Maarg Manthan · Topic 14.26

Code for India and E-Kranti Initiative

Science & Technology › IT, Telecommunications and Computers · Topic 14.26

E-Kranti is the National e-Governance Plan 2.0, approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2015 as a pillar of the Digital India programme, with the theme of Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance. It gives integrated and interoperable services to citizens and businesses, with principles such as transformation instead of translation of old processes, integrated services, a government process reengineering approach, mobile first, cloud by default and security and electronic data preservation. Its Mission Mode Projects cover areas such as education, health, agriculture, justice, financial inclusion, and security. Code for India is a civic technology non-profit that links young software developers with government and social organisations to build open source tools for public problems.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · IT, Telecommunications and Computers

At a Glance

E-Kranti NeGP 2.0, 2015
Theme Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance
Parent programme Digital India
Key principle Mobile first, cloud first
Civic tech Code for India
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: IT, Telecommunications and Computers

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of the National e-Governance Plan. It explains how the plan was renewed in 2015 and describes a civic technology effort that works with the same aim of better public services. Previous topic: National e-Governance Plan. Next topic: Contemporary Debates: Big Data and Privacy, Cybercrime and Security.

What Are E-Kranti and Its Principles?

Aspect	Details
Approval	Union Cabinet approved e-Kranti in March 2015 as NeGP 2.0, with 44 Mission Mode Projects in all
Theme	Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance
Transformation, not translation	processes should be redesigned and not just computerised
Integrated services	one platform with common standards, so that departments share data and services
Mobile first and cloud first	services should be designed for mobiles and hosted on the cloud, as in Cloud Computing and Big Data
Security and data preservation	protection of data and long term electronic records
Indigenous and open	use of open standards, open source software and national databases for services

Which Projects Fall Under E-Kranti and What Is Code for India?

Technology for education: e-Education, with free wi-fi in schools and digital libraries
Technology for health: online records, telemedicine and a national health database
Technology for farmers: real time price information, online fertiliser and seed information
Technology for justice: e-Courts, e-Prisons and e-Prosecution
Technology for financial inclusion: the Jan Dhan Yojana, mobile banking and Common Service Centres
Technology for security: Mobile Seva for emergency, and e-Police programmes
Other projects: e-Panchayat, e-Biz, GIS, passport and immigration, and national GIS and land records
Code for India: a non-profit that runs a fellowship in which software developers work with governments and organisations on open source civic tools, in the pattern of Code for America. Check its latest programmes

What Else Should You Remember?

Digital India pillars: broadband highways, universal access to mobile connectivity, public internet access, e-governance, e-Kranti, information for all, electronics manufacturing, IT for jobs and early harvest programmes
Vision areas of Digital India: digital infrastructure as a utility, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens
DigiLocker: lets citizens store and share official documents electronically
MyGov: a platform launched in 2014 for citizen participation
e-Hospital: online registration and records in government hospitals
e-Sign: Aadhaar based electronic signature service
GeM: Government e-Marketplace for public procurement, launched in 2016
India Stack: open digital building blocks, including Aadhaar, e-KYC, UPI and DigiLocker
Open source: the Government released a policy to adopt open source software in 2015
Open data: the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy of 2012 and the data.gov.in portal
Civic technology: volunteers build tools for citizens and governments to track services and budgets
Evaluation: studies show both gains in service speed and gaps in digital literacy and rural connectivity
Link: the earlier plan is in National e-Governance Plan
Link to privacy: data driven services need safeguards, as in Contemporary Debates
Digital Public Infrastructure: India promotes its model of public digital platforms at international forums such as the G20
Digital divide: women, the poor and older people may need help to use online services
Caution: check the list of projects as it has been updated since 2015
Unified Mobile Application: UMANG brings services of central and state departments on one mobile application
Aadhaar enabled services: direct benefit transfer uses Aadhaar to send subsidies straight to bank accounts and reduce leakage
Cyber security link: digital services need protection, as covered in National Cyber Coordination Centre
Skilling: programmes for digital literacy such as PMGDISHA train rural households

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Year and theme: 2015, Transforming e-Governance
Principles: transformation, mobile first, cloud first
Digital India pillars: nine pillars
Current affairs link: India Stack and Digital Public Infrastructure
Common errors: confusing e-Kranti with the earlier NeGP or Digital India

As an analytical point, e-Kranti shifted focus from stand-alone projects to integrated services designed for mobile phones. Civic technology groups can add skills and fresh ideas to public systems if there is trust and open data.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Principles Mobile and cloud first
Pillars Digital India
Civic tech Code for India

What Came Next?

The next topic covers contemporary debates on big data and privacy, cybercrime and security. Next topic: Contemporary Debates: Big Data and Privacy, Cybercrime and Security.

Key People and Terms

e-Kranti NeGP 2.0
MMP Mission Mode Project
India Stack Digital public building blocks
DigiLocker Digital document wallet
GeM Government e-Marketplace
Civic tech Technology for public problems

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

e-Kranti approved March 2015.
Digital India has nine pillars.
GeM launched 2016.
MyGov launched 2014.
Principle: transformation, not translation.

Do Not Confuse With

NeGP and e-Kranti First plan versus 2.0
e-Kranti and Digital India Pillar versus whole programme
DigiLocker and eSign Document storage versus signature

Memory Hook

E-Kranti is NeGP two-point-oh: transform, don’t translate; mobile first, cloud first.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for principles and relation to Digital India. These points help.

Principles Redesign
Projects Sector wise
Gaps Divide

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“How does E-Kranti differ from the earlier National e-Governance Plan, and what are the challenges in its implementation?”

How to Answer

Background NeGP lessons.
Principles E-Kranti.
Projects Sectors.
Gaps Divide.

GS Relevance

Prelims: e-Kranti principles and projects, Digital India pillars. GS Paper 2: e-governance, citizen services; GS Paper 3: technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is E-Kranti?

E-Kranti is the National e-Governance Plan 2.0, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2015 as an important pillar of the Digital India programme. Its theme is Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance, and it aims at integrated, mobile first, cloud based delivery of government services to citizens and businesses.

What are the main principles of E-Kranti?

The main principles include transformation and not translation of existing processes, integration of services, government process reengineering, mobile first, cloud by default, security and electronic data preservation, and use of national platforms such as Aadhaar. They are meant to avoid the problems of the earlier project by project approach.

How is E-Kranti related to Digital India?

E-Kranti is one of the nine pillars of the Digital India programme launched on 1 July 2015. It carries forward the National e-Governance Plan of 2006 as NeGP 2.0 and focuses on delivery of services electronically in areas such as education, health, farming, justice and financial inclusion.

What is Code for India?

Code for India is a civic technology non-profit that brings together young software developers, designers and data professionals to build open source tools with governments and social organisations. Its fellowship model follows that of Code for America. The details of its programmes change, so check its current work.

What is India Stack?

India Stack is the name for a set of open digital public platforms that include the Aadhaar identity system, e-KYC, e-Sign, DigiLocker and the Unified Payments Interface. They let governments and private firms offer paperless, cashless and presence-less services, and India now promotes this model internationally.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 E-Kranti is NeGP 2.0.

True

Approved in 2015.

2 E-Kranti was launched before the NeGP.

False

NeGP came first in 2006.

3 Mobile first is a principle of E-Kranti.