HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 218: Model Answer

Question: Discuss the Digital India Programme.  (8 marks/ 120 words)

Answer:

Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It was launched by PM on 1st July 2015. It is an umbrella programme that covers multiple Government Ministries and Departments.

The Digital India programme is centred on three key vision areas:

1. Digital Infrastructure as a Core Utility to Every Citizen:

• Availability of high-speed internet as a core utility for delivery of services to citizens
• Cradle to grave digital identity that is unique, lifelong, online and authenticable to every citizen
• Mobile phone & bank account enabling citizen participation in digital & financial space
• Easy access to a Common Service Centre
• Shareable private space on a public cloud
• Safe and secure cyber-space

2. Governance & Services on Demand

• Seamlessly integrated services across departments or jurisdictions
• Availability of services in real time from online & mobile platforms
• All citizen entitlements to be portable and available on the cloud
• Digitally transformed services for improving ease of doing business
• Making financial transactions electronic & cashless
• Leveraging Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) for decision support systems & development

3. Digital Empowerment of Citizens

• Universal digital literacy
• Universally accessible digital resources
• Availability of digital resources / services in Indian languages
• Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance
• Citizens not required to physically submit Govt. documents / certificates

Challenges of Digital India:

• The daily internet speed, as well as the Wi-Fi hotspots, are slow as compared to other developed nations.
• Most of the small and medium scale industry has to struggle a lot for adapting to the new modern technology.
• Digital divide between rural and urban India
• Lack of skilled manpower in the field of digital technology.
• Cyber security issues.

Conclusion: It will help in improving people’s social and economic conditions through inclusive and transformative growth. It will make the citizens independent and empowered. However, this initiative cannot be successful without supportive measures from the government like infrastructure development, education, awareness, cybersecurity, etc.