The Aadhaar Payments Bridge System (APBS), is an innovative payment mechanism operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This payment mechanism operates using Aadhaar numbers as central identifiers. It directs government subsidies and benefits the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the rightful recipients. Thus it ensures a streamlined and secured transfer process. It differs from the existing systems for facilitating bulk electronic payments. The APBS is integral to enhancing India's Digital Public Infrastructure by promoting seamless financial transactions and bolstering financial inclusion across the nation. NPCI's role, as outlined on NPCI's official website, underscores its pivotal function in executing electronic financial distributions via APBS, promoting transparency and accountability in the distribution of governmental financial aid. This system is a cornerstone of India's digital governance, exemplifying the successful interface between technology and transparent governance.
The Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) is a secure and user-friendly digital payment platform developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This innovative system leverages Aadhaar authentication, enabling customers to conduct financial transactions such as balance inquiries, cash deposits, withdrawals, and interbank transfers using their Aadhaar number and biometrics. AePS facilitates banking services through Point of Sale (PoS) devices and micro ATMs across India, promoting financial inclusion by making services accessible even in remote areas. It serves as a bank-led model allowing participation from any bank authorised by the NPCI, offering an interoperable means to the unbanked and underserved population.
For more information, visit NPCI’s AePS overview and FAQs.
Account Aggregators (AA) in India are entities that enable secure and consent-based sharing of financial data between Financial Information Providers (FIPs) and Financial Information Users (FIUs). Governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), AAs facilitate a data-sharing framework that enhances financial inclusivity and streamlines loan approvals, among other financial services. An AA helps users share their digital financial information with various financial entities without needing to transfer or hand over documents physically. All data transactions occur only after explicit consent from the user, ensuring data privacy and security.
For more information, visit: Sahamati and Union Bank of India.
The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) is the principal decision-making body of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in India. It was established under the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act of 1952. The CBT is responsible for administering and overseeing the provident fund, pension, and insurance schemes under the EPFO. It consists of representatives from the Government of India, employers, and employees. The Board operates under the chairmanship of the Minister for Labour and Employment. It plays a crucial role in formulating policies related to the EPF, ensuring that the interests of the workforce are adequately safeguarded.
The Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) is a centralised database established by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for storing Aadhaar numbers and the corresponding demographic and biometric information of Indian residents. This repository plays a crucial role in the Aadhaar system, ensuring a unique identity for all residents and facilitating the provision of government services. The CIDR’s architecture is designed to provide robust security to safeguard personal information against unauthorised access. As a foundational component of India's digital identity system, the CIDR enables efficient and transparent service delivery, enhancing governance and easing public access to various services.
Source: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Official Website.
The Central Recordkeeping Agency (CRA) is a crucial component of India's National Pension System (NPS), which maintains records and administration for NPS subscribers. Implemented and regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), the CRA ensures the proper management of individual subscriber accounts. Key responsibilities include recordkeeping, processing contributions, providing periodic consolidated Statements of Transactions and holding subscribers' funds. In India, the CRAs, such as Protean eGov Technologies Ltd and KFin Technologies Limited, operate under guidelines to maximize transparency and efficiency in retirement fund management. For authoritative information, please visit the official PFRDA website or related government sources.
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is a premier research organisation in India. It is an autonomous scientific society under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Founded in 1987, C-DAC focuses on strengthening national technological capabilities and responding to the complex computing needs of different sectors. Leading the development of India's supercomputers, C-DAC debuted with PARAM 8000. C-DAC addresses advanced Information Technology, multilingual computing, cybersecurity, and health informatics among its critical functions. C-DAC also plays a pivotal role in promoting IT education and research in India.
Visitors can explore C-DAC’s official site for more information.
CMMI Level 5 indicates the highest maturity level any organisation can achieve, which involves optimising processes. This certification is significant in industries like software development, showcasing an organisation's capability to continuously improve its functioning through incremental and innovative processes and technological improvements. Achieving Level 5 certification implies that the company operates at an 'optimising' level, where continuous process improvement is enabled by quantitative feedback and innovative ideas and technologies, with a strong emphasis on continual improvement in process performance through both incremental and innovative technological improvements. Such certification often leads to higher quality products, increased customer satisfaction, and better market competitiveness. Having CMMI Level 5 Certification is an indicator of excellence in process management and improvement across diverse industries, assuring stakeholders of the reliability and quality of its process management practices.
Common Service Centers (CSCs) are a strategic cornerstone of the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), which is an integral part of the Digital India program. They are government access points that deliver essential Public Utility Services, Healthcare, Social Welfare Schemes, Educational, Financial, and various other B2C and G2C services in the rural and remote areas of the country, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. CSCs are more than service delivery points in rural India. They are positioned as agents of change, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods. They are enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with a key focus on the rural citizen. For more information, visit the official CSC website or Diginame provided by the Government of India.
CoWIN (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network) is an Indian government-initiated digital platform built for managing India's COVID-19 vaccination drive. The platform facilitates the registration process for vaccination, scheduling appointments, and provides a dashboard for individuals to track their vaccination status. CoWIN also ensures vaccine availability transparency, and enables the issuance of digital vaccine certificates. It allows vaccine slot booking through authorized apps like Eka Care, Aarogya Setu, and Umang. Essential for healthcare administrators, it aids in logging inoculation data, thus ensuring streamlined vaccine logistics and real-time monitoring. The platform was crucial to India's goal of administering over a billion vaccine doses efficiently.
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) is a critical process encouraged by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as part of its tightened norms, requiring banks and regulated entities to adopt a risk-based approach for periodic updating of Know Your Customer (KYC) information to curb financial crimes, such as money laundering and terrorism financing. It involves verifying the identity of customers and understanding the nature of their activities to assess the risk they pose. Financial institutions must obtain reliable identification documents, address details, and other pertinent information before establishing a business relationship. The process helps banks and other financial entities assess risks and manage their relationships with customers effectively.
For detailed guidelines, RBI's official document on 'Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016' can be referred to at RBI's website. This ensures the safety and integrity of financial transactions in India.
DEPA, or Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture, is a groundbreaking framework introduced in India. It facilitates consent-based and secure data sharing among multiple stakeholders, enhancing citizens' control over their personal data. DEPA empowers individuals to access, manage, and share their data with third-party institutions securely and seamlessly, using a system of Consent Managers. While this architecture supports the digital empowerment of Indian citizens and can potentially be integral to platforms like DigiLocker for federating government-issued records, it is not explicitly tied to any one application. It promotes a secure and convenient method for data handling and sharing in the digital era.
DigiLocker is an advanced digital platform launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Aiming at the "Digital Empowerment" of citizens, DigiLocker provides a secure digital wallet to store and share valid documents. This platform serves as a critical component of India's Digital India initiative, fostering data accessibility and integrity. It operates on the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) framework and allows for the federation of data records from various government entities. DigiLocker's secure, cloud-based platform simplifies the process of document verification, reducing the dependence on physical documents and enhancing the convenience and efficiency of public interactions with government services.
For more details, visit DigiLocker Official Site.
The DigiReady Certification (DRC) is an initiative by the Quality Council of India (QCI) in collaboration with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). It is designed to assess and certify the digital readiness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Through an online self-assessment tool, MSMEs can evaluate their preparedness to join the ONDC platform as sellers. This certification aids MSMEs in enhancing their digital capabilities and expanding their business outreach by connecting them with relevant network participants. DRC aims to streamline the digital transformation process for MSMEs, ensuring they are equipped to meet modern e-commerce demands and opportunities effectively.
Established in 2021, the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) of G20 offers inspiration and broad guidance to policymakers on harnessing the digital potential of economies. The Working Group aims at digital transformation to enhance public participation and realize inclusive social and economic growth. Recognised as a successful model, DEWG has significantly impacted the digitalisation of economies, particularly in developing countries. India's involvement and leadership in DEWG have been marked by implementing the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which other nations now seek to emulate. The DPI includes technologies like digital identification, payment systems, and data governance frameworks, which have collectively streamlined government services and economic activities in India. The adoption of these systems by other developing nations underscores DEWG’s effectiveness in fostering digital inclusivity and enhancing economic efficiencies on a global scale.
DIGIT (Digital Infrastructure for Governance, Impact & Transformation) is an open-source platform initiative by the Indian government, supporting the development of smart cities and facilitating responsive urban governance. DIGIT empowers urban local bodies (ULBs) by aiding them in the digital management of municipal operations, enhancing service delivery efficiency. The platform encompasses a suite of applications trying to address common urban municipal challenges such as property tax collections, building plan approvals, and grievance redressals. Its architecture supports scalability and interoperability among various governmental digital services.
For more information, visit the official DIGIT portal or the Ministry of Urban Development.
DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is a pivotal Indian national platform designed exclusively for teachers, for facilitating learning through digital technology. An initiative of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), under the aegis of the Ministry of Education (MoE), DIKSHA supports the entire lifecycle of a teacher from the stage of pre-service professional education, through employment and into post-service training. It acts as a digital portal offering tools like digitised textbooks, mock quizzes, and collaboration features. The platform helps in self-learning through various teacher-oriented courses and resources. These features allow for an enriched, scalable, and transformative training environment ensuring that teaching and learning are made enjoyable and effective.
For more information, visit DIKSHA's official site.
DIVOC is an open-source digital infrastructure developed to streamline the rollout of mass vaccination programs. Its name, "Digital Infrastructure for Verifiable Open Credentialing," hints at its utility in issuing digital certificates for vaccinations after the necessary verifications. Supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India, DIVOC emphasises scalable solutions to manage appointment bookings, registration, and real-time record management efficiently. It integrates a digitally verifiable certification to confirm the individual’s vaccination status, contributing significantly to public health safety measures. This software compliant with WHO standards, ensuring its compatibility and reliability for widespread deployment.
For authoritative information, refer to the official channels and documentation often distributed by the Indian government and health agencies.
Digital Public Goods (DPGs), such as the Aadhaar identity system, encompass transformative digital resources crucial in improving the efficiency and reach of public services in sectors like healthcare and governance in India. These DPGs facilitate secured, universally accessible public infrastructure services, emphasizing the seamless integration and essential role within the broader framework of India's Digital Public Infrastructure. These goods aim to ensure transparency and increase accessibility, and by aligning with digital sovereignty, they also seek to empower government-citizen engagement.
To understand more comprehensively about DPGs and their interface with public infrastructure, you can explore detailed insights provided in articles like Digital Public Goods: A Comprehensive Guide and discussions around their impact on governance and public health notably seen in Digital Public Good: A Game Changer in India's e-Governance. These articles provide essential contextual background pertinent to appreciate the scope and efficacy of Digital Public Goods in the Indian context.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India refers to a set of shared and interoperable digital systems, which include frameworks like Aadhaar for identity verification, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for financial transactions, and CoWIN for vaccination management, created and implemented by the government to facilitate efficient public service delivery through digital means. These infrastructures support wide-scale digitisation enabling various services like digital payments, education, and health care to be more accessible to the Indian population. They leverage technologies that ensure data security, improve transparency, and increase citizen engagement. DPI is pivotal in realising the vision of Digital India, aiming to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
For more detailed information on specific DPI initiatives, visit official Indian government websites or trusted sources like National Portal of India and Digital India Portal.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is a scheme implemented by the Indian government to transfer subsidies and financial benefits directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts. Introduced to ensure a faster and more accurate delivery of benefits, DBT reduces the risk of fraud and misuse of funds. It covers a wide range of government programs, from social welfare schemes such as scholarships and pensions to subsidies on fuel and fertilizer. The DBT system is linked with Aadhaar, India’s unique identification number, to authenticate the identity of recipients and streamline the process.
For more details on the DBT program, visit India's official DBT portal.
DHIS (District Health Information Software) is an open-source software platform widely used for health management information systems in India. It is particularly noted for its capacity to collect, analyse, and report on health data, thereby enhancing the efficiency and decision-making process within the healthcare sector. In India, DHIS supports the active management of health records and facilitates the aggregation of data across different health programs and projects. The platform promotes data-driven decisions and is integrated into governmental health initiatives to improve service delivery and program outcomes. Moreover, DHIS offers monetary incentives for record-linking to encourage systematic data integration and quality improvements across health systems. The use of DHIS by health authorities in India ensures a standardised approach to healthcare information management, ultimately improving health outcomes.
DPI-as-a-Service (DaaS) in India refers to the delivery of scalable and interoperable digital infrastructure as a service, supporting various government initiatives for better governance. This model leverages cloud-based solutions to offer robust platforms where services such as Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and DigiLocker are integrated. DPI-as-a-Service aims to enhance public access to government services, facilitating growth by improving service delivery efficiency and transparency. By offering such infrastructures as a service, India positions itself to rapidly deploy and scale digital services, essential for leveraging technology across public sectors, thus boosting digital inclusion.
The eGov Foundation, established in 2003, plays a crucial role in transforming governmental service delivery in India through digital innovation. Its goal is to drive national digital transformation by developing robust public digital platforms like DIGIT. These platforms facilitate seamless policy formulation and create open ecosystems for government bodies, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement. eGov Foundation’s initiatives, supported by technology, aim to make government services accessible to the vast Indian population, ensuring sustainability and scalability in governance. This alignment with digital India goals underscores the eGov Foundation's commitment to enhancing nationwide governance through technology.
For more information, visit: eGov Foundation Official Website.
Common Services Centers (CSCs), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), have joined hands with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enable e‑commerce access to rural citizens across India. This joint venture will enable the integration of CSC's e‑Grameen app on the ONDC Network as a buyer application, allowing citizens across rural India to access its vast e‑commerce Network.
The e-Grameen app is designed to empower rural India by providing extensive access to products and services through digital commerce. As a buyer application integrated into the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, e-Grameen facilitates seamless connectivity between rural consumers and various e-commerce providers. This integration helps bridge the digital divide by ensuring that those in rural areas have the same shopping opportunities as those in urban centres. The app supports local languages and is tailored to address the specific needs and challenges of rural consumers. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s efforts to enhance digital inclusivity and promote rural entrepreneurship through technology.
eMobility, or electric mobility, is significant in India's push towards sustainable transport. The Indian government actively supports eMobility through initiatives like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme, part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. This plan aims to boost electric vehicle (EV) production and adoption, with a vision to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts. By offering subsidies on electric and hybrid vehicles, the government encourages the adoption of cleaner transportation. Prominent Indian auto manufacturers are rapidly expanding their EV offerings, responding to the policy environment and growing consumer interest.
For more information, visit the official National Electric Mobility Mission Plan page.
eAuth, short for Electronic Authentication, is an innovative digital framework implemented by the Government of India designed to verify the identities of individuals and entities electronically. This secure system is pivotal in ensuring the integrity and authenticity of various digital transactions across government services. eAuth employs advanced cryptographic techniques and adheres to standards specified in the Information Technology Act, 2000. It underscores its robustness in protecting against unauthorised access and fraud. Furthermore, it facilitates a wide range of services including e-Governance, online banking, and digital document verification, contributing to India's digital empowerment agenda and enhancing ease of access for its citizens. eAuthentication in India is represented by multiple initiatives like the National eAuthentication Framework (NeAF) and ePramaan.
e-KYC, or Electronic Know Your Customer, refers to the digital method of verifying the identity of individuals or entities, primarily used by financial institutions and other organisations in India. This process aligns with the standards and requirements set by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and is regulated under the provisions of India’s Aadhaar Act. e-KYC enables businesses to conduct customer verification efficiently by using Aadhaar-based authentication, which leverages biometric data (fingerprint or iris) and demographic details (name, age, gender, address). It ensures secure and real-time verification, greatly reducing paperwork and costs associated with physical KYC processes. e-KYC is widely adopted across various sectors for its convenience and speed, providing a robust framework for compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines and enhancing the safety of personal identity information.
Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) is a comprehensive process used by financial institutions in India to assess the risk level of higher-risk customers. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates EDD as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, particularly in dealing with high-net-worth individuals, politically exposed persons (PEPs), and entities involved in high-risk countries. EDD involves gathering additional information to better understand the customer’s financial activities and the risk they present. This includes more detailed scrutiny of financial transactions, assessing the source of funds, and ongoing monitoring activities. The objective of this process is to prevent financial crimes like money laundering and terrorist financing.
For more information, please visit RBI’s official guidelines.
eSanjeevani is an innovative telemedicine service introduced by the Indian government. It is designed to extend healthcare services to the most remote regions of the country. This platform enables both direct and assisted tele-consultations with medical professionals, ensuring that even those in distant areas have access to quality healthcare. eSanjeevani operates on a secure, cloud-based infrastructure that is compliant with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Also, it adheres to the Electronic Health Records (EHR) guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Its establishment highlights a significant move towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India, promoting digital health equity across the nation.
For more information, visit the official eSanjeevani portal provided by the Indian government.
eSign is a secure and government-approved electronic signature service in India, enabling citizens to digitally sign documents online. Under the framework of the Information Technology Act, 2000, eSign facilitates an Aadhaar-based authentication process, which ensures statutory and regulatory compliances with substantive and procedural laws. This service is pivotal for streamlining bureaucratic processes and improving ease of doing business, offering a key component in paperless transactions. The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, monitors the regulatory framework, making eSign a reliable and trustable digital tool for authentication.
Financial Inclusion in India aims to provide access to financial services at affordable costs to the underserved population. A key initiative underpinning this mission is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This initiative was launched to ensure services such as banking, credit, insurance, and pensions are available to all, particularly the economically weaker sections. The integration of digital technologies into these services facilitates broader, efficient, and inclusive financial environments capable of reaching the last mile. Digital Public Infrastructure plays a crucial role here by leveraging technology to streamline the delivery of financial services. Thus enhancing the reach and efficiency of financial inclusion programs throughout India.
For more details, visit: Press Information Bureau and Ministry of Finance.
FINTERNET (Financial Internet), proposed by Nandan Nilekani and Agustin Carstens, aims to enhance financial services through a global digital system utilising key elements of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). This initiative emphasises user-centricity, universality, and unification across financial ecosystems, leveraging tokenization and unified programmable ledgers. Through such technological innovations, FINTERNET intends to deliver financial services more rapidly, affordably, and securely. The blueprint of FINTERNET draws upon Narendra Nilekani's extensive experience with India's successful DPI implementations, such as Aadhaar and UPI, enabling seamless service delivery and inclusive access to financial services. This framework's introduction could potentially revolutionise how financial connectivity operates on a global scale.
The Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy (FIDE) is an initiative focused on enhancing interoperability across different digital platforms in India. It aims to create a unified framework that simplifies digital transactions and interactions for users and providers, promoting a seamless digital economy. It supports the development of standards and protocols to ensure smooth communication between diverse systems and technologies. FIDE works closely with Indian government bodies, tech companies, and other stakeholders to drive innovation and inclusivity in digital services. This initiative is pivotal in reinforcing India's position as a global leader in the digital economy, aiding in both technological and economic growth.
The Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR) is a pivotal initiative under India's G20 Presidency, aimed at centralising successful Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems worldwide. Hosted by India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), GDPIR serves as a digital vault that collects and shares DPI data and expertise globally. It ensures access to best practices in digital governance and public service delivery. This repository significantly enhances interactions between various global DPI projects influencing societal benefits through technology. GDPIR embodies a strategic framework for digital cooperation and development, linking digital public infrastructures like Aadhaar and UPI to broader global standards and deployments.
For further details, visit MeitY and GDPIR's main page.
The Golden Peacock Award for Business Excellence, established by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991, is a prestigious accolade celebrating corporate excellence across businesses in India. This award promotes best practices in corporate governance and excellence by recognising distinctive achievements of organisations that lead to sustainable business growth. Alongside measuring tangible organisational accomplishments, the award stimulates qualitative improvements in the global and local business ecosystem. Its relevance to Digital Public Infrastructure is significant as it encourages the adoption of digital and technological solutions in achieving business excellence, thus fostering better governance and public services delivery.
Learn more about the application and criteria on their official website at Golden Peacock Awards.
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is a digital public infrastructure in India, facilitating the administration of the GST regime—a uniform tax imposed on goods and services across the country. Operating through the portal, GSTN simplifies processes such as registration, tax payments, and return filing for taxpayers. As a backbone of India's digital tax framework, GSTN supports the transparency and efficiency of tax collection and compliance, both crucial for the rationalisation of India’s indirect tax system. Moreover, as a crucial part of India’s Digital India initiative, the seamless, online operations of GSTN epitomize the government's commitment to utilising technology to enhance governance and public service delivery.
G2Px stands for Government-to-Person payments initiative in India, focusing on enhancing the payments' system from governmental bodies directly to individuals. This initiative is essential in promoting financial inclusion and streamlining the distribution of social benefits, ensuring efficient and transparent transactions. G2Px operates under India’s broader push towards Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), aimed at creating a unified, accessible, and secure digital framework to support various governmental services and payments. Digital platforms under DPI, like G2Px, support the elimination of intermediaries, reduce corruption, and increase the speed and reliability of government payments directly to citizens.
For more information, interested parties can refer to Digital Financial Inclusion frameworks from reputable resources such as Better Than Cash Alliance and World Bank.
The Grameen e-Store, integral to India's Digital Public Infrastructure, enables Common Services Centers (CSC) sellers to extend their reach via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This platform allows rural entrepreneurs to receive seamless orders, fostering digital inclusiveness and boosting local economies. Connection through ONDC promotes equal ecommerce opportunities, furthering the goal of Gram Swaraj by empowering village-level entrepreneurs. The integration ensures a more equitable distribution of digital resources, making entrepreneurship feasible at the grassroot level in India.
For more information, please visit [Common Services Centers (CSCs) and ONDC Network.
The Health Claim Exchange (HCX) Platform is a significant component of India's expanding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), specifically tailored to streamline and enhance the efficiency of insurance claims processing across the healthcare sector. As part of the broader Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), HCX aims to serve as a unified platform facilitating the exchange of claims-related information, ensuring a smoother, faster, and more transparent handling process. This integration into the digital public infrastructure allows for a significant reduction in turnaround times for insurance claims processing and enhances overall accessibility to medical services Arthur D. Little. HCX employs the foundational principles laid out by the "India Stack" which aims to digitise and integrate various system protocols to create an efficient and scale-friendly infrastructure NASSCOM Community PDF. This platform is not only a testament to India's commitment to digital innovation in healthcare but also exemplifies the practical implementation of DPI in improving the ease and quality of healthcare delivered to the Indian population.
The Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique ten-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It applies to any "person" who applies for it or is automatically assigned one.
Here's how a PAN benefits you:
Tracks your tax information: The PAN acts as a single reference point for the Income Tax Department, linking all your tax-related transactions. This includes tax payments, deductions at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS) credits, income tax returns, and specified financial transactions.
Simplifies tax administration: PAN simplifies record-keeping and information retrieval for both taxpayers and the tax department. It allows for easier assessment, collection of taxes, and detection of tax evasion.
Obtaining a PAN is essential for filing income tax returns, conducting certain financial transactions, and claiming tax benefits in India.
A PAN Service Agency (PSA) acts as an intermediary between individuals or businesses and the Income Tax Department of India for obtaining a Permanent Account Number (PAN). While the PAN itself is issued by Protean eGov Technologies or UTI, PSAs assist with the application process, earning a commission for their services. It's important to note that PSAs associated with Protean can only facilitate paperless PAN applications.
Using a PSA can simplify the PAN application process, especially for those unfamiliar with online procedures.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is a statutory body established by the Indian government. It acts as the chief regulator for the pension sector in India. Their primary function is to promote, develop, and regulate pension schemes, with a focus on ensuring the long-term security and well-being of retirees.
In the National Pension System (NPS) of India, a Point of Presence (PoP) refers to a network of authorized financial institutions that act as service providers for subscribers. These PoPs simplify enrollment, contribution deposits, and other NPS-related services for both individuals and corporations.
A Tax Information Network Facilitation Centre (TIN-FC) acts as a one-stop shop for individuals and businesses in India to access services related to both the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the Tax Information Network (TIN). These centers, often referred to as "TIN-FC cum PAN Centres," offer a range of services, including:
Receiving and uploading electronic tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS) returns from deductors and collectors.
Accepting applications for new PAN cards or changes to existing ones.
TIN-FCs offer a convenient way to manage your PAN and fulfill tax filing obligations.
AI4bharat is a renowned research lab at IIT Madras that was built to enable an innovation ecosystem. Its goal is to bridge the gap between English and Indian languages in AI technologies by making open-source contributions in datasets, models, and applications. The AI4bharat research lab is actively working on the development of tools, open-source datasets, models, and applications for Indian languages.
Some of the prominent areas wherein they conduct research include large language models, text-to-speech conversion, automated speech recognition, optical character recognition, machine translation, and transliteration. One of the most prominent partners of AI4bharat is the Digital India Bhashini Mission. Grants from top companies like Bhashini, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, help this organisation fund their research.
AI4bharat has made significant advancements in Indian language technology, which has been shared at several prestigious conferences. AI4bharat’s work on developing AI technologies for Indian languages directly supports India’s Digital Public Infrastructure by enhancing linguistic accessibility and inclusivity in digital services. Their transliteration tech simplifies various tasks which have contributed to their popularity among the residents of India.
Airawat
Anti-Money Laundering
Automated Biometric Identification System
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Ayushman Bharat Health Account
Beckn Protocol
BecknGPT, or Beckn Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, is an open-source demonstration app that is designed based on Open AI’s ChatGPT with the Beckn protocol. It is a multi-network AI agent that can conduct transactions on behalf of the user and operates primarily within the framework of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). BecknGPT can perform tasks like booking travel tickets, ordering groceries, buying a book online, and even finding EV charging stations. Also, it can perform inter-network transactions, switching between multiple open networks.
Formerly known as the Beckn Foundation, FIDE (Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy) is the co-author of the Beckn protocol. They envisioned that integrating AI with the Beckn protocol would help unlock a multiverse of possibilities. Primarily, BecknGPT functions in a manner similar to a buyer app on ONDC, such as Paytm, Magicpin, and so on. This is so because BecknGPT has a chat-based interface where the AI understands Beckn and responds to the commands accordingly.
BecknGPT represents a significant advancement in Digital Public Infrastructure in India by integrating AI capabilities with the open, interoperable Beckn protocol to create a more accessible and efficient digital commerce ecosystem.
BharatNet
Bhashini
Bima Sugam
Biometric
ONDC, in January 2024, merged forces with Google, Protean, Antler, and Paytm to launch the nationwide hackathon, ‘Build for Bharat’. This initiative aims to democratise the digital commerce ecosystem in India. It helped ONDC leverage community contributions that can lead to the development of innovative and scalable solutions for tackling various challenges in the adoption of ONDC. It also created unique opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to effectively solve existing problems on ONDC. Thus, these initiatives empowered every participant to address and solve any type of problem that they are facing.
Developers, startups, and students from various regions were invited to design solutions across three verticals for the ‘Build for Bharat’ initiative. These verticals include planning scalable solutions to address growing challenges, designing next-generation startups to tackle problems in different sections of e-commerce, and developing practical solutions to tackle holistic challenges. A total of 17 problem statements were developed across these three verticals that encompassed topics like digitisation and management of inventories, cataloguing, supporting Indic languages, utilising data as a service, logistics, and so on.
By bringing together diverse talents and focusing on practical solutions, this initiative contributes to the broader goals of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, promoting accessibility, innovation, and economic growth in the digital sphere.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is a digital form of legal tender issued by a central bank, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). CBDC, or Central Bank Digital Currency, differs from cryptocurrencies in several ways. First, it is issued and regulated by the central bank itself. Additionally, its value is tied to and equivalent to the fiat currency of the respective country. These differences include the value of the currencies that the central bank determines and their value is equivalent to the country’s fiat currency. The primary aim of the CBDC is to enhance the implementation of monetary and fiscal policies and promote financial inclusion.
The initiative of digital currency introduction was taken as some of the world’s economies are moving toward their use. Usually, there are two primary categories of CBDCs, wholesale and retail. Wholesale CBDCs were introduced to regulate financial institutions and operate the central bank reserves. On the contrary, the retail CBDCs are designed for businesses and households to simplify everyday transactions and payments.
India’s CBDC initiative is a key component of its Digital Public Infrastructure, enhancing financial inclusion and modernising the monetary system.
COSS or Centre for Open Societal Systems, is a non-profit organisation that plays an active role in global societal transformation through the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). COSS is a Bangalore-based company that was established in the year 2024. The organisation was introduced with a mission to improve the lives of at least 1 billion people globally by 2030. They aimed to do so by encouraging people to adopt the social system with the use of Digital Public Goods (DPGs). Currently, there is a well-defined team of about 10 members, who strive towards the fulfilment of the purpose of this organisation. COSS actively promotes Digital Public Infrastructure in India, driving societal transformation through the adoption of open digital systems.
Common protocol refers to a set of standardised rules that govern the communication and interaction between devices connected to a network. It helps computers connect to a network in a similar manner to how humans communicate.
In the context of the internet and digital networks, there exist various types of protocols that operate across different layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. There are seven layers to this OSI model.
These layers help in simplifying the task of information transfer, making communication easily manageable. Each layer is self-contained, interacting with the layer beneath it and providing various facilities to the layer above it.
Some common protocols available include Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Domain Name System (DNS), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), and Telnet. The most popular common protocol among all types of common protocols available is TCP/IP, which is used for communication on the Internet or other types of networks.
Common Protocol is an important concept within the broader framework of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), as it enables interoperability and seamless communication between different digital systems and platforms.
The National Health Authority (NHA) introduced the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with the aim of creating a digital health ecosystem for the country. This mission is popular for its active participation in supporting various healthcare facilities such as hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, laboratories, and pharmacies in the adoption of the ABDM ecosystem. Upon doing so, all citizens of India can reap the benefits of digital health.
Some of the notable benefits of digital health incentive schemes (DHIS) include earning incentives for digitisation, enhancement in the efficiency of healthcare delivery, improving the quality of healthcare, and building a robust digital health ecosystem. All healthcare facilities like nursing homes, clinics, and hospitals, along with laboratories, diagnostic centres, and pharmacies are eligible to apply under this scheme.
To start earning incentives, all you will have to do is move to the official portal of ABDM and register on the Health Facility Registry (HFR) or ABDM Sandbox. Next, integrate and start using the ABDM software on a daily basis. After that, log in to your profile to register for DHIS. Once done, you can claim the incentives earned so far through this scheme, without undergoing much hassle.
The Digital Health Incentive Scheme is an integral part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, specifically in the healthcare sector. It aims to create a seamless digital health ecosystem by incentivizing the adoption of digital health technologies and practices.
Digital onboarding is the process that helps companies acquire customers by helping them encourage their customers to subscribe to their services remotely. The main purpose of this initiative is to verify the identity of the customer that a business onboards. This helps companies to be assured that their customers are actually the persons they claim to be. The process of digital onboarding involves collecting facial biometrics, detecting liveness, and verifying identity documents using various technologies.
This process is even used to onboard employees during remote jobs. During this process, even the employees gain all the insights of the company that are essential to become an integral part of the company. This shift to digitisation of the onboarding process has become a necessity, especially after the COVID outbreak. During the digital onboarding process, the personal data of clients or employees is extracted from the documents that they have submitted and is cross-checked against the data encrypted on the RFID chip or Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ).
In India, digital onboarding is closely linked with the country’s robust Digital Public Infrastructure, including platforms like Aadhaar and UPI, which facilitate seamless identity verification and financial transactions, respectively.
Digital Public Platforms or Digital Public Infrastructure and Platforms (DPIP) is an initiative taken by the Indian government to build and deploy digital public infrastructure. It enables the integration of Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Digital Infrastructure for Governance, Impact and Transformation (DIGIT), etc., encouraging digital adoption. Some of the benefits of using this platform include being cheaper and more efficient in use, ensuring plugging leaks, and offering immediately visible results.
The digital public platform is open to all and free of cost. Moreover, there are no ownership issues, always available to everyone, help everyone associated with the platform, and continuously grow and improve their ventures. The primary reason behind introducing the digital public platform is to ensure inclusivity and accessibility, act as an innovative catalyst, offer efficiency and transparency, help in healthcare advancement, and act as a global impact.
Digitised government services, also known as e-government, are specific services delivered by the government to citizens and businesses using information and communication technologies. Also, it facilitates the service delivery between the government and the public with the help of information and communication technologies.
Some of the popularly used digitised government services include filing tax returns, renewing driving licenses, applying for passports, and accessing various welfare schemes. Today, people can avail almost all types of government services online.
Digital government services offer various benefits to citizens and the government. These include enhanced online experience for citizens, improved efficiency and productivity, increased participation of the public, reduced administrative burden on government departments, enhanced user experience for citizens, better collaboration among departments, more innovation, and reduced labour costs.
Numerous departments that have enabled their services online to streamline the availability of government services. There are several real-life examples that people can refer to for understanding the benefits of these services.
Digitised government services are closely associated with Digital Public Infrastructure in India, as they provide the backbone for interactions between the government and its citizens, ensuring transparent, efficient service delivery and contributing to the development of a robust digital economy.
Jaadui Pitara is an initiative taken by the government that is intricately designed for children aged between 3 and 8 years old. It was designed in February 2022, under the New Education Policy 2020. The main objective of the government behind launching Jaadui Pitara was to provide play-based learning-teaching material for children at their foundational stage as envisioned by the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). The Jaadui Pitara, which translates to ‘Magic Box’ was finally launched in November 2023, and was made available in 13 different languages to cater to the diverse needs of learners.
e-Jaadui Pitara was launched alongside the physical Jaadui Pitara to strengthen the digital infrastructure of this initiative and offer diverse accessibility to children. It can be accessed through multiple channels including electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, televisions, and radios. Even, it can be easily accessed from the DIKSHA platform where there are diverse learning materials that teachers or parents can easily download for their children. Over the years, the e-Jaadui Pitara has been gracefully embraced by administrators, young children, and educators.
e-Jaadui Pitara is an integral part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, leveraging technology to democratize access to quality educational content and support the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
EHR or Electronic Health Record is the electronic version of storing the medical history of patients. It is maintained throughout the lifespan of a patient and includes various administrative clinical data that is relevant to them. These records usually include details such as demographics, problems, medications, past medical history, progress notes, vital signs, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports. Electronic Health Records (EHR) facilitate secure, real-time access to patient information, streamlining healthcare delivery.
EHR also supports care-related activities by aiding in quality management, evidence-based support, and outcomes reporting. It provides doctors with the complete medical history of patients with just one tap ensuring maximum accuracy and efficiency in the treatment. Also, the availability of health records minimises the costs of duplicate tests that can also lead to delayed treatments. Also, the medical records are chronologically and accurately stored, ensuring prompt treatment of the patient.
Electronic Health Records are a crucial component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aligning with initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to create an integrated digital health ecosystem.
End-to-end is a process that involves the delivery of complex services in a totally functional form from the beginning to the end. It is applicable across various sectors, including IT, and is primarily used during the planning, development, and implementation stages. The end-to-end processes help in optimising the performance of a business and enhance its efficiency by often eliminating the involvement of a middleman. Furthermore, they act as a cost-effective solution, when complex systems and services are involved.
The end-to-end process can be used to describe a one-time project or an internal process. Even, this concept is used in various other industries apart from the IT sector. One of the notable examples of end-to-end industries outside of the IT sector is logistics. This is applicable when the logistics service provider manages the entire supply chain, including storage, inventory management as well as distribution. However, there are other examples of end-to-end processes as well that will help you understand this concept in depth.
In the context of Digital Public Infrastructure, end-to-end processes are crucial in connecting various phases of digital systems. They ensure the seamless handling and delivery of services, like digital payment interfaces, which are essential for a robust and efficient public digital ecosystem in India.
ePension
e-Pramaan
The Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) introduced DigiLocker as a flagship initiative under the Digital India programme. The primary aim behind this initiative was ‘Digital Empowerment’ implying that people can get access to a citizen’s authentic documents from their digital document wallet. DigiLocker is a platform for issuance and verification of documents and certificates in a digital way, eliminating the need for physical documents.
To add an eSign to documents in DigiLocker, users can follow these steps:
- Log in to the official DigiLocker portal (https://digilocker.gov.in)
- Click on ‘Issued Documents’ or ‘Uploaded Documents’ depending on the document type
- Select the document to be eSigned
- Click on the eSign icon
- Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number
- Complete the eSigning process
- Download the eSigned document in PDF format with a digital signature
DigiLocker is a key component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, providing a secure and easily accessible platform for digital document storage and verification.
An eTicket, or electronic ticket, is a paperless method of ticket entry, processing, and marketing for companies in various sectors, including airlines, railways, and other transport and entertainment industries.
eTickets are available for transportation by bus, air, or train, as well as for events like concerts and movies. They allow passengers to pass security checks and board transportation or attend events without a physical ticket.
To book an eTicket for Indian Railways, users can visit the official IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) website or use their mobile app.
After booking, users can download the PDF version of the ticket to show during entry. For Indian Railways, there is no need to take a printout of the e-ticket before travelling.
eTickets are an integral part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, facilitating paperless transactions and enhancing the efficiency of ticketing systems across various sectors.
Farmer ID is a unique digital identity for farmers, similar to Aadhaar, designed as part of the Agristack initiative under India’s Digital Agriculture Mission.
It links them to their profile and contains details of all the agricultural schemes that they have availed, land records, livestock ownership, and crops sown.
The government aims to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers by FY 2026-27, with 6 crores to be covered in FY 2024-25, 3 crores in FY 2025-26, and the remaining 2 crores in FY 2026-27.
Creating a farmer ID can provide them with a plethora of benefits. These include verification through e-Know Your Farmer, eliminating the need for physical document submission, availability of customised advice, simplified access to information regarding crop damage, and easier verification for loans, insurance, etc.
Farmers can register for Farmer ID through:
- Kisan Call Centre (toll-free number 1800-180-1551)
- Web registration on the mKisan portal
- SMS registration (by sending an SMS to 51969 or 7738299899)
- Submitting details to extension workers
There are various ways in which farmers can register themselves in the official mKisan portal. All they will have to do is navigate to the portal and choose the ways of registration. These can include Kisan call centre registration, web registration, registration through SMS, and submitting details to extension workers so they can complete the registration of farmers on their behalf. Once done, they will have to submit some essential documents to complete the registration process and generate the farmer ID.
Farmer ID is a crucial component of AgriStack, designed as a farmer-centric Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture, aiming to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the sector.
Faster Payment System or FPS is a type of payment mode that offers real-time or near real-time access to funds to the payee. It is available 24/7, ensuring that people can transfer money to any bank account across the globe in no time. In India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a prominent example of a Faster Payment System.
It facilitates simplified inter-bank transfer of funds and sends confirmation within a minute to the originator as well as the receiver. The current shift in the market dynamics towards digitised payments has put FPS at the centre of the global payments industry.
The top five countries that have adopted FPS are from Asia and America, and one of the notable names among them is India. FPS is popular for instant payments and faster FI-to-FI settlement. Owing to their attributes, they have gained immense popularity among the users. However, users should note that the transactions made using FPS are irrevocable, that is, they cannot be reversed once processed.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) operates UPI, which has gained immense popularity among Indian users for instant payments and faster bank-to-bank settlements.
UPI is a key component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, contributing significantly to the country’s digital payment ecosystem and financial inclusion efforts
Fund management in India involves overseeing and handling cash flow in various sectors, including mutual funds, alternative investment funds, and portfolio management services. The fund manager’s role is crucial in maximising returns while managing risks.
Fund management applies to both tangible and intangible assets. It primarily involves operating, maintaining, deploying, disposing, and updating assets in a cost-effective manner to maximise profits.
It is imperative for a fund manager to pay close attention to risks and costs to identify and leverage cash flow opportunities. People should note that fund management can be divided into four industries. These include the financial investment industry, business and enterprise industry, infrastructure industry, and public sector. Usually, fund management is restricted to use in financial management and investment management only which lie within the financial sector.
Fund management in India is increasingly leveraging DPI to enhance financial inclusion and productivity gains. This includes the use of digital platforms for investor onboarding, transactions, and portfolio management.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier intergovernmental forum for international economic cooperation. It comprises 19 countries, the European Union, and as of 2023, the African Union. It aims to address major global issues like climate change, financial stability, sustainable development, and so on. The G20 is composed of some of the world’s largest economies and finance ministers, including some of the developing countries and some of the industrialised countries.
The G20 was organised in the year 1999 when the world economies faced severe crises. However, since 2008, it has convened at least once a year where the heads from each department had to be present. The members included the head of government or state, foreign minister, finance minister, high-ranking officials, the European Commission, and the European Central Bank. Also, there are international organisations and non-profit organisations who have been invited to join the summit.
India held the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, with the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.
The G20 members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
India’s G20 priorities included:
- Green Development, Climate Finance & Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)
- Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth
- Accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure
- Multilateral Institutions for the 21st century
- Women-led development
India’s G20 Presidency highlighted the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure in achieving sustainable development goals and fostering inclusive growth.
GST Suvidha Provider or GSP is an authorised intermediary approved by the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) to facilitate GST compliance for taxpayers in India. They develop applications that connect users to the GST system through secure APIs. They are assigned the task of providing various convenient and innovative methods to taxpayers and other stakeholders so that they can seamlessly interact with the GST system. This platform simplifies various tasks for taxpayers such as registration of ventures, filing GST returns, and so on.
GSPs play a crucial role in India’s GST ecosystem by:
- Simplifying GST compliance for businesses
- Providing innovative solutions for taxpayer interaction with the GST system
- Offering real-time data validation and error checking
Common Services Centers (CSCs) have also been designated as GSPs, particularly to assist rural businesses with GST compliance.
Usually, the entire interaction can be divided into two layers, one between the GSP and the GST system and the other between the taxpayer and the GSP. Also, there can be another type of interaction where the data is directly extracted from the GSP-GST server. The primary aim behind the introduction of GSP is that it can play a crucial role in establishing an open and transparent framework. This motivates enterprises and taxpayers to stay compliant with GST guidelines and reap the maximum benefit.
GSPs are an integral part of India’s digital tax infrastructure, contributing to the broader goal of digitising government services and improving ease of doing business.
Health & Wellness Centre
Health Facility Registry
Healthcare Professionals Registry
Identification for Development
iGOT
India Digital Ecosystem for Agriculture
India Stack
Information and communications technology
Integrated Tax Administration System
International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore
JAM
Jan Ki Baat
Jugalbandi
Kochi Open Mobility Network
Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Memoranda of Understanding
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Modular Open Source Identity Platform
Mojaloop
National Deep Tech Startup Policy
National Digital Education Architecture
National e-Authentication Framework (NeAF)
National ID Mapping Bank Account
National Payments Corporation of India
National Pension System
NBFC
NPS CRA
ONDC Platform
One Future Alliance
Open Cloud Compute
Open Credit Enablement Network
Open Digital Networks
Open Network for Education and Skilling Transformation
OpenCRVS
OpenGP
Output Outcome Monitoring Framework
People+AI
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna
Public Finance Management System
Public Tech Platform for Frictionless Credit
Quad
Quality Council of India (QCI)
Radio Frequency Identification
Reconciliation Service Provider
Revenue Management System
Sahamati
Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
SocietalThinking
STHAAN
Sunbird
Sunbird Saral
Tax Information Network
Techno-Legal Regulation Act
Technology Service Provider
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Third Party Administrator
Total Addressable Market
Unified Energy Interface
United Farmer Service Platform
Universal Health Coverage
UPI