The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) report is an annual assessment of the e-governance initiatives and service delivery improvements across various sectors in India. The NeSDA 2023 report, released on February 15, 2024, provides key insights into India’s progress in digitization and e-governance to enable efficient public service delivery through online platforms and IT integration.
Key Highlights
- India’s overall e-governance maturity level improved from 87% in 2022 to 92% in 2023 on the NeSDA Index. This indicates growth in online infrastructure, service delivery and public adoption of e-services.
- Top 5 best performing states – Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka and Telangana.
- Notable sectors based on extent of e-governance integration:
- Income Tax e-filing achieved 98% e-filing rate
- 95% citizens enrolled for Aadhar
- 80% citizens linked mobile SIM with Aadhar
- 78% bank accounts seeded with Aadhar
- Key e-governance initiatives launched:
- 5G connectivity project
- Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) phase 2 rollout
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Lite launch
Progress Across Key Sectors
- Income Tax e-Filing Adoption
- E-filing rate improved from 94% in 2022 to 98% in 2023
- 97 million income tax returns filed electronically
- MCA21 e-governance reforms
- 99% new companies registered online through MCA21
- MCA21 V3.0 launched – with improved user experience and new compliance features
- Passport Seva 2.0
- 4 million passports issued through Passport Seva in 2023
- Average turnaround time reduced from 7 days to 2 days
- Aadhar Enrollment
- Total Aadhar enrollment reached 1.4 billion by Feb 2024
- 95% of adult population now has Aadhar
- Jan Dhan Financial Inclusion
- 78% of total bank accounts seeded with Aadhar by 2023
- 321 million PMJDY accounts opened
Key Challenges and Focus Areas
Despite overall progress, India still faces challenges in making e-governance more inclusive and citizen-friendly.
Digital Divide
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- Rural internet penetration still at 34%, behind urban at 67%
- Need to improve last mile connectivity through schemes like BharatNet
Cybersecurity
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- Increase in online fraud during pandemic
- Need for stronger encryption, multi-factor authentication on government portals
Data Protection
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- Personal data privacy a growing concern with increase in digitization
- Comprehensive data protection law still awaited
Inclusive e-Services
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- Vernacular language support required for wider adoption
- Accessibility for disabled still a gap
The NeSDA 2023 report therefore identified focus areas for 2024
- Launch more services under Umang app for centralized access
- Strengthen cybersecurity standards and audit of government IT systems
- Enact data protection law for building user trust
- Improve internet connectivity through BharatNet to rural areas
- Enable e-service adoption through awareness campaigns and localized content
Sector-Wise E-Governance Highlights
Income Tax – 98% e-filing rate in 2023
- 97 million ITRs filed electronically
- Pre-filled ITR forms
- New e-filing portal with improved interface
- Taxpayer base expanded through awareness campaigns
Passport Services- Average application processing down to 2 days
- Passport Seva 2.0 launched in 2023
- Digital queue management system
- Tracking system for status updates
- 4 million e-passports issued annually
Company Registration – 99% new registrations through MCA21 portal
- 25% increase in new company registrations
- 0 launched in 2023 with advanced features
- Startup India portal integrated with MCA21
- FASTER+ platform for easy company compliance
E-Governance Outlook 2024
The NeSDA 2023 report forecasts that India’s e-governance maturity will reach 95% by 2024 on the back of various key initiatives in the pipeline.
- National Data Governance Policy Framework
- 5G connectivity to 70% population across cities
- UPI Lite launch for feature phone users
- Umang 2.0 – enhanced unified platform with new services
- DigiLocker enhancements for paperless governance
The government aims to transition to a truly digital economy through enabling policies, infrastructure and platforms with focus on security, inclusion and innovation. The future outlook is positive, with e-governance set to improve citizens’ access and experience of public services.
Key Statistics Snapshot
| Parameter | 2022 | 2023 |
| Overall e-Gov maturity index | 87% | 92% |
| Top 5 states index | Maharashtra, Gujarat, AP, Kerala, Karnataka | Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana |
| Aadhar enrollment | 93% adult population | 95% adult population |
| Mobile SIMs linked to Aadhar | 75% | 80% |
| PMJDY bank accounts opened | 310 million | 321 million |
| Bank accounts seeded to Aadhar | 76% | 78% |
| Income tax e-filing rate | 94% | 98% |