e-Governance | UPSC Notes

Introduction

Application of ICT in Govt functioning to create “SMART” (Simple, Moral, A/C, Responsive & Transparent) Governance
Corollary of Digital Rev & 4th I.R

Types of e-Gov

G2G—
- KHAJANE (Kar)—For Digitalization of land record
- PFMS—To est an efficient fund flow system
- E–Samikhsa— For tracking progress on projects & policy initiatives
G2B— SWIFT (CBEC), GSTN, e-procurement, MCA 21— to provide e-services to Companies registered under C.A
G2C Initiatives–Bhoomi Project (Kar), Gyandoot (MP), Lokvani (UP), MyGov, Digilocker, e-NAM

Objectives / Benefits of e-Gov

Goals of e-Governance (2nd ARC)—
- ↑ QoS delivery
- Empowering people through information
- ↑ efficiency within Govts
- ↑ interface with business & industry
G.G—>C.C Adm + Speedy Gov—> ↓ corruption & Red tapism
DBT— ES 2015—DBT ↓ corruption
- ↑ T/P, A/C + Brings state close to citizens—MyGov
- Expanded reach of Governance
- ↓ “Information Asymmetry” b/w citizens & Govt–> Brings Govt much closer to Citizens.

Importance of e-Gov in Digitisation era

Transforming lives of citizens— Ease of services—> “Ease of living”—
- e-learning—> SWAYAM, DIKSHA
- e-Healthcare—> eSanjeevani—Telemedicine Service Platform, e-Hospital Reg
- Skill dev–> e-Talim
- Financial Inclusion—> M-Banking, Micro-ATM prog, JAM
- e-Seva (Andhra)—> All services delivered online by connecting citizens to respective Depts
- e-Mitra (Raj)— Integrated Citizen Services Center—Bill Payment, Payment of taxes etc
- Spandana (Andhra)—> ↑ Access to police stations for women
- e-Courts—↑ Access to judicial services
Real Time Governance—PRAGATI—Started a culture of Pro-Active Gov & Timely Implementation
Economic—
- iFRIENDS (Kerela)— Single Window for ease of tax pay
- EoDB—e-tender, e-procurement, MCA-21
- Agriculture—e-NAM
- ‘Tranparent Taxation– Honouring the honest”– Faceless assessment & Faceless appeal
Participative Democracy—myGOV—citizens give suggestions to Govt
Help in achieving SDGs—
- SDG 6– By SMART Meters, Soil sensers
- SDG 7– By SMART Grids, SMART Appliances
- SDG 11– SMART City, Big data analytics
- SDG 12–SMART Villages
- SDG 13– Digital solutions to climate change

Govt’s Efforts

NeGP—To ↑ accessibility of Govt services through CSCs
e-Kranti (NeGP 2.0)—To “Transform e-Gov for Transforming Governance”.
- Language localisation
- Govt process re-engineering
- Integration & interoperable of services
Digital India—To create “Digitally empowered society & Knowledge economy”
For promoting digital literacy—
- NDLM—Atleast 1 person/ household with crucial digital literacy skills by 2020
- PMGDISHA—6 cr households digitally literate in rural areas
- Vittiya Sakshartha Abhiyan (VISAKA)— For e-financial literacy
Measure to address Digital divide—
- ↑ Accessibility & Affordability—Bharatnet (NoFN) , PM-WANI
- Behavioral economics— Nudge theory, Awareness—Discounts on cashless transactions.
National Conference on e-Gov- Adopted Mumbai Declaration (2020), Shillong Declaration (2019)
National e-Governance Awards 2020– Antyodaya Saral portal (HR)— for Excellence in faceless, paperless, cashless service delivery.

Challenges to e-Gov

Social hurdles–
- Digital Divide— Rich-poor, male-female, urban-rural—Makes e-gov elusive rather than inclusive— Internet Trends 2017 report— only 27% India’s pop uses internet.
- Language Barrier + Low Digital literacy
- Perception of risk / Lack of Trust + Resistance to Change
- Digital Quality of Life Index 2020—57/85 in terms of Internet quality
Economic issues–
- Digital Infra deficit—↓ electricity, broadband connectivity
Technical issues—
- Privacy & Security—Symentec report— India is 3rd most vulnerable to cyber threats.
- Identity mismatch & DoS to beneficiaries. Ex— Denying ration due to fingerprints mismatch.
- Inter-operability issues

Critical Perspective

Story of e-Gov has been of Quantity rather than quality.
They r seen more as computerisation, office automation & inventory Mgt rather than as a means of G.G-governance

Way Forward

2nd ARC—Building a Congenial Env is sine qua non for successful implementation of e-Gov— This should be achieved by—
- “KISS” model (keep it small & simple)
- Capacity Building & Creating Awareness— Create A network of training inst in states
- Dev a national e-Gov ‘enterprise architecture’
- Dev a critical information infra assets protection strategy.
- Need for a Legal Framework for e-Gov
↑ Digital infra, literacy, Plug D.D—Invest in HRs
Privacy protection & Security protocol
Build a cadre of Intermediaries for last mile Gov (Andhra—Ward secretariat prog for delivering Govt services at doorstep).
It has a promising future of providing Faster, smarter & more pro-active Govt, but ….. needs to be addressed to make it more inclusive & participative
Imp for “Ease of Gov” & ”Ease of living”, which are imperitive for ‘New India’.