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A new report expected to shape the future of digital public infrastructure (DPI) worldwide has been released by India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure. This comprehensive document outlines how India’s digital economy development can serve as a model for global economic transformation, financial inclusion, and digital governance.
Released on July 15, the report is structured into three parts, each detailing crucial aspects of DPI development. The first section addresses the deployment of technological solutions to tackle development challenges through the DPI approach. The second part highlights India’s achievements across the three main components of the India Stack. The final section provides guidelines and policy recommendations for enhancing DPI development globally.
The 11-member Task Force was established during India’s G20 presidency, which prioritized DPI development. The report emphasizes the importance of a clear definition and implementation framework for DPI to help countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report also underscores the vital role of public-private partnerships in building sustainable DPI for long-term growth.
Shri Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and co-chair of the Task Force, commented on the transformative impact of DPI in India. “India achieved in nine years what would have taken 50 years without DPI. Today, UPI is used by everyone from street vendors to large shopping malls, accounting for nearly 46 percent of global digital transactions,” Kant said. He cited India’s success in managing the COVID-19 pandemic through digital means, such as transferring $4.5 billion to 160 million beneficiaries and distributing 2.5 million vaccinations with digital certificates.
Shri Nandan Nilekani, the other co-chair of the Task Force and founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), highlighted DPI’s potential to drive rapid socio-economic development. “DPI has dramatically improved the lives of citizens and transformed governance in India,” Nilekani noted. He mentioned that the Aadhaar ID system, which provides a digital identity to 1.3 billion Indians, facilitates 10 million eKYC transactions daily and supports 13 billion monthly UPI transactions.
The report also notes the international interest in India’s UPI system. The National Payments Corporation of India is working to expand UPI’s reach to over 80 countries, with agreements already in place with more than 20 nations.
The Task Force’s proposals are expected to be advanced during the upcoming G20 presidencies of Brazil and South Africa.
India’s DPI Empowering Citizens and Inspiring the World
A film produced by The Center for Digital Public Infrastructure highlights India’s journey in DPI and its global impact. The film shows how digital payments infrastructure has benefited businesses, with one bakery owner in Bangalore noting that 70 percent of his customers now pay using mobile phones. It also showcases how DigiLocker, part of the India Stack, aids in reducing costs and time for recruitment background checks.
The film features insights from Nilekani and Pramod Varma, the chief architect of Aadhaar, on India’s digital transformation. They discuss the meticulous planning and design that went into India’s DPI, the challenges faced, and the practical advice for countries looking to implement similar projects.
Former Indian Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, speaking at the Tony Blair Institute’s 2024 Future of Britain Conference, suggested that the UK could benefit from adopting a similar digital ID system to enhance its digital government architecture.
Overall, the G20 Task Force report and accompanying film emphasize that India’s digital transformation is a result of deliberate design and strategic planning, offering a valuable blueprint for other nations seeking to develop robust digital public infrastructures.
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