Why in news?
Union government has proposed to double the expenditure on the Digital India programme.
What are the schemes under digital India flagship?
- The Digital India programme is a flagship programme under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- The vision of this program is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
- There are about more than 23 mission mode projects under the programme few are enlisted below
- Digi Locker - The service was launched to store crucial documents like Voter ID Card, Pan Card, BPL Card, Driving License, education certificates, etc. in the cloud.
- MyGov.in - The portal works as an online platform to engage citizens in governance through a “Discuss”, “Do” and “Disseminate” approach.
- E-Sign Framework - This initiative would enable users to digitally sign a document online using Aadhaar authentication.
- Swach Bharat Mission mobile app - The app will enable organizations and citizens to access information regarding the cleanliness drive and achieve the goals of the mission.
- National Scholarship Portal -From submitting the application, verification, sanction and disbursal to end beneficiary, everything related to government scholarships can be done on this single portal online.
- E-Hospital -Online Registration System under this initiative enables people to avail services like online registration, payment of fees and appointment, online diagnostic reports, checking on the availability of blood online, etc.
- Digitize India Platform -This initiative will involve digitization of data and records on a large scale in the country to make easy and quick access to them possible.
- Bharat Net -Under this initiative, a high-speed digital highway will connect 2, 50,000 gram panchayats of the country.
- This is the world’s largest rural broadband project using optical fibre.
- Wi-Fi Hotspots -Development of high speed BSNL Wi-Fihotspots throughout the country is yet another initiative to improve digital connectivity in the country.
- Next Generation Network -Launched by BSNL, this service will replace 30-year old telephone exchanges to manage all types of services like voice, data, multimedia and other types of communication services.
- Electronics Development Fund -The fund will be set up to support the manufacturing of electronics products that would help create new jobs and reduce import.
- Centre of Excellence on Internet of Things (IoT) -In partnership with NASSCOM, Centre of Excellence will be established for rapid adoption of IoT technology and encourage a new growth strategy.
What are the recent announcement on digital India?
- Expenditure on programme doubled to Rs. 3,073 crore for the next financial year from Rs. 1,425.63 crore in 2017-18.
- Under Digital India the budget is allocated in the following order of priority
- Promotion of electronics manufacturing.
- Delivery of e-governance services.
- Government’s digital literacy programme
- Development on manpower.
- The Government also proposed to set up 5 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots which will provide broadband access to 5 crore rural citizens.
- The Budget proposed an allocation of around Rs. 14,500 crore to strengthen telecom infrastructure projects, including BharatNet, during the upcoming fiscal.
- Of this, Rs. 4,500 has been allocated for building a dedicated optical fibre-based communications network for defence forces in lieu of airwaves vacated for civilian use.
- NITI Aayog would initiate a national programme to direct efforts in the area of artificial intelligence, including research and development of its applications.
Source: The Hindu
