India is set to transform its public services delivery by leveraging its digital public infrastructure (DPI) over the next two years, with the goal of offering all government-to-citizen services digitally. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, shared this ambitious plan during an event organized by The Economist Impact, ahead of the B20 summit involving businesses from G20 countries.
Chandrasekhar highlighted that the digitization efforts through DPIs would encompass various sectors, including education, skilling, and healthcare programs. He affirmed that nearly all interactions between the government and citizens, except for infrastructure projects like building roads and railways, would be conducted digitally within the specified timeframe.
Referring to the “India stack,” an integrated set of digital platforms and services, Chandrasekhar expressed confidence in the expansion and deepening of these platforms’ applications. He asserted that there should be no reason for any relevant government or public service to remain outside the scope of the India stack.
Addressing data usage in the digital economy, Chandrasekhar emphasized the importance of establishing rules and guidelines for data utilization. He stressed the need for balanced and symmetrical relationships between individuals whose data is being collected and the platforms utilizing user data on public platforms. This perspective aligns with India’s approach to data protection and privacy, as underscored in the digital personal data protection law.
Chandrasekhar acknowledged the challenges posed by globalization, emphasizing that the concept of “trusted globalization” is gaining prominence in the context of supply chain disruptions and intellectual property proliferation. He highlighted India as a trusted long-term partner for corporations aiming to diversify their supply chains, enhance their talent chains, and collaborate on intellectual property creation. Chandrasekhar expressed optimism that these partnerships could contribute to a prosperous global order.
As India sets its sights on comprehensive digitization of public services, the government’s focus on data privacy and protection remains paramount, ensuring that individuals’ rights are upheld alongside the drive for innovation and digital transformation.