New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- India's digital transformation over the past decade has reshaped how citizens access services, how welfare is delivered, and how opportunities are created. What distinguishes India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model is its commitment to treating technology as a public good: open, interoperable, and accessible to all. As the country pushes toward higher economic growth and deeper social equity, DPI stands out as one of the most powerful levers to strengthen state capacity, reduce frictions, and ensure that every household benefits from the nation's development. Building an architecture of trust and efficiency India's DPI success has been rooted in three foundational layers-digital identity, real-time payments, and data empowerment frameworks-each designed to work seamlessly with government programs. Aadhaar, with over 1.3 billion registrations, has become the backbone of authentication across welfare systems and public services, enabling faster, more transparent targeting of subsidies and benefits. The World Bank's ID4D initiative notes that India's model "enhances efficiency and reduces leakages by integrating identity with service delivery". The second layer, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), has propelled India to the forefront of global digital payments. In 2024, India accounted for more than half of real-time digital transactions worldwide, according to Applied Communications Inc. Worldwide. UPI's design has allowed small entrepreneurs, workers, and households to transact seamlessly without cost barriers-an inclusion milestone rarely seen at such scale. Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), enabled by these digital rails, have strengthened welfare delivery by ensuring that entitlements reach beneficiaries accurately and on time. Government estimates show savings worth tens of thousands of crores through reduced leakages, while improving transparency and auditability. The third pillar, the consent-based Account Aggregator framework, represents a new frontier: empowering citizens to control and share their financial data securely. As highlighted by NASSCOM, this can significantly expand formal credit access for small businesses, farmers, and first-time borrowers. Heading towards the utility bills to cashless, need is to continuously facilitate the digital payment growth but many a times even though the RBI and banks are making savings of lesser print of legal tender, logistic security cost and footfall in banks yet the consumer for digital payment is working out to be disincentives in digital payments
From welfare access to economic mobility The next phase of India's digital governance is about shifting from access to opportunity creation. While digital identity and payments have laid the foundation, open digital networks in agriculture, commerce, health, and skilling are now enabling people to participate more fully in the economy. The National Digital Agriculture Mission (NDAM) aims to unify farm-level data, advisory services, and market linkages, helping farmers make informed decisions and access better prices. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is making e-commerce more inclusive by allowing small vendors, micro businesses, and rural entrepreneurs to sell online without the constraints of closed platforms. In health, eSanjeevani has enabled over 14 crore teleconsultations, expanding access to medical expertise even in remote areas. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is building a unified health data ecosystem that strengthens continuity of care and empowers patients through digital health IDs. These platforms represent a shift toward precision governance-where public services can be aligned with real-time needs, reducing delays, duplication, and administrative burden on citizens.
Strengthening social delivery with human-centric design The government's emphasis on digital governance is also making welfare delivery more responsive and citizen-friendly. For example, One Nation One Ration Card has enabled greater portability for food security support, while digital monitoring systems in nutrition and education programs have improved oversight and accountability. The UNDP's 2023 report on Digital Public Infrastructure states that India's model "demonstrates how inclusive, interoperable public digital systems can accelerate development outcomes at scale". This global recognition underscores that DPI is not only a technology success but a governance innovation shaping the future of social protection. A critical aspect of this transformation is the government's investment in connectivity. Through BharatNet expansion, PM-WANI public Wi-Fi, and the rapid rollout of 5G, India is ensuring that digital access does not become the next barrier to welfare or opportunity. Equally important is digital literacy-a prerequisite for ensuring that technology strengthens, rather than widens, development gaps. Initiatives across ministries, states, and civil society are playing a role in ensuring that digital systems remain accessible and user-friendly for all sections of society.
A forward-looking path for inclusive growth As India aspires to become a developed nation in the coming decades, DPI offers a robust platform to deliver faster, smarter, and more dignified public services. The focus ahead must be on deepening interoperability across sectors, strengthening data protection frameworks, and fostering public-private collaboration that supports innovation while safeguarding citizens' rights. The global interest in India's DPI, from the G20 to multilateral institutions, reflects not only its success but its potential as a model for the Global South. Countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are exploring India's approach to building their own digital ecosystems that balance efficiency, equity, and sovereignty. India now stands at a pivotal moment. With DPI as the backbone, the country can continue to expand economic participation, reduce service delivery gaps, and ensure that growth reaches the last mile with dignity and precision. The digital foundations built over the past decade have positioned India not just to keep pace with global transformations, but to shape a more inclusive and citizen-centric development trajectory for the world to learn from.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from TechCircle.