The 23rd National Conference on e-Governance recently convened in Mumbai, organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Many significant points such as the adoption of the Mumbai Declaration, discussions around digital platforms, and the launch of Blockchain Sandbox were part of the event’s highlights.
The Conference Theme and Sub-themes
The conference’s theme was “India 2020: Digital Transformation” and was broadly divided into six sub-themes that guided the comprehensive discussions. These included Digital Platforms and Digital Economy, Improving Service Delivery, Building Digital Trust, Digital Payments and Fintech, National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA), and Skilling and Capacity Building.
The Mumbai Declaration on e-Governance
Among the outcomes of the conference was the adoption of the 10-fold Mumbai Declaration on e-governance, which seeks to advance the roadmap for e-Governance outlined in the Shillong Declaration. The latter had been adopted during the 22nd National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) in 2019.
Blockchain Initiatives in Maharashtra
During the conference, the Blockchain Sandbox and Draft Sandbox Policy for Maharashtra were launched, making Maharashtra the first state in India with a dedicated Fintech policy. Looking forward, the Maharashtra government has plans to hold the India Fintech Festival in Mumbai in March 2020.
National e-Governance Awards 2020
Recognition for excellence was given out at the gathering, with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare receiving a gold award for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Similarly, Antyodaya Saral Haryana of the Department of IT, Haryana was awarded gold for excellence in providing citizen-centric delivery.
Defining e-Governance
e-Governance refers to the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for delivering government services, exchanging information, facilitating transactions, and integrating previously existing services and information portals. The “e” stands for ‘electronic,’ and the inception of the Department of Electronics in 1970 paved the way for e-governance in India.
Advent of e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan 2.0
In 2015, under the vision of “Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance,” India adopted e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan 2.0. This came as part of the broader Digital India Initiative and led to the launch of several e-governance initiatives like My Gov, PRAGATI, DARPAN, and Common Service centers.
India’s Position in the UN E-Government Development Index
India’s strides in e-governance were recognized by the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2018, which marked a significant leap of 22 positions from 118 in 2016 to 96. Consequently, e-governance has become pivotal for realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.”
