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Digital India Programme

Last updated on December 31, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India launched in 2015. Read here to know the program in detail.

Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

It was launched in July 2015.

E-governance initiatives in India gained momentum in the mid-1990s for wider sectoral applications with an emphasis on citizen-centric services.

The major Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives included major projects like railway computerization, land record computerization, etc., which focused mainly on the development of information systems. Later on, many states started individual e-governance projects aimed at providing electronic services to citizens.

These initiatives did not make the expected impact due to isolated and less interactive features. Hence, more comprehensive planning and implementation were required to establish a connected government.

Digital India is an umbrella programme that covers multiple Government Ministries and Departments. It weaves together a large number of ideas and thoughts into a single, comprehensive vision so that each of them can be implemented as part of a larger goal.

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Table of Contents

e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan 2.0

The national-level e-governance programme called National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) was initiated in 2006.

• There were 31 Mission Mode Projects under the National e-Governance Plan covering a wide range of domains viz. agriculture , land records , health, education, passports, police, courts, municipalities, commercial taxes, treasuries, etc.
• 24 Mission Mode Projects have been implemented and started delivering either a full or partial range of envisaged services.

All new and ongoing e-governance projects as well as the existing projects, which are being revamped, should now follow the key principles of e-Kranti namely:

• Transformation and not Translation
• Integrated Services and not Individual Services
• Government Process Reengineering (GPR) to be mandatory in every MMP
• ICT Infrastructure on Demand
• Cloud by Default
• Mobile First
• Fast Tracking Approvals
• Mandating Standards and Protocols
• Language Localization
• National GIS (Geo-Spatial Information System)
• Security and Electronic Data Preservation

The portfolio of Mission Mode Projects has increased from 31 to 44 MMPs. Many new social sector projects namely Women and Child Development, Social Benefits, Financial Inclusion, Urban Governance eBhasha, etc., have been added as new MMPs under e-Kranti.

Vision Areas of Digital India

The vision of the Digital India programme is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

The Digital India programme is centered on three key vision areas:

1. Digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen

• High-speed internet as a core utility
• Cradle-to-grave digital identity
• Participation in digital and financial space through mobiles and banking
• Easy access to a Common Service Centre (CSC)
• Shareable private space on a public cloud

2. Governance and services on demand

• Seamlessly integrated services across departments
• Services available in real-time from online and mobile platforms
• All citizen entitlements to be portable and available on the cloud
• Digital transformation for ease of doing business
• Electronic and cashless financial transactions
• Leveraging Geospatial Information System (GIS) for decision support systems and development

3. Digital empowerment of citizens

• Universal digital library
• Universally accessible digital resources
• All documents/certificates to be available on the cloud
• Availability of digital resources/services in Indian languages
• Collaborative digital platforms for participative governance

Digital India: Programme pillars

Digital India aims to provide the much-needed thrust to the nine pillars of growth areas, namely:

• Broadband Highways
• Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity
• Public Internet Access Programme
• e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology
• e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services
• Information for All
• Electronics Manufacturing
• IT for Jobs
• Early Harvest Programmes

Digital India Initiatives

The Government has taken up many initiatives under the Digital India campaign:

DigiLockers: This flagship initiative aims at ‘Digital Empowerment’ of the citizen by providing access to authentic digital documents in citizen’s digital document wallet

E-Hospitals: It is a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) which is a one-stop solution for connecting patients, hospitals, and doctors through a single digital platform. Till February 2021, as many as 420 e-Hospitals had been established under the Digital India campaign

E-Pathshala: Developed by NCERT, e-Pathshala showcases and disseminates all educational e-resources including textbooks, audio, video, periodicals, and a variety of other print and non-print materials through the website and mobile app

BHIM: Bharat Interface for Money is an app that makes payment transactions simple, easy, and quick using Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Digital India Bhashini: It is India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)  led language translation platform.

Digital India GENESIS: (Gen-next Support for Innovative Startups) is a national deep-tech startup platform to discover, support, grow and make successful startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities of India.

My Scheme: It is a service discovery platform facilitating access to Government Schemes. It aims to offer a one-stop search and discovery portal where users can find schemes that they are eligible for.

Meri Pehchaan: It is a National Single Sign On (NSSO) for One Citizen Login. It is a user authentication service in which a single set of credentials provide access to multiple online applications or services.

Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme: The C2S Programme aims to train specialized manpower in the area of design of semiconductor chips at bachelor, master, and Research levels, and act as a catalyst for the growth of Startups involved in semiconductor design in the country.

Indiastack global: It is a global repository of key projects implemented under India Stack like Aadhaar , UPI (Unified Payment Interface), Digilocker, Cowin Vaccination Platform, Government e MarketPlace, DIKSHA Platform, and Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission .

Digital India week 2022

The Digital India Week 2022 under the Digital India Programme, to strengthen the Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.

The theme for the week was ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’.

Way forward

The Digital India programme aims at pulling together many existing schemes. These schemes will be restructured, revamped, and re-focused and will be implemented in a synchronized manner. Many elements are only process improvements with minimal cost implications. The common branding of programmes as Digital India highlights their transformative impact.

India’s aim for the digital revolution will help is pushing all sectors and jurisdictions of the economy. The advances in governance, reforms, start-ups , and demographic advantage will push the country towards being the fastest growing digital economy.

Also read:  Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme

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Hurdles to Overcome Before Becoming Digital India

• Last Updated on Aug 31, 2023

Context: The digital payments system in India has grown significantly in recent years. From June 2021 to April 2023, UPI payments grew at an average monthly rate of 6%. The corresponding figures for NEFT, IMPS, and debit card payments were 3%, 3%, and 1.5%, respectively. This indicates that the popularity of UPI increased at a faster rate than all other modes of payment.

Gaps in Financial Inclusion

• Number of Inactive-Account: India has the highest share of inactive accounts in the world compared to all the other countries in the database. Of those with bank accounts, 38% have inactive accounts. This might be an outcome of the push for Jan Dhan accounts. Zero-balance accounts were opened to meet official targets, but have been lying dormant since then. 
• While there is no urban-rural divide or income group divide in the possession of bank accounts, differences are evident when we consider the share of inactive accounts. While 31% of the population in rural areas have an inactive account, the share in urban areas is 23%. 
• If we look at the rural-urban gap in digital payments, India again stands out  with only 30% of Indians in rural areas made or received any digital payment in 2021 as opposed to 40% in urban areas. 
• This again indicates that a substantial share of the population has been bypassed. 
• Rich-Poor Divide: Similarly, if we consider the poorest 40% of Indians, 35% of them have inactive bank accounts, whereas the corresponding figure for the richest 60% of the population is 22%.
• % of Population Carrying Digital Transactions: While the popularity of UPI has increased substantially in recent years, only 35% of the population reported carrying out any digital transaction (making or receiving a payment) in 2021. While this was an improvement from previous years (22% in 2014 and 29% in 2017), India’s figures are unimpressive when compared to the average of 57% for all developing countries and the world average of 64%.
• Gender Divide: Although digital transactions have grown in value and volume, their growth has not been equal. There is a sharp gender gap in digital transactions. While 41% of the male population carried out any digital transaction in 2021, the corresponding figure among women was only 28%. Also, more women have inactive accounts as compared to men (32% versus 23%). India’s figures are also lower overall compared to the figures in Brazil and Kenya, which are at comparable levels of development.

Further Initiatives Required to Improve Digital Payments Ecosystem

• Awareness and Education: Many consumers are still wary about using digital payments and technology; hence companies need to educate their customers on the security advantages of digital payments in a more traditional manner.
• Internet Penetration & Mobile Phone Accessibility: Currently, internet and mobile phones accessibility at rural and remote areas is poor, hence government and stakeholders involved need to take initiatives in improving internet penetration.
• Incentives and Rewards: More consumers will switch to digital payments if they receive higher rewards and redeeming rewards with simplicity and faster

Therefore, while India has made big strides, it still has a long way to go in becoming ‘Digital India’.

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Essay on Digital India for Students in English [Easy Words*]

January 16, 2021 by Sandeep

Digital India Essay: The Digital India campaign was started by India’s government in 2015. The project was implemented to make government services citizen friendly and be able to reach to a wide population base easily. All facilities and programs initiated by the government are now available electronically. Rural parts are provided with a high speed internet connection. Through this initiative, efforts are undertaken to improve online transactions, e-learning, e-health, digital lockers, e-banking, digital signatures, etc.

Essay on Digital India 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Digital India Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

In 2015, India’s government initiated a massive “Digital India” initiative. Digital India’s mission is to make the country a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy. It guarantees the online access of government services to the citizens. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated this program on 2 July 2015. The program includes plans to link rural areas to interim high-speed networks and to boost digital literacy. The campaign significantly increased the use of electronic services and products. The project is run by a Government body called Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL). In the 2018 phase, this program was implemented.

This project, with active participation from the Ministry of Information Technology (IT), Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Human resource development and Ministry of Health, has been organized by the Information Technology Department (DITI). The program has received acclaim from various places from the day of its launch and played a significant role in transforming India’s digital infrastructure. It will catalyse investment in the IT field, thereby creating employment.

Objectives of Digital India

The program Digital India concentrates its main areas of vision, operation and value on the demand for digital technology empowerment, for every individual, administration and people. The massive campaign is divided into three parts, aiming for the following goals:

• A safe and efficient digital network that would connect every part of the country
• Facilitated access to online government services(e-Governance)
• Digital literacy of the masses

Instead of a digital India viewpoint, the government aims to provide every citizen with high-speed internet connectivity as a resource that provides fast public service delivery through the online platform and promotes digital literacy among the population. The goal of the program is to link cities, towns and villages of India with high-speed broadband, with network and data centres called the National Information Centre.

Digital India e-Governance

Digital India has provided a significant number of government services. Some are as follows:

• Mygov.in: A forum where people exchange insights and ideas about the policy and governance of administration in general. It is done in order for people to engage fully in the process.
• Digital Attendance: The initiative was launched in Delhi to record the participation of public employees and used a biometric system in order to mark the participation of employees.
• UMANG:  It is an app for all mobile platforms. The application is available in various Indian languages, allowing visitors to access tax facilities, train ticket reservations, educational portals, digital lockers and biometric identification systems, known as Aadhaar.
• e-Hospital: This application provides access to different hospital services like online laboratory reports, a payment gateway, booking appointments etc.
• e-Sign: This is a program that enables registered people to authenticate a document digitally with the help of their Aadhaar cards.
• Digi-Locker: A digital locker enables citizens to store all their government documents digitally. It is a multi-platform application developed to work in different administrative branches. Because the government itself authenticates the records, no physical copy has to be carried by people.

Advantages of Digital India Programme

• Curb of Corruption: Because of online work, the dishonest can be easily curbed because it takes place before everyone so that the job can be done in the right way.
• Time Saving: Through the digital project, people can work easily and quickly. The work done in offices in hours can be done in a couple of minutes.
• Rapid Development of Villages: The Digital India Project is in a position to change the country’s nature. If the initiative is given smooth and necessary importance in the villages, then it will not take long for that village to become a city.
• Employment Opportunities: All employment opportunities and information are available on the internet. Most government portals will then be launched following the Digital India Project and offer more opportunities.
• eBasta Portal : In this context, students will be provided with study information. This portal will make books, essential notes and materials available.

Impact of the Digital India Project

Digital India has a profound impact on people from all walks of life. The campaign has a profound effect on the whole life of the individual and contributed to the growth of society as a whole. Under Digital India, there are hundreds of programs. One plan is to create 28,000 BPO jobs across the country and create a Common Service Centre in all Gram Panchayats. It will also allow the government to generate thousands of IT jobs as Digital India needs people to help develop the infrastructure and bring the digital revolution to the new generation of young people.

So- far, over 250,000 villages have been linked in Digital India across the country. Every village now has connectivity to high-speed internet, provided by a government-owned BBNL telecom, to high-speed internet. The Government of India has also taken 11 technical steps to improve digital payment volume by promoting multiple payment channels such as PhonePe. The RuPay platform, an Indian company, competing with MasterCard and Visa, is also promoted.

Digital India Mission, 9 Pillars, Vision, Impact, Advantages

Digital India Mission is also referred to as Digital India Programme which was launched in July 2015. Know all about Digital India Initiative, 9 Pillars, Vision, Impact, Advantages in this article.

Table of Contents

Digital India Mission

The Digital India Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 1, 2015, aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The mission seeks to make government services accessible to citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure and enhancing internet connectivity.

What is Digital India Programme?

Digital India Mission is sometimes also referred to as Digital India Programme which was launched in July 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Digital India Programme envisions comprehensive digital infrastructure, increased digital literacy, and widespread digital access across all sectors, from governance and education to health and financial services. The Digital India initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for all citizens while promoting economic growth and innovation.

The Digital India Initiative holds the potential to reshape the very fabric of our nation, fostering innovation, connectivity, and empowerment across every stratum of society. In this article, you will get all about Digital India Mission, its pillars, vision, impact, advantages and challenges in detail for your exam preparation.

Digital India for New India

Digital India for New India is a vision to create a new India where all citizens have access to the benefits of digital technology. This includes access to education, healthcare, financial services, and government services. It also includes the ability to participate in the digital economy and to create new opportunities for oneself. Digital India for New India is being driven by many initiatives, including:

• Digital Literacy Mission
• e-Governance
• Startups and Innovation etc.

9 Pillars of Digital India Initiative

The Digital India Initiative is built upon 9 key pillars, each focusing on transforming India into a digitally empowered nation. Here we discussed the 9 Pillars of Digital India Initiative in detail.

• Broadband for All – Rural: Connecting 250,000 village Panchayats by deploying high-speed internet infrastructure.
• Broadband for All – Urban: Utilizing Virtual Network Operators for service delivery and ensuring robust communication infrastructure in new urban developments.
• National Information Infrastructure (NII): Integrating networks like SWAN, NKN, and NOFN along with cloud-enabled data centers to ensure horizontal connectivity across various levels of government offices.
• Extending mobile connectivity to 42,300 uncovered villages, focusing on network penetration and addressing connectivity gaps across the country.
• Common Service Centres (CSCs): Expanding the number of CSCs from 135,000 to 250,000, making them multi-functional endpoints for delivering government and business services.
• Post Offices as Multi-Service Centres: Converting 150,000 Post Offices into multi-service centers to provide various digital services.
• Simplifying government processes through IT to make them more efficient and transparent.
• Promoting online applications, tracking, and interdepartmental interfaces.
• Mandating the use of online repositories for documents to reduce physical submission requirements.
• Integrating services and platforms like UIDAI, Payment Gateway, Mobile Platform, and EDI for seamless service delivery.
• Technology for Education: Connecting schools with broadband, providing free Wi-Fi, and promoting digital literacy.
• Technology for Health: Facilitating online medical consultations, records, and medicine supply.
• Technology for Farmers: Providing real-time price information, online ordering, and mobile banking for farmers.
• Technology for Security: Offering mobile-based emergency services and disaster-related information.
• Technology for Financial Inclusion: Enhancing mobile banking, Micro-ATM programs, and using CSCs/Post Offices for financial services.
• Technology for Justice: Strengthening systems like e-Courts, e-Police, e-Jails, and e-Prosecution.
• Technology for Planning: Implementing National GIS for decision-making in project planning and development.
• Technology for Cyber Security: Establishing a National Cyber Security Coordination Center.
• Promoting open access to government data and documents through online platforms.
• Engaging citizens via social media and web-based platforms for two-way communication.
• Utilizing existing infrastructure for disseminating information with minimal additional resources.
• Aiming for net zero imports by promoting electronics manufacturing through taxation incentives, economies of scale, and skill development.
• Focus areas include FABS, fab-less design, set-top boxes, VSATs, mobiles, consumer & medical electronics, smart energy meters, and smart cards.
• Strengthening existing structures and creating new programs to achieve manufacturing goals.
• Training 1 crore students from smaller towns and villages for IT sector jobs over 5 years.
• Setting up BPOs in northeastern states for ICT-enabled growth.
• Training 3 lakh service delivery agents for running IT service businesses.
• Training 5 lakh rural workforce by Telecom Service Providers to meet their own needs.
• Mass Messaging Application: Covering elected representatives and government employees.
• Government e-Greetings: Providing templates for electronic greetings.
• Biometric Attendance: Covering all Central Government offices in Delhi.
• Wi-Fi in Universities: Covering all universities on the National Knowledge Network.
• Secure Email: Upgrading secure email infrastructure for government employees.
• Public Wi-Fi Hotspots: Establishing hotspots in cities with populations over 1 million and tourist centers.
• eBooks for Schools: Converting all school books to eBooks.
• SMS-based Weather Information and Disaster Alerts: Providing real-time information via SMS.
• National Portal for Lost & Found Children: Facilitating real-time information sharing to improve response times for lost and found children.

Vision of Digital India Mission

The Digital India Mission envisions a comprehensive transformation of India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. This ambitious program, launched by the Indian government, seeks to leverage the power of technology to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities, enhance government services, and drive economic growth.

Digital Infrastructure

One of the primary visions of the Digital India initiative is to establish a robust and inclusive digital infrastructure. This includes the expansion of high-speed internet connectivity to every corner of the country, ensuring that even remote areas have access to the digital world. By bridging the digital divide, the initiative aims to promote equitable access to information, education, and opportunities, levelling the playing field for all citizens.

Governance and Services

Governance and Services on Demand is another pivotal vision of Digital India. By digitizing government processes and services, the initiative intends to streamline administrative procedures, reduce paperwork, and promote transparency. Citizens will have the convenience of accessing various government services online, eliminating the need for lengthy bureaucratic procedures. This transformation not only enhances the citizen experience but also contributes to efficient and accountable governance.

Digital Empowerment

Digital empowerment of citizens is a cornerstone vision of the initiative. Through digital literacy programs and skill development initiatives, citizens are empowered to effectively use digital tools and technologies. This empowerment goes beyond mere access to technology; it enables individuals to participate in the digital economy, access educational resources, and engage in various socio-economic activities. This vision aligns with India’s aspirations to create a digitally savvy population that can harness the opportunities offered by the digital age.

Digital Literacy

Universal digital literacy is closely linked to the initiative’s vision. By providing digital literacy training to every citizen, regardless of age or background, Digital India aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate the digital world confidently. This becomes particularly significant in a country as diverse as India, where digital literacy can bridge gaps and foster social inclusion.

Digital Financial Inclusion

Digital financial inclusion is another critical vision of Digital India. By promoting digital payment systems and enhancing access to financial services, the initiative seeks to bring the unbanked and underbanked population into the formal financial sector. This not only empowers individuals economically but also contributes to the growth of a cashless economy and reduces the dependence on physical currency.

Innovation and Startups

Furthermore, Digital India envisions nurturing innovation and startups in the digital domain. By fostering a conducive environment for startups, the initiative aims to tap into the potential of young entrepreneurs, driving technological advancements and job creation. The focus on electronics manufacturing supports this vision, promoting local production and reducing import dependence.

In the pursuit of these visions, Digital India places a strong emphasis on cybersecurity. As digital systems become more prevalent, protecting sensitive data and digital infrastructure becomes paramount. The initiative aims to bolster the cybersecurity ecosystem, ensuring a secure digital environment for both citizens and businesses.

Digital India Initiative 

Under the Digital India Initiative, the Indian government has undertaken a range of initiatives and projects to digitally transform the nation and improve governance, services, and connectivity. Some of the key initiatives under Digital India programme  include:

Impact of Digital India Mission

The Digital India Mission has had a profound impact on various sectors of the Indian economy and society. Here are some of the notable impacts of the Digital India Mission:

• Access to Services: Digital India has significantly improved access to government services, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and making services more transparent and efficient. Citizens can now access a wide range of services online, such as applying for passports, licenses, and certificates.
• Financial Inclusion : Initiatives like the BHIM UPI have revolutionized digital payments, enabling even those without bank accounts to engage in seamless financial transactions. This has promoted financial inclusion and reduced the dependency on cash.
• E-Governance : Digital India has transformed governance through the implementation of e-governance systems. Online platforms have streamlined processes, reduced corruption, and improved service delivery, ensuring better accountability and transparency.
• Education and Skill Development : Digital platforms like SWAYAM and e-learning initiatives have expanded access to quality education and skill development opportunities. It has enabled remote learning, making education more inclusive and accessible to all.
• Healthcare Services : The e-Hospital initiative has improved healthcare services by digitizing patient records, appointment systems, and medical history. Telemedicine and digital health platforms have connected patients to healthcare professionals, especially in remote areas.
• Agriculture and Rural Development : Digital platforms such as e-NAM have empowered farmers by providing them with an online marketplace to sell their produce directly to buyers. Additionally, BharatNet has extended high-speed internet connectivity to rural areas, enabling digital services and information access.
• Startups and Innovation : Startup India has nurtured a vibrant startup ecosystem by offering incentives, funding, and mentorship. This has fostered innovation, technological advancement, and job creation in emerging sectors.
• Economic Growth : Digital transformation has contributed to economic growth by enhancing efficiency and productivity across sectors. It has also attracted foreign investment, bolstering India’s reputation as a tech-savvy nation.
• Infrastructure Development : Initiatives like BharatNet have strengthened digital infrastructure across the country, connecting even the remotest regions to the digital world. This has paved the way for further technological advancements.
• Empowerment of Citizens : Digital India has empowered citizens by providing them with access to information, enabling participation in governance through platforms like MyGov, and facilitating direct communication with authorities through social media.
• Environmental Impact : Digitization has led to reduced paper usage, contributing to environmental conservation. Online services have minimized the need for physical documents and paperwork, thus promoting sustainability.
• Global Recognition : The Digital India initiative has garnered international attention and recognition, positioning India as a frontrunner in digital transformation and technological innovation.

Read about: Atal Pension Yojana

Advantages of Digital India Initiative

The Digital India Initiative has brought forth a multitude of advantages that have positively impacted various aspects of Indian society and economy. Some key advantages of Digital India Mission include:

Empowering Rural Communities

One of the significant advantages of the Digital India initiative is its impact on rural communities. With the availability of digital tools and internet connectivity in remote areas, farmers can access real-time information about weather conditions, market prices, and agricultural techniques. For instance, the Kisan Suvidha app provides farmers with valuable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding crop planning and pricing. This digital empowerment enhances agricultural productivity and improves the livelihoods of rural populations.

Financial Inclusion

Digital India has played a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion across the country. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) aimed to provide banking services to the unbanked population. This initiative has successfully brought millions of people into the formal banking system . For instance, Jan Dhan accounts offer access to debit cards, insurance, and overdraft facilities. This inclusion in the formal financial sector not only facilitates secure transactions but also fosters economic growth and poverty reduction.

E-Governance and Transparency

The digital transformation of government services through e-governance platforms has minimized corruption and enhanced transparency. Initiatives like the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme ensure that subsidies and benefits reach the intended beneficiaries directly, eliminating intermediaries. This has significantly reduced leakage and improved the effectiveness of social welfare programs. For instance, the PDS system digitization in states like Chhattisgarh has reduced corruption and improved the distribution of essential commodities to the needy.

Educational Revolution

Digital India has revolutionized education by democratizing access to quality learning resources. The SWAYAM platform offers free online courses from top institutions, enabling individuals to pursue higher education and upskilling irrespective of their geographical location. Additionally, initiatives like Diksha provide digital content for teachers and students, making education interactive and engaging. This educational revolution has the potential to bridge the urban-rural education gap and create a skilled workforce for the future.

Healthcare Accessibility

The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) is transforming healthcare accessibility by creating digital health records for citizens. This initiative enables seamless sharing of medical information across healthcare providers, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment. Telemedicine platforms like eSanjeevani have facilitated remote consultations, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. These digital healthcare solutions bridge the gap between urban and rural healthcare services, ensuring quality medical assistance to all.

Efficiency in Governance

The adoption of digital platforms has streamlined government processes and improved the efficiency of public services. Initiatives like Digital Locker provide citizens with a secure digital space to store essential documents. This eliminates the need for physical copies and reduces bureaucratic delays. Similarly, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has simplified tax administration, benefiting both businesses and the government through enhanced revenue collection.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Digital India has fostered a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation. Startups in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and edtech have flourished, creating job opportunities and contributing to economic growth. For example, the success of platforms like Paytm, Flipkart etc. demonstrates how digital entrepreneurship can disrupt traditional business models and create novel solutions to societal challenges.

Digital India Mission UPSC  

The Digital India Mission holds significant relevance for the UPSC examination due to its comprehensive coverage of the UPSC Syllabus , particularly in Governance, Technology, and Economy. Aspirants preparing for UPSC can benefit from an in-depth understanding of the initiative’s pillars, impact, and advantages, which align with multiple aspects of the syllabus.

Additionally, knowledge of Digital India’s various initiatives, government policies, and its transformative role in sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship can provide a competitive edge in both the prelims and main exams. Aspirants can have firm command over such topics by covering them through UPSC Online Coaching platforms and testing their knowledge by attempting the UPSC Mock Test .

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Digital India Mission FAQs

What is digital india.

Digital India is a government initiative to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

What is the main aim of Digital India?

The main aim of Digital India is to ensure digital inclusion, provide digital infrastructure, and make public services accessible through technology.

What is Digital India and its benefits?

Digital India aims to enhance citizen services, improve efficiency, promote digital literacy, and drive economic growth through technology adoption.

What are the nine pillars of Digital India?

The nine pillars of Digital India include Broadband Highways, Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity, Public Internet Access, e-Governance, eKranti, Information for All, Electronics Manufacturing, IT for Jobs, and Early Harvest Program.

Who is the founder of Digital India?

The founder of Digital India is the Government of India, with leadership and support from various ministries and departments.

What are the types of Digital India?

Types of Digital India initiatives encompass projects for digital infrastructure, e-governance, digital literacy, digital economy, and technology innovation.

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India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide

• Recently, the NGO Oxfam India released ‘India Inequality Report 2022: Digital Divide’.

Report highlights

• The report analyses the primary data from Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s (CMIE) household survey held from Jan 2018 to Dec 2021.
• Indian women are 15 percent less likely to own a mobile phone and 33 percent less likely to use mobile internet services than men.
• Women constitute only one-third of internet users in India.
• In Asia-Pacific, India fares the worst with the widest gender gap of 40.4 percent, says the study. 
• Despite registering a significant (digital) growth rate of 13 percent in a year, only 31 percent of the rural population uses the Internet compared to 67 percent of their urban counterparts, says the report.
• In rural India, the tendency to use formal financial services is lowest for ST households, followed by SC households and OBC households.
• The likelihood of access to a computer is more for the General and OBC groups than for the SC and ST populations. 
• The difference between the general category and ST is as high as seven to eight percent between 2018 and 2021.
• Among all religions, Sikhs have the highest likelihood of having a computer followed by Christians, Hindus and lastly Muslims.
• Among states, Maharashtra has the highest internet penetration, followed by Goa and Kerala, while Bihar has the lowest, followed by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the report said.
• As per the National Service Scheme [NSS (2017-18)], only about 9 percent of the students who were enrolled in any course had access to a computer with internet and 25 percent of enrolled students had access to the internet through any kind of devices.
• The chances of having a computer are higher with higher levels of education as well as income. 
• The digital push driven by the pandemic resulted in India experiencing the largest number of real-time digital transactions in 2021 at 48.6 billion.
• However, the likelihood of a digital payment by the richest 60 percent is four times more than the poorest 40 percent in India.
• According to UN’s e-participation index (2022), which is a composite measure of three important dimensions of e-government, namely provision of online services, telecommunication connectivity and human capacity, India ranks 105 out of 193 nations .

More about the digital divide

• The digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology (ICT), and those that don’t or have restricted access. 
• This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and internet connectivity.
• Even among populations with some access to technology, the digital divide can be evident in the form of lower-performance computers, lower-speed wireless connections, lower-priced internet use connections such as dial-up and limited access to subscription-based content.
• Proponents for bridging the digital divide include those who argue it would improve digital literacy, digital skills democracy, social mobility, economic equality and economic growth.
• Loopholes causing the divide:
• The vast majority believe the problem is getting worse.
• Women’s rights defenders and female journalists were targeted for abuse more than most.
• The third threat comes from badly designed artificial intelligence systems that repeat and exacerbate discrimination. 

Solutions & way ahead

• Addressing the digital divide requires special, urgent and focused efforts of the government.
• A large investment needs to be made, year after year, in digital infrastructure. 
• The establishment of a Broadband Infrastructure Fund with a large corpus from private, multilateral and government sources, including spectrum auction revenues, is a must. 
• An empowered entity needs to be set up which is accountable for quality and timeliness to design and construct digital highways, their rural branches, and ensure their optimum utilisation by sharing the infrastructure
• Social media sites can use their “algorithm power” to proactively tackle the issue of safety.
• Governments need to strengthen laws that hold online abusers to account, and the public to speak up whenever they witness abuse online.
• Digital skills, required today both for life and for livelihoods, must be imparted on a war footing by transforming government digital literacy programmes into skilling missions, expanding outreach, including through the private sector.
• The last mile delivery of services has to be made a reality and connectivity, devices and handholding assistance of trained persons at village service centres, schools and clinics is imperative.

Sources: TH

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• Digital India

The First Step Towards transforming into a Digital India!

Digital India is a massive campaign that the Government of India launched in the year 2015. The implementation of this would give easy access to government services in different regions of the country. This Digital India essay in English is for the students of Class 5 and above. This essay on Digital India in English is written in an easy-to-understand manner for a better understanding of the students. Students should read the following long essay on Digital India to be able to write an essay on Digital India in 1000 words on their own.  

In the same way, the below written short essay on Digital India will help the students write an essay on digital India in 500 words on their own. 

Long Essay on Digital India  

The “Digital India” campaign was launched by the government of India to uplift the usage of technology in India. The objective was to make Government services easily available to the citizens electronically by improving its online infrastructure all over the country. The process would be structured to increase internet connectivity to make the country digitally empowered. It helps to reach out to the masses and encourages them to use technology in their daily lives. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched the campaign on July 1, 2015. The initiative aims at connecting rural India with the help of high-speed internet connectivity. 

There are three components at the core of the “Digital India” campaign. 

Creation of Digital Infrastructure  

To be able to deploy various digital services across the country, it is necessary to create a strong digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas of the country. The interior regions of the country either have very little or mostly do not have any electronic network. This is the reason behind establishing a digital network across the country. Bharat Broadband Network Limited, the governmental body that is responsible for the execution of the National Optical Fiber Network project is responsible for the Digital India project as well. Bharat Net aims to connect 2,50,500 gram panchayats across the country to a high-speed internet network via an optical fiber network. 4,00,000 internet points will be established all across the country as part of the program, from which anybody will be able to access the internet. 

Delivery of Digital Service  

A major component of the Digital India campaign is to deliver government services and other essential services digitally. It is easier to change the way of delivering services from physical to digital. Many services of the Government of India were digitized under the Digital India Campaign. 

All ministries would be linked under this scheme, and all departments will be able to reach out to the people with fundamental services like health care, banking, education, scholarships, gas cylinders, water and electricity bills, and judicial services. The daily monetary transactions of people were also converted into digital mode. To ensure transparency in the transactions and curb corruption all the money transactions are being made online, and are supported by one-time passwords. 

Digital Literacy  

For full participation of the people of India, the competency that they need to have is called Digital Literacy. The basic behavior, knowledge, and skills required to effectively use digital devices are mandatory. Desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones are the digital devices used for the purpose of communicating, expressing, collaborating, and advocating. The mission of Digital Literacy will be covering over six crore rural households. 

With the Digital India Programme, the Government of India is hoping to achieve all-around growth on multiple fronts collectively. The objective of the Government is to target the nine ‘Pillars of Digital India’ that are identified as follows. 

Broadband Highways 

Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity 

Public Interest Access Programme 

E-Governance 

E-Kranti 

Global Information 

Electronics Manufacturing 

Training in Information Technology for Jobs 

Early Harvest Programmes

To directly benefit the citizens of all future government schemes. 

The awareness of the importance of technology has been successfully created among the masses of India by the Digital India campaign. There has been a vast growth in the usage of the internet and technology in the past few years. The Panchkula district in Haryana was awarded the best and top performing district under the Digital India campaign on the 28 th of December 2015. 

So far, services such as digital lockers, my government website, e-education, scholarships, pensions, ration cards, PAN cards, Aadhar cards, e-insurance, and e-health have been made accessible under this plan. The goal has been established for the Digital India project to be completely implemented by 2019. 

Technology giants from all over the world paid attention to the Digital India campaign and are readily and happily supporting the initiative. Even Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, had changed his profile picture to support Digital India. He started a trend on Facebook and promised to get the WiFi Hotspots in rural India working. Google started on its commitment to providing broadband connectivity at 500 railway stations in India. Microsoft agreed on providing broadband connectivity to 5,00,000 villages in the country. Microsoft is also making India its cloud hub via the Indian data centers. Oracle planned on investing in 20 states to work on Smart City initiatives and payments. 

Some of the digital frameworks that are established under this scheme are given here: 

Accessible India Campaign and Mobile App  - It is also known as Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan. Its principal goal is to make all services open to individuals with disabilities. 

Mygov.in  - This forum allows users to voice their thoughts on the government's administration strategy. It has been implemented so that locals may actively participate. 

Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG)  - This mobile platform can be used on any device. This software is available in a variety of Indian languages. This software allows users to access a variety of services. Education portals, a digital locker, Aadhar, tax, and train ticket purchasing are among the services available. 

Agri market App  - It was created to make agricultural prices known to farmers and discourage them from selling too soon. 

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao - Ensuring the welfare and nurturing of a girl child and also making sure that every girl child attends school. 

Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) - It makes payments quickly, easily, and simply through the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). It also allows the bank to accept instant payments and money collections using mobile phone numbers. 

Crop Insurance Mobile App - Used to calculate crop insurance premiums depending on numerous characteristics such as area or loan amount, if a loan is taken out. 

E-Hospital - It's an HMIS (Hospital Management Information System) for hospitals' internal workflows and operations. 

E-Pathshala - The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) created it to make all educational resources, such as books and videos, available online. 

EPFO Web Portal and Mobile App - Allow workers to check the amount of their provident fund using an e-passbook, which is a virtual equivalent of a real passbook. 

Start-up India Portal and Mobile App - It is a government of India program to encourage entrepreneurs to develop businesses (start-ups) in the country to expand sustainably. 

Benefits of Digital India

It makes health care and literacy more accessible since one may use a hospital service to receive online registration, a doctor's appointment, payment of the charge, a diagnostic test, and a blood test, among other things. 

It allows consumers to submit their paperwork and certifications online from anywhere, reducing the amount of physical work required. 

Citizens can digitally sign their records online to sign the framework. 

It benefits the beneficiaries of the National Scholarship Portal by allowing them to submit applications, have them verified, and then be paid or disbursed. 

BSNL's next-generation network will replace 30-year-old telephone exchanges for improved administration of online services on mobile devices like voice, data, multimedia, etc. 

Flexible electronics will be promoted with the support of the National Center for Flexible Electronics. 

As all transactions are completed through the digital method, it also aids in the reduction of black marketing. 

Write a Short Essay on Digital India  

A very ambitious initiative called Digital India got launched on a Wednesday, the 1 st of July in the year 2015 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi. Various top industrialists like Cyrus Mistry- the then Tata Group Chairman, Mukesh Ambani– Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance India Limited, Azim Premji– Chairman of Wipro were all present at the launch. They all shared how they plan on bringing a digital revolution to the masses of India in cities and villages. 

The execution of this program is expected to cost around one lakh crore rupees. However, Mr. Ambani, Chairman, and CEO of the Reliance Group have made a significant effort by spending 2.5 lakh crore on the digital India initiative. Many different events were held along with the IT companies to aid more than 600 districts in India. The digital India program was a big step taken by the Government of India to transform India into a digitally empowered country. 

Several schemes have been launched around this plan which are worth more than one lakh crores. They are e-health, e-sign, e-education, national scholarship portal, Digital Locker, etc. The program is such which would benefit both the consumers and the providers of the services. Free WiFi will be available in 2.4 lakh schools and institutions under this scheme so that students may work online without difficulty. A goal has been established for 1.7 lakh persons to be employed as part of this initiative. 

Summary  

A digitally connected India is aimed at the growth of the social and economic status of the masses in the country. The development of non-agricultural economic activities could pave the path for such an achievement, for providing access to financial services, health, and education. Information and Communication Technology alone cannot directly impact the overall development of a country. Basic digital infrastructure could help achieve overall development. 

Literacy and regulatory business environments also could help achieve the same. It will be a very profitable approach because it relieves the burden of spending time on paperwork and allows people to dedicate their time to other aspects of government. It is extremely efficient and beneficial for government employees who operate on a big scale.

FAQs on Digital India

Q1. What is Digital India?

It is an initiative taken by the Government of India to provide government services to citizens electronically, create digitally literate citizens, and eventually transform India into a digitally empowered economy.

Q2. Mention the Benefits of using a Digi Locker.

A Digi Locker eliminates the usage of physical documents and enables the sharing of verified documents electronically in a secure manner across government organizations.

Q3. Which Indians have played a big role in the global digital transformation?

Much like Narendra Modi, who officially launched the Digital India project in India, leaders like Nandan Nilekani, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Ruchi Sanghvi, Ben Gomes, and Rikin Gandhi have put India on the map of digital leaders and have played a big part in the global digital transformation.

Q4. In what areas is India expected to develop even more digitally in the future?

Fields like education, telecommunication, business operations, healthcare, and hospitality are areas where India is slowly but steadily transforming into a digital model.

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Central Bank Digital Currency

• 24 Aug 2022
• 11 min read
• GS Paper - 2
• Government Policies & Interventions
• GS Paper - 3
• Growth & Development
• IT & Computers

For Prelims: Economic Development, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

For Mains: Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) - Opportunities and Risks Associated

Why in News?

According to recent reports, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) digital rupee — the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) — may be introduced in phases beginning with wholesale businesses in the current financial year.

• RBI had proposed amendments to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 , which would enable it to launch a CBDC.

What is Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?

• CBDCs are a digital form of a paper currency and unlike cryptocurrencies that operate in a regulatory vacuum, these are legal tenders issued and backed by a central bank.
• A fiat currency is a national currency that is not pegged to the price of a commodity such as gold or silver.
• The digital fiat currency or CBDC can be transacted using wallets backed by blockchain.
• Though the concept of CBDCs was directly inspired by Bitcoin , it is different from decentralised virtual currencies and crypto assets, which are not issued by the state and lack the ‘legal tender’ status.
• The main objective is to mitigate the risks and trim costs in handling physical currency, costs of phasing out soiled notes, transportation, insurance and logistics.
• It will also wean people away from cryptocurrencies as a means for money transfer.
• Bahamas has been the first economy to launch its nationwide CBDC — Sand Dollar.
• Nigeria is another country to have rolled out eNaira in 2020.
• China became the world's first major economy to pilot a digital currency e-CNY in April 2020.
• Korea, Sweden, Jamaica, and Ukraine are some of the countries to have begun testing its digital currency and many more may soon follow.

What are the Benefits & Challenges of CBDC?

• CBDC can gradually bring a cultural shift towards virtual currency by reducing currency handling costs.
• The convenience and security of digital forms like cryptocurrencies
• The regulated, reserved-backed money circulation of the traditional banking system.
• CBDC can provide an easy means to speed up a reliable sovereign backed domestic payment and settlement system partly replacing paper currency.
• It could also be used fo r cross-border payments , it could eliminate the need for an expensive network of correspondent banks to settle cross-border payments.
• The increased use of CBDC could be explored for many other financial activities to push the informal economy into the formal zone to ensure better tax and regulatory compliance.
• It can also pave the way for furthering financial inclusion.
• This has serious implications given that digital currencies will not offer users the level of privacy and anonymity offered by transacting in cash.
• Compromise of credentials is another major issue.
• If sufficiently large and broad-based, the shift to CBDC can impinge upon the bank’s ability to plough back funds into credit intermediation.
• If e-cash becomes popular and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) places no limit on the amount that can be stored in mobile wallets, weaker banks may struggle to retain low-cost deposits.
• Faster obsolescence of technology could pose a threat to the CBDC ecosystem calling for higher costs of upgradation.
• Operational risks of intermediaries as the staff will have to be retrained and groomed to work in the CBDC environment.
• Elevated cyber security risks, vulnerability testing and the costs of protecting the firewalls.
• Operational burden and costs for the central bank in managing CBDC.

Way Forward

• Then it can steer away from serving as a store of value to avoid the risks of disintermediation and its major monetary policy implications.
• Thus, it is important to employ the right technology that will back the issue of CBDCs.
• The RBI will have to map the technology landscape thoroughly and proceed cautiously with picking the correct technology for introducing CBDCs.
• This would require close interaction between the banking and data protection regulators.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. With reference to “Blockchain Technology”, consider the following statements: (2020)

• It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
• The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
• Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 only (d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• A blockchain is a form of public ledger, which is a series (or chain) of blocks on which transaction details are recorded and stored on a public database after suitable authentication and verification by the designated network participants. A public ledger can be viewed but cannot be controlled by any single user. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The blockchain is not only about the cryptocurrency but it turns out that blockchain is actually a pretty reliable way of storing data about other types of transactions, as well.
• In fact, blockchain technology can be used in property exchanges, bank transactions, healthcare, smart contracts, supply chain, and even in voting for a candidate. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Although cryptocurrency is regulated and needs approval of the central authorities, blockchain technology is not only about cryptocurrency. It can have various uses, and applications based on basic features of the technology can be developed without anybody’ approval. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q. Consider the following pairs: (2018)

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only  (d) 1, 2 and 3

• The Belle II Experiment is a particle physics experiment designed to study the properties of B mesons (heavy particles containing a bottom quark). Belle II is the successor to the Belle experiment, and is currently being commissioned at the SuperKEKB accelerator complex at KEK in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
• CRISPR-Cas9 is related to genetic engineering. It is a unique technology that enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding or altering sections of the DNA sequence. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
• In simple terms, blockchain is a time-stamped series of immutable record of data that is managed by cluster of computers not owned by any single entity.
• Each of these blocks of data (i.e. block) are secured and bound to each other using cryptographic principles (i.e. chain). Blockchain technology allows market participants to keep track of digital currency transactions without central record keeping. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q. What is Cryptocurrency? How does it affect global society? Has it been affecting Indian society also? (2021)

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The Digital India Bill

  Syllabus: Government policies and issues arising out of it

  Context: The MeitY has been building consensus on the proposed Digital India Bill that will replace India’s 23-year-old IT Act 2000.

The current regime in India:

• The IT Act 2000 defines an “ intermediary ” to include any entity between a user and the Internet.
• SMIs are platforms that facilitate communication and sharing of information between users.
• SMIs that have a very large user base (above a specified threshold) are designated as SSMIs .

Issues with the current regime:

• The definition of SMIs is very broad [encompassing a variety of services such as video communications, matrimonial websites, etc].
• The rules lay down stringent obligations for most intermediaries, such as a 72-hour timeline for responding to law enforcement ‘content take down’ requests.
• Adds to their cost of doing business
• Exposes them to greater liability without meaningfully reducing risks presented by the Internet.

Global regime:

• Only a handful of countries have taken a clear position on the issue of proportionate regulation of intermediaries.
• The EU’s Digital Services Act creates 3 tiers of intermediaries – hosting services, online platforms and very large online platforms, with increasing legal obligations.
• Australia has created an 8-fold classification system, with separate industry-drafted codes governing categories such as social media platforms and search engines.

Salient provisions of the Digital India Bill:

• It requires intermediaries to undertake risk assessments and uses that information to bucket them into relevant categories.
• New Regulator for the Internet: On the lines of the TRAI or the SEBI.
• The MeitY could classify deliberate misinformation, identity theft, cyberbullying of children, etc., as offences.
• Some of the fundamental rules that presently apply to internet platforms, such as safe harbour norms, may also be changed.
• Penal provisions for violations and user harms related to emerging technologies , including generative AI platforms like ChatGPT.

Significance of the Digital India Bill:

• A comprehensive legal framework that will upgrade the current legal regime to tackle emerging challenges (user harm, competition, misinformation) in the digital space.
• It will redefine the contours of how technology is regulated, not just in India but also globally.
• For example , a granular, product-specific classification could improve accountability and safety online.

Way ahead for India:

• As technology evolves , the specific categories may not work in the future. Therefore, an evolving classification framework is the need of the hour.
• Metrics for risk assessment and appropriate thresholds would have to be defined and reviewed on a periodic basis in consultation with the industry.
• The goal should also be to minimise obligations on intermediaries and ensure that regulations are proportionate to ability and size.
• Setting up in-house grievance appellate mechanisms with independent external stakeholders to increase confidence in the grievance process.
• Alternative approaches to curbing virality , such as circuit breakers to slow down content, could also be considered.

Conclusion:

Deliberation on the Digital India Bill could help create a regulatory environment that helps achieve the government’s policy goal of creating a safer Internet ecosystem, while also allowing businesses to thrive.

Insta Links:

New draft digital data protection bill: How it compares with the older version and laws elsewhere

Mains Links:

Critically analyse the proposed Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, in safeguarding the privacy of individuals and upholding the right to privacy of the citizens. Compare the proposed bill with the privacy laws of other countries.

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