Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, participated in a virtual conference hosted by the World Bank under the South-South Knowledge Sharing Series. The primary focus of this event was India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and its potential to serve as an exemplary model for African nations. This is especially relevant given the recent inclusion of the African Union in the G20 during India’s presidency of the summit this year.
The conference, titled “Digital Public Infrastructure: The India Story,” drew attention to the significant opportunities that DPIs can offer to countries whose citizens are still unconnected to the internet, as emphasized by representatives from the African Union.
Rajeev said, “Today we are at a stage where digitization has transformed the lives of Indians drastically whether or not they are digitally literate. DPIs have changed the perception of Governance altogether. Earlier there was a perception that large democracies are destined to have dysfunctional governments but in India’s case, we ensured that all the leakages are plugged through DPIs.” He also highlighted some key elements of India’s DPI ecosystem, such as Aadhaar and UPI, a fintech layer that enhances financial inclusion.
“So far, India has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with nearly eight countries to share its India stack. This is a testament to India’s success in leveraging technology to improve lives. The G20 has recognized the DPI based approach. There is also a recognition that countries that have lagged behind in the digitization journey can benefit from the Global DPI Repository. India serves as a global case study for how technology can profoundly impact people’s lives. India is eager to share its experiences and collaborate with other nations, offering them the India stack and digital public goods. The overarching goal is to make the internet an enabler, promoting transformation, resilience, safety, and trust,” the Minister further added.
