Lok Sabha Question No. 3597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Importance of Technology in Digital India Campaign
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3597

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 17.03.2021

## IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN DIGITAL INDIA CAMPAIGN

## 3597.    SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWALL:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  technology  is  absolutely  crucial  for  accelerating  and deepening the Digital India Campaign in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government is initiating the process to introduce 5G technology in the country and if so, the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  decision  in  this  regard  is  likely  to  be  taken  by  the Government;
- (c) whether the United States has intimated the Government to address the concerns over data theft and national security implications while deciding vendors for the introduction of the 5G technology and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d) The steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect integrity of data of Indian citizens and national security during implementation of 5G technology in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINSTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE)

(a):    Yes,  Sir.  The  Government has attached high priority for the importance of technology in bringing good  governance  in  the  country  and  the  same  has  been  carved  into  the  Digital  India  programme. Accordingly, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has initiated  the  'Digital  India'  programme  with  the  vision  to  transform  India  into  a  digitally  empowered society and knowledge-based economy by ensuring digital access, digital inclusion, digital empowerment and  bridging  the  digital  divide.  Under  Digital  India  Programme,  MeitY  has  effectively  utilised  digital technologies to transform the lives of people while ensuring digital inclusion of all the segments. Some of the major initiatives of Digital India Programme are placed at Annexure.

(b) to (d): 5G technology  facilitates  features like Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra Reliable and low latency Communications (uRLLC) and Massive Machine Type  Communication(mMTC). The introduction of 5G services depends on 5G equipment and device ecosystem, and economic considerations by the Telecom service providers.

United  States  has  intimated  about  the  use  of  5G  clean  path  to  protect  the  data  and  networks  of  US diplomatic facilities. The 5G clean path is end to end communication path that does not use any equipment from untrusted vendor.

Considering the security concerns of impending implementation of 5G technology and for the protection of India's essential national security interests, the Cabinet has approved the National Security Directive on Telecom  Sector.  Further  to  address  security  concerns  of  telecom  network,  security  conditions  are incorporated in the license conditions of telecom service providers. National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), Bengaluru has also been established and entrusted with the task of preparation of Indian telecom security assurance requirements.

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-  Aadhaar is providing digital identity and identity-based services to 128 crore residents.
-  41.84 beneficiaries are financially included through Jan Dhan Yojana.
-  More than 3900 electronics services are operational, which are facilitating around 19 crore transactions on daily basis.
-  DigiLocker is providing 4.27 billion issued authentic documents
-  UMANG is providing 20,689 services through a single mobile app.
-  Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is providing digital payment service from 213 Banks. In the month of February 2021 alone, UPI has processed 229 crore transactions worth Rupees 4.2 lakh crore.
-  Government e-Marketplace is facilitating public procurement and has onboarded 1.2 million sellers and service providers.
-  Goods and Services Tax Network: It has onboarded 12.7 Million tax-payers and has so far handled payment worth Rupees 31.34 Trillion (and this excludes IGST on imports).
-  Common Services Centres: 374,000 CSCs are operational. Out of this, 278,000+ CSCs are operational at Gram Panchayat level. CSCs are offering 350+ services to people living in rural areas and in villages.
-  MeitY  has  initiated  'e-Kranti'  under  Digital  India  programme  with  the  vision  'Transforming  e-Governance  for Transforming  Governance'.  A  number  of  initiatives  have  been  undertaken  by  Government  for  promotion  of  digital technology  application  across  the  country.  Under  e-Kranti,  a  total  of  44  Mission  Mode  Projects  (MMPs)  are  being implemented  by  various  Central  Ministries/Departments,  States,  and  State  Departments.    These  MMPs  are  providing services in the areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, justice, land records, social benefits, local governments, rural  development,  women  &  child  development,  legislature,  local  language,  transport,  financial  services,  Income  Tax (IT), Passport, Posts, etc

The Government of India has been very supportive of technology including emerging technologies. The Government of India takes appropriate response through framing of rules, polices, strategies of implementation and building national public digital platforms with the goal for more and better digital inclusiveness in the society.

Some of the latest measures are as follows:

-  The notification of 'The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021'
-  RFP finalisation for voice bot enablement at UMANG
-  The virtual organisation of The India Toy Fair 2021 to promote Indian toys and Indian artisans.
-  Rollout of CO-WIN to track vaccination of COVID-19 National Informatics Centre (NIC) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is implementing and  providing  ICT  support  to  various  e-governance  projects.  It  is  in  a  way  helping  in  Digital  India  Campaign  in  the country.

Some of the e-governance projects which NIC has undertaken are as follows:

-  E-Way Bill: Self-service Platform for Consignors, Consignees and Transporters.
-  E-Hospital:   An End to end Hospital Management Solution. The patient interface of the e-Hospital has been facilitated through Online Registration System (ORS) where services related to patients are delivered electronically.
-  Public Finance Management System: Platform for Integrated Finance Management System. It is a core system of Direct Beneficiary Transfer which addresses the demands of citizens, central ministries/departments for Payment & Accounting of all Government of India transactions (Plan & Non Plan).
-  GePNIC: Online Procurement System for Government.
-  eOffice:    Digital  Workplace  Solution  for  Government    aims  to  usher  in  efficient,  effective  and  transparent  intergovernment and intra-government transactions and  processes.
-  One Nation One Ration Card: Online Solution for Public Distribution System.
-  IVFRT: Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking System.
-  eCourts: Digital Transformation of Courts.
-  eCounselling: Simplifying students admission process in transparent manner.

## Annexure

-  ServicePlus: Integrated e-Services Delivery Framework.
-  SWaaS: Platform for generating secure and Sugamya websites.
-  MyGov: Platform for Citizen Engagement.
-  Jeevan  Pramaan  -  Provides  facility  to  pensioners  to  submit  Aadhaar  based  Digital  Life  Certificates  (DLC).  It  is  an alternate anywhere anytime basis method to the mandatory physical verification for pensioners.
-  e-Transport:  Online  centralized  solutions  like  -  Vahan  (vehicle  registration),  Sarathi  (computerization  of  issuance  of driving  licenses),  eChallan  (challan  can  be  electronically  issued  by  enforcement  agencies  and  online  payment  can  be made), mParivahan App etc.
-  Soil Health Card (SHC): The system captures data at each stage of soil sample collection to registering then testing and finally generating the Soil Health Card.
-  NSP: National Scholarship Portal
-  National Knowledge Network