India Prime Minister has Big Plans for Nationwide Digital Programs

Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Digital India Week, a new effort to transform the country into a prominent hub of e-government services and digital innovation.

The nationwide event is meant to serve as a launchpad for a program first introduced last August designed to transform India into a "digitally empowered society and knowledge economy,” according to the “Digital India” website.

Although India has developed a long-term digital strategy and already has a vibrant electronic goods market, the Indian government has lagged behind in the digital revolution. Last year, it was ranked in the bottom three among nations for its lack of developing and implementing government digital services, according to a report by the consulting firm Accenture.

“I dream of a digital India where high-speed digital highways unite the nation,” Modi said in a July 1 speech announcing the launch of the weeklong event. “I dream of a digital India where the world looks to India for the next big idea.”

Digital India Week takes place later this month and will include key representatives from India’s central ministries and states in a series of events held at “digital points of presence,” such as post offices and schools.

The event is expected to promote already existing digital services and facilitate the launch of new ones. It should “educate citizens on functional digital literacy, cybersecurity [and] cyber hygiene,” according to the Digital India website.

Modi’s big picture plans for India’s digital programs include mobile emergency services, e-health care, e-banking and real-time marketplace information for farmers.

Cybersecurity should be a fundamental part of India’s national security and its government should engage with citizens using social media, Modi said.

The government’s digital vision was praised by entrepreneurs in the country.

“Our prime minister’s vision of digital India has the potential to fundamentally transform the lives of 1.2 billion Indians using the power of digital technologies,” said Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, one the country’s most profitable company, who also spoke at the digital kick-off event.