E-Governance Initiatives in India
Indian Polity › Governance · Topic 27.3
E-governance is the use of information technology to deliver government services; in India it grew from the 2006 National e-Governance Plan with 31 Mission Mode Projects to the Digital India programme of 2015 with nine pillars.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Polity · Governance
At a Glance
- What it is Use of information technology to deliver government services
- Landmark plan National e-Governance Plan (2006)
- Later programme Digital India (2015)
- Nodal bodies MeitY and DARPG
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Polity: Governance
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the category on Governance. E-governance means using information and communication technology to deliver government services, exchange information and make administration efficient and transparent. In India it has moved from computerisation of departments to a national programme and then to Digital India.
National e-Governance Plan (2006)
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) was formulated in 2006 jointly by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology. It consisted of 31 Mission Mode Projects across Central, state and integrated categories, supported by core infrastructure such as the State Wide Area Networks, State Data Centres and Common Services Centres, which are village-level access points for services. The approach was to take services to the citizen through shared infrastructure rather than build separate systems in each department.
E-Kranti and Digital India
The National e-Governance Plan was later given a new form as e-Kranti, the National e-Governance Plan 2.0, under the Digital India programme launched on 1 July 2015. Digital India has nine pillars: Broadband Highways, Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity, Public Internet Access Programme, e-Governance (reforming government through technology), eKranti (electronic delivery of services), Information for All, Electronics Manufacturing, IT for Jobs, and Early Harvest Programmes. Its vision has three areas: digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens. The principle of e-Kranti is transformation and not just translation, which means rethinking processes and not merely putting existing forms online.
Key Platforms
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar | Unique identification used for authentication and direct delivery of benefits |
| Direct Benefit Transfer | Payment of subsidies directly to beneficiary accounts |
| DigiLocker | Digital storage and sharing of authentic documents |
| UMANG | Single mobile platform for many government services |
| MyGov | Platform for citizen participation and consultation |
| Government e-Marketplace (GeM) | Online public procurement |
| e-Office | Paperless office and file management |
| Common Services Centres | Village-level delivery of services |
Mission Mode Projects in Three Groups
| Group | Examples |
|---|---|
| Central projects | Income Tax, Central Excise, Passport, Immigration and Visa, Pensions, Banking, Insurance, MCA21 and e-Office |
| State projects | Land Records, Commercial Taxes, Treasuries, Road Transport, Police, Municipalities, Gram Panchayats, Agriculture and Employment Exchange |
| Integrated projects | Common Services Centres, e-Courts, e-Procurement, e-Biz and the national service delivery gateway |
Central projects are led by the concerned Central ministries, state projects by the state governments and integrated projects cut across several levels of government. The classification helped assign responsibility and track progress, though uneven implementation across states remained a concern.
Second Administrative Reforms Commission on E-Governance
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2005-2009), headed by Veerappa Moily, devoted its eleventh report to e-governance, titled Promoting e-Governance: The SMART Way Forward, which pictured a SMART government that is Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent. Its twelfth report, Citizen Centric Administration: The Heart of Governance (2009), tied technology to better service delivery and led to the Sevottam framework for assessing service quality. The Commission’s view was that e-governance should be adopted as a means of reforming processes and not as an end in itself, so that technology supports simpler procedures, lower costs and greater accountability.
Benefits and Challenges
E-governance reduces discretion and corruption by moving transactions online, saves time and cost for citizens, makes information accessible, and allows services to be delivered at the doorstep. Challenges include the digital divide between those with and without devices and skills, limited connectivity in remote areas, concerns over privacy and data security, resistance to change within departments, lack of interoperability among systems and the need for legal backing for electronic records. The Information Technology Act, 2000 gives legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, which supports electronic delivery of services.
Models of Interaction
| Model | Meaning |
|---|---|
| G2C | Government to citizen: services such as certificates and benefits |
| G2B | Government to business: licences, tax filing and procurement |
| G2G | Government to government: information sharing among departments |
| G2E | Government to employees: services and internal administration |
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Digital India Pillars and programmes are asked
- Governance theme Linked with transparency
- Challenges Mains staple
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Good Governance Index.
Key People and Terms
- NeGP National e-Governance Plan
- Mission Mode Project Specific service project
- e-Kranti NeGP 2.0
- Common Services Centre Village access point
- Digital divide Gap in access and skills
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- NeGP: 2006; 31 Mission Mode Projects.
- Digital India: 1 July 2015; nine pillars.
- e-Kranti is NeGP 2.0.
- IT Act: 2000.
- Models: G2C, G2B, G2G, G2E.
Do Not Confuse With
- NeGP and Digital India 2006 plan versus 2015 programme
- e-Governance and e-Kranti Pillar versus service delivery pillar
- G2C and G2B Citizens versus business
Memory Hook
Thirty-one projects in 2006, nine pillars in 2015: from NeGP to Digital India.
Mains Angle
Questions on this topic usually ask about the benefits and challenges of e-governance. Use these points to add depth.
- Transparency Less discretion
- Access Digital divide
- Security Privacy concerns
- Delivery Doorstep services
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the role of e-governance in improving public service delivery and the challenges in implementing it.”
How to Answer
- Introduction Definition.
- Initiatives NeGP to Digital India.
- Challenges Divide and security.
- Conclusion Way forward.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National e-Governance Plan?
The National e-Governance Plan, formulated in 2006, consisted of 31 Mission Mode Projects with supporting infrastructure such as State Wide Area Networks, State Data Centres and Common Services Centres, to deliver government services electronically to citizens across the country.
What is Digital India?
Digital India is a programme launched on 1 July 2015 to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, with nine pillars including Broadband Highways, e-Governance, eKranti, Information for All and Electronics Manufacturing.
What is e-Kranti?
e-Kranti is the National e-Governance Plan 2.0 under Digital India, which aims at electronic delivery of services on the principle of transformation and not just translation, meaning processes are rethought and not only existing forms put online for citizens.
What are the main challenges of e-governance in India?
They include the digital divide, poor connectivity in remote areas, privacy and data security concerns, resistance to change in departments, lack of interoperability among systems and the need for legal backing for electronic records and signatures.
Which law gives legal recognition to electronic records?
The Information Technology Act, 2000 gives legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, which provides the legal base for delivering government services and transactions electronically, although privacy and data protection need separate safeguards in law.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Digital India was launched in 2015.
On 1 July 2015.
2 The NeGP had 21 Mission Mode Projects.
31.
3 Common Services Centres are village-level access points.
Under NeGP.
4 e-Kranti is a part of Digital India.
Electronic delivery pillar.
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