Transformation by Digital India & A Detailed Article on Digital India Program
Prime Minister started campaign of Digital India Week on July 1 to attract various stakeholders to ensure the success of initiative. This ambitious initiative aims to transform India to a true ‘Knowledge Economy’, where not only government services are provided through ICT, but all aspects of life, be it business, agriculture or education are facilitated likewise. India, given its huge human resources in IT sector is well suited to achieve such change.
It will have multiplier effect of economy of the country. In one go this will ensure transparent and accountable government, ease of business, hassle free procedures, higher living standard of masses and reduce in wastages in public spending. Positive impacts of digitization are quite apparent in current E-ticketing system of IRCTC, E- filling of income tax returns, E- Passport services, Digitization of land records among many examples. In all these initiatives power of middle man and discretion of lower level bureaucracy has decreased significantly.
Unlike predecessor National E-Governance Plan (NEGP), Digital India initiative looks much beyond public service delivery system. It places equal stress on digital infrastructure, governance and service delivery and digital empowerment of citizens. Without such comprehensive plan NEGP had very little relevance in rural and backward areas.
As always implementation is the key, but this program is starved of Infrastructure. There are two different options for delivery, one is through spectrum wavelength i.e. through mobile data and other is through landline broadband for which ‘National Optical Fiber Network’ is being laid. In case of former efficient delivery of service demands national wide roll out of 4G and plus services and in case of latter, current speed of work is dismal at 500 km/month while it should be 30000 km/ month.
Another issue is legal framework of the country. Current legal framework seems obsolete as Cyber Security law is 15 years old and is incapable of dealing with modern technicalities and crimes. Similarly, IT act of 2000 doesn’t even cover many types of crime. In absence of holistic legal framework, this initiative can get marred under obstructive litigation. National Cyber security policy was framed in 2013, but it is now a dead letter. However, in telecom sector both regulatory (TRAI) and appellate body are in place which can well take care of infrastructural part of the plan.
To ensure success, it is essential that masses participate in this initiative. Relevant applications with suitable content in local languages will have to be developed to educate diverse people of the country. So far awareness about technology is quite low in country side. This results in exclusion of poor from the services.
This initiative also aims hardware development in India and tries to draw synergies from ‘Make in India’ initiative. Currently China holds about 40% share in electronics market. Wages and other costs in China are expected to inflate significantly in coming years and this provides India an opportunity to dislodge China from top position. For this to happen, along with massive skill development, India will have to correct its ‘inverted duty structure’. India’s imposes heavy excise duty on domestic manufacturing of various electronic components, whereas China provides heavy subsidies or low taxes. This along with low import duty mandated by WTO agreement makes imports cheaper than domestic manufacturing. This is called inverted duty structure and it has retarded Indian industry.
Having said this, data security is of utmost importance. Huge amount of private and sensitive government data will flow on digital highways. Any leakage or attack on such data can jeopardize national security and disrupt the lifeline. Apart from security, systems should be put in place to ensure that individual privacy is respected. There is a widespread suspicion throughout the world over digitization. It is felt that governments and big business houses are in position to mi-utilize ‘Big Data’ technique for their private ends. These suspicions will have to be properly addressed before spending huge funds on the program. Russian laws doesn’t allow domestic data to be stored beyond its boundaries, this should be looked into by India.
What is Digital India?
Digital India is a Programme to prepare India for a knowledge future. The focus is on being transformative – to realize IT + IT = IT. The focus is on making technology central to enabling change. It is an Umbrella Programme – covering many departments. It weaves together a large number of ideas and thoughts into a single, comprehensive vision so that each of them is seen as part of a larger goal.
Each individual element stands on its own. But is also part of the larger picture. It is coordinated by DeitY , implemented by the entire government. The weaving together makes the Mission transformative in totality.
The Programme: Pulls together many existing schemes. These schemes will be restructured and re-focused. They will be implemented in a synchronized manner. Many elements are only process improvements with minimal cost. The common branding of programmes as Digital India highlights their transformative impact.
Vision of Digital India
Centered on 3 Key Areas
• Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
• Governance & Services on Demand
• Digital Empowerment of Citizens
Vision Area 1: Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
• High speed internet as a core utility
• Cradle to grave digital identity -unique, lifelong, online, authenticable
• Mobile phone & Bank account enabling participation in digital & financial space
• Easy access to a Common Service Centre
• Shareable private space on a public cloud
• Safe and secure Cyber-space
Vision Area 2
• Seamlessly integrated across departments or jurisdictions
• Services available in real time from online &mobile platform
• All citizen entitlements to be available on the cloud
• Services digitally transformed for improving Ease of Doing Business
• Making financial transactions electronic & cashless
• Leveraging GIS for decision support systems & development
Vision Area 3
• Universal Digital Literacy
• Universally accessible digital resources
• All documents/ certificates to be available on cloud
• Availability of digital resources / services in Indian languages
• Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance
• Portability of all entitlements through cloud
For more details - http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/07/02/lok-sabha-tv-insights-transformation-by-digital-india-a-detailed-article-on-digital-india-program/
New members appointed for North Eastern Council
Two eminent persons were recently appointed as the new members of the North Eastern Council for a period of three years. The two members are- Shri Chandra Kanta Das, a senior retired IAS officer and Prof Gangmumei Kamei, a distinguished academician, author and public activist. They will function as full time non-official members from the NEC headquarters at Shillong.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh is the Chairman of the NEC.
About the North Eastern Council:
Its functions are similar to the five Zonal Councils - Northern Zonal Council, Central Zonal Council, Eastern Zonal Council, Western Zonal Council and Southern Zonal Council, but is created by separate Act of Parliament - the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
Except North Eastern Council, all are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
Each Zonal Council consists of the following members: (a)home minister of Central government,(b)chief ministers of all the States in the zone(c)Two other ministers from each state in the zone(d)Administrator of each union territory in the zone.
The home minister of Central government is the common chairman of the five zonal councils.
The North Eastern Council is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The chief ministers and governors represent them.
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has adopted the ‘Digital Guddi-Gudda Board’ as a Best Practice under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme on the occasion of Digital India Week being observed from 1st July to 7th July, 2015.
About the’Digital Guddi-Gudda Board’:
The Digital Guddi-Gudda Board is an innovation of District Jalgaon in Maharshtra, initiated by its Collector, Ms Rubal Aggarwal with the support of Ms Raksha Khadse, MP, Raver and Mr. A.T. Nana Patil, MP, Jalgaon.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Andolan will help in generating awareness and improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women.
Implementation:
Prime Minister started campaign of Digital India Week on July 1 to attract various stakeholders to ensure the success of initiative. This ambitious initiative aims to transform India to a true ‘Knowledge Economy’, where not only government services are provided through ICT, but all aspects of life, be it business, agriculture or education are facilitated likewise. India, given its huge human resources in IT sector is well suited to achieve such change.
It will have multiplier effect of economy of the country. In one go this will ensure transparent and accountable government, ease of business, hassle free procedures, higher living standard of masses and reduce in wastages in public spending. Positive impacts of digitization are quite apparent in current E-ticketing system of IRCTC, E- filling of income tax returns, E- Passport services, Digitization of land records among many examples. In all these initiatives power of middle man and discretion of lower level bureaucracy has decreased significantly.
Unlike predecessor National E-Governance Plan (NEGP), Digital India initiative looks much beyond public service delivery system. It places equal stress on digital infrastructure, governance and service delivery and digital empowerment of citizens. Without such comprehensive plan NEGP had very little relevance in rural and backward areas.
As always implementation is the key, but this program is starved of Infrastructure. There are two different options for delivery, one is through spectrum wavelength i.e. through mobile data and other is through landline broadband for which ‘National Optical Fiber Network’ is being laid. In case of former efficient delivery of service demands national wide roll out of 4G and plus services and in case of latter, current speed of work is dismal at 500 km/month while it should be 30000 km/ month.
Another issue is legal framework of the country. Current legal framework seems obsolete as Cyber Security law is 15 years old and is incapable of dealing with modern technicalities and crimes. Similarly, IT act of 2000 doesn’t even cover many types of crime. In absence of holistic legal framework, this initiative can get marred under obstructive litigation. National Cyber security policy was framed in 2013, but it is now a dead letter. However, in telecom sector both regulatory (TRAI) and appellate body are in place which can well take care of infrastructural part of the plan.
To ensure success, it is essential that masses participate in this initiative. Relevant applications with suitable content in local languages will have to be developed to educate diverse people of the country. So far awareness about technology is quite low in country side. This results in exclusion of poor from the services.
This initiative also aims hardware development in India and tries to draw synergies from ‘Make in India’ initiative. Currently China holds about 40% share in electronics market. Wages and other costs in China are expected to inflate significantly in coming years and this provides India an opportunity to dislodge China from top position. For this to happen, along with massive skill development, India will have to correct its ‘inverted duty structure’. India’s imposes heavy excise duty on domestic manufacturing of various electronic components, whereas China provides heavy subsidies or low taxes. This along with low import duty mandated by WTO agreement makes imports cheaper than domestic manufacturing. This is called inverted duty structure and it has retarded Indian industry.
Having said this, data security is of utmost importance. Huge amount of private and sensitive government data will flow on digital highways. Any leakage or attack on such data can jeopardize national security and disrupt the lifeline. Apart from security, systems should be put in place to ensure that individual privacy is respected. There is a widespread suspicion throughout the world over digitization. It is felt that governments and big business houses are in position to mi-utilize ‘Big Data’ technique for their private ends. These suspicions will have to be properly addressed before spending huge funds on the program. Russian laws doesn’t allow domestic data to be stored beyond its boundaries, this should be looked into by India.
What is Digital India?
Digital India is a Programme to prepare India for a knowledge future. The focus is on being transformative – to realize IT + IT = IT. The focus is on making technology central to enabling change. It is an Umbrella Programme – covering many departments. It weaves together a large number of ideas and thoughts into a single, comprehensive vision so that each of them is seen as part of a larger goal.
Each individual element stands on its own. But is also part of the larger picture. It is coordinated by DeitY , implemented by the entire government. The weaving together makes the Mission transformative in totality.
The Programme: Pulls together many existing schemes. These schemes will be restructured and re-focused. They will be implemented in a synchronized manner. Many elements are only process improvements with minimal cost. The common branding of programmes as Digital India highlights their transformative impact.
Vision of Digital India
Centered on 3 Key Areas
• Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
• Governance & Services on Demand
• Digital Empowerment of Citizens
Vision Area 1: Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen
• High speed internet as a core utility
• Cradle to grave digital identity -unique, lifelong, online, authenticable
• Mobile phone & Bank account enabling participation in digital & financial space
• Easy access to a Common Service Centre
• Shareable private space on a public cloud
• Safe and secure Cyber-space
Vision Area 2
• Seamlessly integrated across departments or jurisdictions
• Services available in real time from online &mobile platform
• All citizen entitlements to be available on the cloud
• Services digitally transformed for improving Ease of Doing Business
• Making financial transactions electronic & cashless
• Leveraging GIS for decision support systems & development
Vision Area 3
• Universal Digital Literacy
• Universally accessible digital resources
• All documents/ certificates to be available on cloud
• Availability of digital resources / services in Indian languages
• Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance
• Portability of all entitlements through cloud
For more details - http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/07/02/lok-sabha-tv-insights-transformation-by-digital-india-a-detailed-article-on-digital-india-program/
New members appointed for North Eastern Council
Two eminent persons were recently appointed as the new members of the North Eastern Council for a period of three years. The two members are- Shri Chandra Kanta Das, a senior retired IAS officer and Prof Gangmumei Kamei, a distinguished academician, author and public activist. They will function as full time non-official members from the NEC headquarters at Shillong.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh is the Chairman of the NEC.
About the North Eastern Council:
Its functions are similar to the five Zonal Councils - Northern Zonal Council, Central Zonal Council, Eastern Zonal Council, Western Zonal Council and Southern Zonal Council, but is created by separate Act of Parliament - the North-Eastern Council Act of 1971.
Except North Eastern Council, all are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.
Each Zonal Council consists of the following members: (a)home minister of Central government,(b)chief ministers of all the States in the zone(c)Two other ministers from each state in the zone(d)Administrator of each union territory in the zone.
The home minister of Central government is the common chairman of the five zonal councils.
The North Eastern Council is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The chief ministers and governors represent them.
- The headquarters of the council is situated in Shillong, and it functions under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
- The North Eastern Council was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament.
- The Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which the north-eastern states have a common interest and advise the Central Government as to the action to be taken on any such matter.
- The funding of council mainly lies with the central government with small portions contributed by the state governments as well.
- The NEC act has been amended in 2002 to add Sikkim and restructure it as the regional planning body for the North Eastern Region.
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has adopted the ‘Digital Guddi-Gudda Board’ as a Best Practice under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme on the occasion of Digital India Week being observed from 1st July to 7th July, 2015.
About the’Digital Guddi-Gudda Board’:
The Digital Guddi-Gudda Board is an innovation of District Jalgaon in Maharshtra, initiated by its Collector, Ms Rubal Aggarwal with the support of Ms Raksha Khadse, MP, Raver and Mr. A.T. Nana Patil, MP, Jalgaon.
- The digital Board has been popularized in the district of Jalgaon, Maharashtra and works as a platform for dissemination of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Material on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme as well as updating monthly birth statistics.
- The digital board displays audio video material as well as still frames for disseminating information.
- This Board is being currently displayed at important state offices including that of the Chief Minister, district level offices, Zila Panchayat offices, primary health centers and other public places frequently visited by the common man.
- This is a fine example of digital innovation and best practice connected with the BBBP Scheme.
- Apart from displaying disaggregated birth statistics, this Board also contains other audio video IEC material related to the Scheme.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Andolan will help in generating awareness and improving the efficiency of delivery of welfare services meant for women.
- It is set up with an initial corpus of Rs 100 crore.
Implementation:
- A 100 critical low CSR districts in all States and UTs have been identified for focused and convergent action by the Ministries.
- The Ministry of WCD is the nodal Ministry for this initiative and will carry out training to stakeholders, community mobilization and sensitization. It will also embark upon a range of advocacy measures and activities, not limited to the 100 low CSR districts but all across the country.
- All forms of media and social media platforms would be used for this.
With AFSPA, India has failed statute: Amnesty
Amnesty International recently released a detailed report on the implications of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Jammu & Kashmir, asserting that the Union government has often refused to prosecute the Army or paramilitary personal accused of human rights abuses.
Details of the report:
- The report is titled “Denied: Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu & Kashmir”.
- The report says, “By not addressing human rights violations committed by security force personnel in the name of national security, India has not only failed to uphold its international obligations but has also failed its own Constitution.”
- The report has urged India to become signatory of international conventions on human rights and has asked the Centre to “accept and facilitate” a request from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance to visit India.
- Citing many instances where their RTI applications failed to get a response, Amnesty has called for making the information about the cases pertaining to human rights violations in J-K public.
- The report has also sought amendments in the legislations to limit the jurisdiction of military courts. It admits that to address the issue of impunity is a “challenge” but says is essential to ensure justice.
- The report also points out that legislation like the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990–which gives security officials special enforcement powers to act against alleged terrorists and separatists and protects them against civilian prosecution—do not conform with international human rights standards or the Indian Constitution that guarantees right to life, justice and remedy.
Recommendations made by the Amnesty International:
It has made a slew of recommendations to the federal authorities and state government in Jammu and Kashmir.
- It asks both the federal and state governments to take immediate steps to start independent and impartial investigations into all cases of alleged human rights violations by security forces and to prosecute the suspects in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards.
- It asks the federal government to repeal AFSPA and “ensure that all other national security legislation complies fully with India’s international legal obligations and is in line with international standards.” It has identified “impunity” and “lack of political will” as a long standing problem in J-K.
World Bank approves $650 m loan for eastern freight corridor
The World Bank has approved an additional loan of $650 million for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), which is aimed at the faster delivery of goods between the northern and eastern parts of the country.
- This round of loans to the Eastern DFC follows two other loans by the World Bank. This round of World Bank funding will build the 401 km Ludhiana-Khurja section in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
- The Cabinet had recently approved the revised cost estimate of Rs.81,459 crore for the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project.
About the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project:
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor Project (EDFC) will ease congestion choking the railway system and reduce travel-time for passenger trains on the arterial Ludhiana-Delhi-Mughal Sarai railway route.
- The corridor will add additional rail transport capacity, improve service quality and create higher freight capacity.
- It will also help to develop the institutional capacity of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCCIL) and Ministry of Railways to best utilize heavy haul freight systems.
- This Project aims at the faster delivery of goods between the northern and eastern parts of the country.
- The project will help increase the capacity of these freight-only lines by raising the axle-load limit from 22.9 to 25 tonnes and enable speeds of up to 100 km/hr.
- An analysis of the projected greenhouse gases that are expected to be generated by the Eastern freight corridor project found that it would be 55 per cent lower than the levels of gases released without the project.
- The Eastern DFC project is expected to release 10.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions up to 2041-42, compared to a whopping 23.3 million tonnes in the absence of the freight corridor.
Cabinet clears setting up of online national agriculture market
The union cabinet recently approved the setting up of an online national agriculture market that will provide more options to farmers for selling their produce.
- Currently, farmers are restricted to selling their produce at mandis or market committees that charge various taxes on producers.
Details:
- According to the decision taken, an online platform would be set up wherein farmers will be able to sell and buy fruits, vegetables and other produce from across the country.
- An agency would be set up to oversee online trading and to ensure that transactions take place smoothly, they said.
- It will also focus on creating godowns and facilitating transportation of the farm produce after the online trade, sources added.
- The move is expected to give choice to farmers to sell the farm produce both in physical mandis or online platform.
- The freer access to sell via online trade is likely to boost their incomes and improve availability, moderating price rise.
- This online agriculture market will also focus on creating godowns and facilitate transportation of the farm produce after the online trade.
Vijayanagar inscription found
An inscription dating back to the times of the Vijayanagar Empire has been found at a temple at Kandavara village in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district, Karnataka.
- Archaeologists said that the inscription dates back to the times of the Vijayanagar ruler Krishnadevaraya.
- The inscription was brought out during the renovation of the temple and installed on its outer premises.
- There are 30 lines written in Kannada on the rectangle stone slab. The writing mentioned in the inscription corresponds to 1509 AD. This date also corresponds to the first year of Krishnadevaraya’s reign.
About Vijayanagar ruler Krishnadevaraya:
- He was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529.
- He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty.
- Krishna Deva Raya earned the titles Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Andhra Bhoja and Mooru Rayara Ganda.
- He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Raja of Odisha.
- The great south Indian mathematician Nilakantha Somayaji also lived in the Empire of Krishnadevaraya.
- He was the most powerful of all the Hindu rulers of India at that time.
- Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz also visited the Vijayanagara Empire during his reign.
Do you think Directive Principles of State Policy should be given same importance and primacy as is given to the Fundamental Rights? Critically analyse. (200 Words)
There has been a fight between the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles for supremacy and precedence on several occasions .Against the background of the Supreme Court ruling on one such occasion that held the prevalence of the Fundamental Right in case of conflict between the two, it is important to assess whether Directive Principles of State Policy should be extended same importance and primacy as is given to the Fundamental Rights:-
Arguments against this :-
- Constitutionally enshrined Fundamental Rights form the core and heart of a democratic nation and can't be taken away whereas the Directive Principles are just a set of ethical and moral guidelines that a state should practice for good governance, committed to the welfare of it's people .
- Social ,political and economic realities of a nation limit the extent and scope of applicability of the later .No state possesses the quantum of capability and financial resources that would meet the requirements and goals of the latter.Hence,it is virtually impossible for government to implement and enforce them .
- Attempt by any state to enforce the guidelines set by later would lead to serious and blatant violation of the former , thus defeating the very purpose of a democracy.
Arguments in favor:-
- Fundamental Rights promote the welfare of the individual whereas the Directive Principles seek to promote the welfare of the community.
- The latter could be effective in addressing much of the problem of social inequality and injustice like economic ,educational and social backwardness and discrimination ,poverty ,income and wealth disparities if strictly enforced .
- Would promote efficient and competent governance constantly committed to the development and welfare of the society.
- However. the Directive Principles of State Policy can't be given same importance and primacy as is given to the Fundamental Rights due to arguments mentioned above.These principles are too ideal and generalistic to be followed in reality.They can be practiced in an Utopian world only and not the world where we live in .
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