The Rural Areas

|url=https://aatmnirbharsena.org/blog/digital-india-for-atmanirbhar-bharat/ |date= 20 Nov 2020 |website=Aatmnirbhar Sena|language=en}}</ref> (DI) project.<ref>{{citation |title=About Bharat Broadband Network Limited |url=http://www.bbnl.nic.in/index1.aspx?lsid=18&lev=1&lid=18&langid=1 |work=Bharat Broadband Network Limited }}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Subramaniam |first=Nikhil |title=India's 'fantastic' broadband project that you should know about |url=http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/indias-fantastic-broadband-project-that-you-should-know-about-81871.html |work=Tech2 |date=22 March 2013}}</ref>

===New digital services===

# Some of the facilities which will be provided through this initiative are Bharat , digital locker, e-education, e-health, e-sign, e-shopping and national scholarship portal. As part of Digital India, Indian Government planned to launch Botnet cleaning centers.<ref>{{citation|url=http://previewtech.net/digital-india-botnet|title=Government to set up botnet cleaning centres|work=Preview Tech|date=25 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2019/12/15/1576438221000/India-s-payments-revolution/|title=India's payments revolution|last=Jones|first=Claire|newspaper=Financial Times|date=16 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>

* [[National e-Governance Plan]] aimed at bringing all the front-end government services online.

[[File:PMGDISHA logo.png|thumb|PMGDisha logo]]

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is being executed by PMGDisha with an outlay of Rs 2,351.38 crore with the objective of making 6 crore rural households digitally literate by March 2020.<ref>{{cite news|title=One of world's largest digital literacy programmes in world, 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' cleared by Cabinet|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan/543139/|publisher=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]]|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan|url=http://vikaspedia.in/e-governance/digital-india/national-digital-literacy-mission|publisher=[[Vikaspedia]]|access-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2,351 करोड़ से गांवों को डिजिटल साक्षर बनाएगी सरकार, PMGDISHA को मंजूरी|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/news/national/article1-modi-cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-697220.html|publisher=Live Hindustan|date=February 9, 2017|language=hi}}</ref> Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (abbreviated as PMGDisha<ref>{{cite news|title=Cabinet approves PMGDISHA under Digital India Programme|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/cabinet-approves-pmgdisha-under-digital-india-programme-117020801404_1.html|publisher=[[Business Standard]]|date=February 8, 2017|location=New Delhi}}</ref>) is an initiative under Digital India program, approved by The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM [[Narendra Modi]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cabinet nod for rural digital literacy programme|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/Cabinet-nod-for-rural-digital-literacy-programme/article17265514.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=February 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=abinet approves 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' for covering 6 crore rural households|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158292|publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref> The main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is to make 6 crore people in rural areas across India digitally literate, reaching around 40% of rural households by covering one member from every eligible household.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)|url=https://www.mygov.in/task/logo-and-slogan-design-contest-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-pmgdisha/|publisher=[[MyGov.in]]|access-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Digital literacy classes for unemployed|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Khammam-Tab/2017-05-02/Digital-literacy-classes-for-unemployed/297175|publisher=[[The Hans India]]|date=May 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shrivastava|first1=Shilpika|title=Union Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/union-cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-1486636436-1|publisher=Jagran Josh|date=February 9, 2017}}</ref>

===Ongoing awareness campaign===

Annual Digital India Summit & Awards are held.<ref>{{citation |title=Times Now and ET Now announce 2nd edition of Digital India Summit & Awards; on 22 March |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/press-releases/times-now-and-et-now-announce-2nd-edition-of-digital-india-summit-awards-on-22-march/articleshow/51156592.cms |work=[[The Economic Times]] |date=19 February 2016 }}</ref>

== E-Cabinet ==

Taking a step further in e-Governance, for the first time<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/dp-mail-ecabinet-713975.html|title=India's first ever eCabinet in Andhra Pradesh|website=News18|date=15 September 2014|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> ever in the country, [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh government]] led by Chief Minister [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] and his Council of Ministers had its first paperless e-Cabinet meeting by Using the app e-Cabinet a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. The ministers accessed the entire agenda of the Cabinet meeting in electronic form by logging into the app on their laptops or Tabs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chandrababu-naidu-holds-ecabinet-meeting/article6412789.ece|title=Chandrababu Naidu holds e-Cabinet meeting|date=2014-09-15|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|others=PTI|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The features of the app to prevent the user from sharing it with anyone. Also, there is safety to the data as it is password-protected unlike in the conventional method where papers could easily be taken away from the member of the Cabinet by anyone.

=== e-Pragati ===

E-Pragati, the [[Andhra Pradesh]] State [[Enterprise architecture framework|Enterprise Architecture]], is a holistic and coherent framework designed<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-launches-e-pragati-core-platform/article24465768.ece|title=Naidu launches e-Pragati core platform|author=Staff Reporter|date=2018-07-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> to provide 750 services to over 30 million citizens by integrating 34 departments on a single platform. Unlike computerizing one department or service in state, e-Pragati aimed to computerize all departments and services in the state. Through this, the citizens will have a seamless service experience as they no longer have to go to government offices and can access the services from anywhere in the world. With e-Pragati platform, the government is making an effort to reach every citizen and serve them effectively.

=== Bhudhaar ===

[[Bhudhaar]] is an E-Governance project that is intended to assign a 11 Digits unique number<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-launches-bhudhaar/article25551979.ece|title=Launching of Bhudhaar|date=November 20, 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> to every land parcel in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/land-parcels-in-andhra-to-get-unique-code-under-bhudhaar-programme/articleshow/65520837.cms|title=Land parcels in Andhra to get unique code under Bhudhaar programme|date=August 23, 2018|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> as part of the "land hub in [[E-Pragati|E-Pragati programme]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nicea.nic.in/download-files.php?nid=203|title=Land Hub}}</ref> First of this kind platform in India to addressing issues in land record management Bhuseva Authority, an inter-departmental committee was formulated to implement and monitor the progress.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bhuseva.ap.gov.in/dashboard/stats|title=ప్రగతి సూచిక - భూసేవ|website=bhuseva.ap.gov.in|language=te|access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref> Eventually all land related transactions will use Bhudhaar as single source of truth to reduces land related disputes. On 18-Feb 2019, [[Andhra Pradesh Legislature|Andhra pradesh Assembly]] given its consent to the legal usage of [[Bhudhaar|Bhudhaar Number]] in land documents.

=== e-Panta (crop booking) ===

Electronic crop booking (e- Crop booking) is an Android application launched<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-09-19/Geo-tagging-to-ensure-better-land-management/254649|title=Geo-tagging to ensure better land management|last=India|first=The Hans|date=2016-09-19|website=www.thehansindia.com|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> with a local name called e-Panta, first of this kind platform designed in India to know the ground reality of the crop details and to analyse the crop pattern across the [[Andhra Pradesh]] state and to capture the standing crop in the state. Photographs as evidence in the case of crop damage and insurance are also available as the arable land in the state has been captured in latitude and longitude along with subdivision and occupancy. All field officers are trained to capture the crop details in the existing agricultural fields using tabs and to upload the crop details to the server for every crop season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2017/dec/15/agri-and-allied-sectors-register-growth-rate-of-256-in-first-6-months-1727684.html|title=Agri and allied sectors register growth rate of 25.6% in first 6 months|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> The features include an online transfer of crop details to Webland (land record management website), evidence in the case of crop damage for insurance, evidence for crop loans by banks, crop pattern and water tax demand analysis, and GPS location of each land parcel across the state. The mobile app covers land use and the entire Pattadar's history of land cover.<ref>{{Citation|title=e-Crop Booking: A Geo-tagging To Ensure Better Land Management Launched In AP|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dLyVuFyGwg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/1dLyVuFyGwg| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Loan charge ===

Loan charge creation project of [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]], first of this kind in is initially developed in India to curtail bogus and multiple loans issued<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://loancharge.ap.gov.in/|title=Loan Charge:: Login|website=loancharge.ap.gov.in|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> to the farmers. By using this module, Bankers can verify the land details in ''adangal'' and ROR‐1B copies and also know whether any loan is taken on the same land. The financial institutions like banks, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Sub Registrar offices of Registration Department spread across the State of Andhra Pradesh are covered under the application. Nearly 78 lakhs of farmers, 2.25 crores people of the State are covered under the project along with 61 Major Banks, PACS and District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCBs) having 6000 branches are using<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/bankers-asked-to-advance-crop-loans-based-on-webland-details/article19273181.ece|title=Bankers asked to advance crop loans based on webland details|date=2017-07-14|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> this application to deliver the loans and for creating charges on the land.

==Outcomes ==

===Reception===

Leaders from [[Silicon Valley]], [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[California]] expressed their support for Digital India during [[Prime Minister of India|PM]] [[Narendra Modi]]'s visit in September 2015. [[Facebook]]'s CEO, [[Mark Zuckerberg]], changed his profile picture in support of Digital India and started a chain on Facebook and promised to work on WiFi Hotspots in rural area of India.<ref>{{citation |agency=TNN |title=Mark Zuckerberg changes his profile picture to support 'Digital India' |url=http://timesofindia.com/tech/tech-news/Mark-Zuckerberg-changes-his-profile-picture-to-support-Digital-India/articleshow/49128369.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 September 2014}}</ref> [[Google]] committed to provide broadband connectivity on 500 railway stations in [[India]]. [[Microsoft]] agreed to provide broadband connectivity to five hundred thousand villages in India and make India its cloud hub through Indian data centres. [[Qualcomm]] announced an investment of {{USD|150 million}} in Indian startups.<ref>{{citation|last=Thomas|first=K|title=Modi effect: Silicon Valley giants commit to Digital India|url=http://thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/modi-in-silicon-valley-tech-giants-commit-to-digital-india/article7694877.ece|publisher=[[Business Line]] [[The Hindu]]|date=27 September 2015}}</ref> Oracle plans to invest in 20 states and will work on payments and [[Smart Cities Mission|Smart city]] initiatives.<ref>{{citation|title=Digital India to propel economy to its best era: Oracle|url=http://moneycontrol.com/news/business/digital-india-to-propel-economy-to-its-best-era-oracle-_3498821.html |work=[[Moneycontrol.com]]|date=8 October 2015}}</ref> However, back in India, cyber experts expressed their concern over internet.org and viewed the Prime Minister's bonhomie with Zuckerberg as the government's indirect approval of the controversial initiative.<ref name="thestatesman.com">{{citation |url=http://www.thestatesman.com/news/section-ii/digital-india-at-the-expense-of-net-neutrality/95497.html |title=The Statesman: Digital India at the expense of Net neutrality? |work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |date=8 October 2015 }}</ref> ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' reported, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chemistry with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the social media giant's headquarters in California may have been greeted enthusiastically in Silicon Valley but back home several social media enthusiasts and cyber activists are disappointed."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epaper.thestatesman.com/c/6714327|title=Clipping of The Statesman - Delhi |work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |date=29 September 2015 }}</ref> Later the Prime Minister office clarified that net neutrality will be maintained at all costs and vetoed the Basic Internet plans.<ref name="thestatesman.com"/> Digital India has also been influential in promoting the interests of the Indian Railways.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicsnow.in/digital-india-and-indian-railways/|title=Digital India and Indian Railways |work=Politics Now |author = Dipankan Bandopadhyay | date=14 April 2017 }}</ref>

===Criticisms===

Several academic scholars have critiqued ICTs in development. Some take issue with [[technological determinism]], the notion that ICTs are a sure-fire antidote to the world's problems.<ref name=":0" /> Instead, governments must adjust solutions to the specific political and social context of their nation.<ref name=":0" /> Others note that technology amplifies underlying institutional forces, so technology must be accompanied by significant changes in policy and institutions in order to have meaningful impact.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Rema|title=To fix social problems, invest in human beings, not tech magic: Kentaro Toyama|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/all-that-matters/To-fix-social-problems-invest-in-human-beings-not-tech-magic-Kentaro-Toyama/articleshow/49027394.cms |work=[[Times of India]] |date=20 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Toyama|first=Kentaro|title=Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology|url=http://geekheresy.org |work=[[PublicAffairs]] |date=2015 }}</ref>

Digital India as a programme has been considered by some as a continuation of the long history of bias towards [[Reliance Industries Limited|RIL]], which has previously manifested in the form of altering [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India|TRAI]] regulations in favour of the company. Reliance [[Jio]] has cited the Digital India initiative numerous times for its own marketing purposes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/government-helping-reliance-jio-monopolise-telecom|title=How Reliance Jio is monopolising the telecom sector|last=Block|first=Daniel|website=The Caravan|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref>

===Impact===

Internet subscribers had increased to 500 million in India as of April 2017.<ref>{{citation |title=India Internet Conference 2017: Minds meet on country's digital future |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/india-internet-conference-2017-minds-meet-on-countrys-digital-future/616904/ |work=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]] |date=6 April 2017 }}</ref> On 28 December 2015, [[Panchkula district]] of [[Haryana]] was awarded for being the best as well as top performing district in the state under the Digital India campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/digital-india-campaign-panchkula-comes-out-on-top-among-all-districts-of-haryana/ |title=Digital India campaign;Panchkula comes out on top among all districts of Haryana |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=26 December 2015 |website=The Indian Express |publisher=The Express Group |access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>

India is now adding approximately 10 million daily active internet users monthly, which is the highest rate of addition to the internet community anywhere in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-is-adding-10-million-active-internet-users-per-month-google-118062700882_1.html|title=India is adding 10 million active internet users per month: Google|last=Reporter|first=B. S.|date=2018-06-27|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industry in India]]

*[[Standup India]]

*[[Startup India]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*{{Official website|http://www.digitalindia.gov.in/}}

{{Government Schemes in India}}

[[Category:2014 establishments in India]]

[[Category:Digital India initiatives]]