Digital India and its Accomplishment

Amrit Mohanty

Chief Strategy Officer

Introduction

It is basically a campaign launched by government of India to ensure electronically improved services are provided to the citizens by using online infrastructure and increasing internet connectivity. By launching this program government is taking a step to make India as a digitally empowered economy. The government aligns itself with the advancement of technology and also makes the people to cop up with these developments. In 20th century it is the masterstroke played by government not only to make adapt with new technologies but also enhance our economy in a reverberate manner. It has many aspects to grow our GDP as well as employability. It includes various schemes whose worth is around 1 lakh Crore. Ministry of Communication and IT takes the responsibility to implement this program. After all it’s the strategy of government to execute its vision to make India digitally empowered economy.

Vision

With the start of this program government is having some initial visions and afterward it will lead further to some advancement.

1. The first and foremost vision is to leverage digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen.
2. Entire governance and services will be digitized and it will be provided as per demand.
3. Digital empowerment of common people.

Important Aspects of Digital India

1. Citizen Internet Access Program
2. Electronic manufacturing which could lead to minimum imports
3. E-Governance which ameliorate government operation in digitized way
4. E-Kranti which includes digitized delivery of services
5. Creating jobs in IT industry
6. Information should available for all
7. Connecting Broadband Highways

Advantages of Digital India

High speed internet service will make the work faster also it would reduce the work of pen and paper and ultimately time will get consumed. In other aspect when we reduce the use of paper simultaneously we reduce the fatal outcome of deforestation as a result we are moving towards an eco friendly nation. Also it helps us to minimize the corruption rate. There are certain services introduced in this program to facilitate the ease of doing business like e-education services, e-health services, e-commerce services, digital locker facility etc. Many companies in India as well as outside of India have decided to invest around 70 billion dollar which will create a huge job opportunity in India which as a turn increase our GDP. So such initiative would definitely impact our economy and India will become a measure player in global economy. Last but not least a huge segment of FMCG industry will be created across the country.

Government Initiatives

To make this program a successful one government had taken certain initiatives which could definitely help a common and last mile citizen. The government’s initial aim is very clear and that is fulfillment of basic amenities. Here 12 projects have been successfully launched to maintain transparency in governance.

Digital Locker

This app was launched to safeguard the critical documents like Voter Id Card, PAN Card, BPL Card, Driving License, Certificates, Passport, Water and Electricity Bill etc. Here there is a cloud base system which helps to store these documents. So as a result it eliminates the use of physical documents.

Benefits of Digital Lock

1. Accessibility of digital record is flexible
2. Reduces the use of paper, minimizes administrative cost
3. Authenticity of document is properly validated
4. E-sign facility replaces attested process

MyGov.in

This portal has been designed to interact with citizens in three dimensional approaches and that are “Discuss”, “Do” and “Disseminate”. In “Discuss” section you can share your ideas and opinions also you can participate in a fruitful discussion forum which could be treated as an input for government. Using “Do” section you can participate in different competitions held by government to show off and enhance your skills. We can say “Disseminate” section is coalition of many things that are groups, blog, Poll/Survey, talk etc. In “groups” there are certain ongoing topics and certain activities which you need to perform. In “blog” section you can update your experiences. In “Poll” section you can participate in a Poll/Survey. In talk section you can participate in a live talk. The basic aim of this portal is to participate with government in a user-friendly manner and take input from citizens for successful implication of projects.

Esign Framework

This portal has been launched to digitally sign a document. Here the process is to integrate service delivery application via an API.

Features of Esign Framework

1. Flexible and reliable way to digitally sign information

2. Facilitate legally valid signature

3. Easy to implement

4. Ensure Privacy

Secure Online Services

Swachh Bharat Mission Mobile App

As we know the dream of our Prime Minister is to maintain the cleanness and an environment of sanity. The main motto to launch this app is to create awareness among people also it enable citizens to access information regarding Swachh Bharat Drive.

National Scholarship Portal

The main purpose of this portal is to make scholarship scheme as easier as possible. Starting from submitting the form, its verification, its approval to the disbursal of amount to scholars everything can be done in a single platform. The main feature of this app is all government scholarships are in a single platform.

EHospital

This portal has been launched to facilitate medical services in a feasible manner. By using this portal one can easily register, can take an appointment, and Pay the fee, able to get online diagnostic reports also check the availability of blood.

Digitize India Platform

It is the initiative taken by Government of India to provide a platform for storing relevant documents in a digitized and customized manner. By scanning those documents one can easily upload it to the portal and access it anytime from anywhere. Machine intelligence and cloud computing plays a measure role for creating this portal.

Bharat Net

Under this scheme high speed broad band will be connected by using optical fiber to all 250000 Gram Panchayats of the country. This is the largest rural broadband services of the world. This will help citizens belong to village a lot in terms of their accessibility and skill development.

Wi-fi Hotspots

High speed free Wi-Fi has been implemented by BSNL under Smart City and Digital India scheme. In smart city scheme Free Wi-Fi will be provided across the city which is chosen by this category. In the initiative of this scheme Implementing of free Wi-Fi are under progress in all Railway Stations.

Next Generation Network

In this scheme the BSNL has been modified to match itself with new generation requirement. Beforehand it has only provided telephone exchanges but now a day it is emphasizing on services like Voice, Data, and Multimedia etc. Also with development of mobile generation BSNL is making itself competitive in present market.

Electronic Development Fund

This initiative created by GOI to make India a zero Import Zone by 2020. The fund is being set up to enforce manufacturing of electronic product. Also this will be used for the purpose of Innovation, experimentation and product development. All registered Fund which comes under SEBI regulations will be the ultimate beneficiary.

Center of Excellence on Internet of Thing (IoT)

Center of excellence is created by joint venture of NASSCOM, Deity and ERNET. It adopts IOT to help in various services like Electricity, Parking, Waste Management, and Water Management. Also it is helpful in case of Smart City Services, Smart Health Services and Smart Agriculture Services. IOT revitalizes a new growth strategy.

Demonetization and its Effect on Digital India

At the time of demonetization and immediately after that there is huge shortage of liquid money or cash in hand. So to overcome that situation e-wallet came as a remedy. Basically e-wallet is nothing but an electronic wallet which stores some money like wallet and is used for transaction of lower remuneration. By using this application one can purchase some item through system, smart phone etc. This app can be linked to an individual bank account, which is the most important feature.

Along with the increase in usage of E-Wallet, net banking and mobile banking services increases by a substantial amount. Apart from that there is a far-reaching use of credit card and debit card for online shopping and transaction. So it reduces the transaction of unaccounted money and as a result there a transparency in our economy.

By the effect of demonetization E Commerce sector and Ride sharing service sector gain some boost and their business gain a momentum. Usage of E Commerce platform like Flip kart, IRCTC, Big basket increases drastically. In case of Ride Sharing Services like Ola and Uber, customers generally preferred to pay through E-Wallet or through net banking.

The below chart suggests some overwhelming gain by E Commerce Sector due to the effect of demonetization.

There are some other statistics which suggests how demonetization moves our society towards digital revolution

The above table suggests after 8th November 2016 i:e after declaration of demonetization use of digital wallet transaction increases by 4 times in both value and volume as compared to previous year. Also there is a sharp gain in case of mobile banking. According to RBI increased in use of credit card was especially in tier II/III city and its tilt towards small transaction in the range of Rs.10 to Rs.1000.

Effect of GST on Digital India

Implication of GST has some pros and cons with related to Digital India Movement. There are certain rates which may boost Digital India movement and certain rates which may pull the legs.

Positive Impact of GST on Digital India

In case of GST, digital mode is mandated to file a return. Before implication of GST it was expected there will be a 14% revenue growth under new levy as more tax player comes into the field of formal economy by digital mode. But after GST implication and after filing of return a bigger figure comes into existence, there is 21% growth of tax revenue in comparison to previous years. In fact digital mode of payment brings more transparency and creates data for almost all transaction in economy. As a result it encourages government and people to move towards digital transactions which as a turn enhances e-commerce sector and will bring more clarity in economy.

Negative Impact of GST on Digital India

GST council has fixed rates on Laptop and Desktop at 18% but before GST implication it was rated at 14–15 percent. Monitors and Printers are now rated at 28%. So there is a dual slab, also there is a price hike of ‘IT Products’ which are the core elements of Digital India.

PAN with Aadhaar Connection and its Impact

PAN with Aadhaar connection is one of the most important steps taken by the government to keep a track on financial transaction. Bank account is already linked with PAN as per the KYC requirement, Once Aadhaar linked with PAN then automatically Aadhaar will be connected to Bank Account and government will easily keep track on financial transaction. It’s the step taken by government to promote digital transaction.

Vision of Digital India By 2019

1. Broadband will cover up to 2.5lakh villages.
2. Net zero import
3. 400,000 public internet access point
4. Wi-fi will be there in 2.5lakh schools, all universities also public Wi-Fi hotspot zones.
5. 1.7 Cr trained for IT, Telecom jobs.
6. Total 10.2 Cr job creations either directly or indirectly.
7. E-Governance and E-Services will be implemented across all govt departments.
8. India to be a leader in it used service sectors — Health, Education and Banking.
9. More over digitally empowered citizens — public cloud, internet access.