Digital India

{{Multiple issues|

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{{Infobox project

| abbreviation =

| image = Digital India logo.svg

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =

| motto = Power To Empower

| country = India

| key_people = {{Unbulleted_list|Ashwini Vaishnaw|Rajeev Chandrasekhar}}

| launched = {{Start date and age|2015|07|01|df=yes}}

| ministry = {{Unbulleted_list|Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology|Ministry of Finance}}

| current_status = Active

| website = {{URL|https://digitalindia.gov.in/}}

|India=}}

Digital India is a campaign launched by the Government of India to make its services available to citizens electronically via improved online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/digital-india-needs-to-go-local/article7723292.ece|title=Digital India needs to go local|last=Prakash|first=Amit|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-02-26|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-grand-delusion-of-digital-india/article7727159.ece|title=The grand delusion of Digital India|last=Mannathukkaren|first=Nissim|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-02-26|language=en}} The initiative includes plans to connect rural areas with high-speed internet networks. It consists of three core components: the development of secure and stable digital infrastructure, delivering government services digitally, and universal digital literacy.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the program on 1 July 2015. Digital India campaign supports other Government of India schemes, such as BharatNet, Make in India, Standup India, industrial corridors, Bharatmala Sagarmala and Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Atmanirbhar Bharat.

While India has seen an increase in internet users in recent years,[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aadhaar-driving-licence-linking-ravi-shankar-prasad-5525713/ Govt will soon make Aadhaar-driving licence linking mandatory: Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad], Indian Express, 7 Jan 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iamai.in/node/4990#in|title=The Internet and Mobile Association of India|website=www.iamai.in|language=en|access-date=2018-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627010316/http://www.iamai.in/node/4990#in|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=dead}} frequent data breaches have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the Digital India campaign.{{cite web | title=Data Breach: Unveiling the Cracks in Digital India | website=CivilsDaily | date=2023-06-14 | url=https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/data-breach-cracks-in-digital-india/ | access-date=2024-10-15}}{{cite web | title=3.94 Lakhs And Counting: How Cyberattacks Are A Worry For Digital India | website=CyberPeace | date=2022-06-09 | url=https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/3-94-lakhs-and-counting-how-cyberattacks-are-a-worry-for-digital-india | access-date=2024-10-15}}{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319215297}}

History

Digital India was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on 1 July 2015, with an objective of connecting rural areas with high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy.{{citation|title=Here's what you need to know about the Digital India initiative|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-changing-your-facebook-profile-picture-is-not-enough-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-digital-india-initiative-2129525|work=Daily News and Analysis|date=28 September 2015|place=Mumbai}}{{citation |title=Government School in Remote Bandahalli Village Gets Inspired by make in India |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Government-School-in-Remote-Bandahalli-Village-Gets-Inspired-by-Digital-India/2016/03/15/article3327858.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315093747/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Government-School-in-Remote-Bandahalli-Village-Gets-Inspired-by-Digital-India/2016/03/15/article3327858.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2016 |work=The New Indian Express |date=15 March 2016 }}{{citation |title=Digital India Week |date=1 July 2015 |work=Press Information Bureau |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/printrelease.aspx?relid=122895 }} The Digital India program aimed to promote inclusive growth of electronic services, products, manufacturing and job opportunities across the rural areas of India. The campaign mainly focuses on three key areas that are digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.{{citation |title=Introduction to Digital India |date= |work=Vikaspedia |url=https://egovernance.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/e-governance/digital-india/introduction-to-digital-india?lgn=en }}

Digital India initiative

The Government of India's entity Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) which executes the BharatNet project is the custodian of Digital India{{Cite web|title=Digital India For Atmanirbhar Bharat – Transforming The Rural Areas

|url=https://aatmnirbharsena.org/blog/digital-india-for-atmanirbhar-bharat/ |date= 20 Nov 2020 |website=Aatmnirbhar Sena|language=en}} (DI) project.{{citation |title=About Bharat Broadband Network Limited |url=http://www.bbnl.nic.in/index1.aspx?lsid=18&lev=1&lid=18&langid=1 |work=Bharat Broadband Network Limited }}{{citation |last=Subramaniam |first=Nikhil |title=India's 'fantastic' broadband project that you should know about |url=http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/indias-fantastic-broadband-project-that-you-should-know-about-81871.html |work=Tech2 |date=22 March 2013}}

=New digital services=

Some of the facilities which will be provided through this initiative are Bharat, digital locker, e-education, e-health, e-sign, e-shopping and the National Scholarship Portal.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Dr. Vinod |date=May 27, 2016 |title=Digital India Initiative: An excellent opportunity for IT Companies |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-india-initiative-excellent-opportunity-vinod-k-singh/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=LinkedIn}} As part of Digital India, Indian Government planned to launch Botnet cleaning centers.{{citation|url=http://previewtech.net/digital-india-botnet|title=Government to set up botnet cleaning centres|work=Preview Tech|date=25 May 2014 |last1=Krishna |first1=KP }}{{Cite news|url=https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2019/12/15/1576438221000/India-s-payments-revolution/|title=India's payments revolution|last=Jones|first=Claire|newspaper=Financial Times|date=16 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}

National e-Governance Plan aimed at bringing all the front-end government services online.
MyGov.in is a platform to share inputs and ideas on matters of policy and governance.{{citation |title=Modi's website gets new, mobile-friendly look |url=http://wap.business-standard.com/article/politics/modi-s-new-mobile-friendly-website-launched-116011500919_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=16 January 2016 |location=New Delhi |agency=BS Reporter }} It is mainly built for citizen engagement in governance, through a "Discuss", "Do" and "Disseminate" approach.
UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) of Indian Government, is an all-in-one single unified secure multi-channel, multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-service, freeware mobile app, for accessing over 1,200 central and state government services in multiple Indian languages over Android, iOS, Windows and USSD (feature phone) devices, including services such as AADHAAR, DigiLocker, Bharat Bill Payment System, PAN EPFO services, PMKVY services, AICTE, CBSE, tax and fee or utilities bills payments, education, job search, tax, business, health, agriculture, travel, Indian railway tickets bookings, birth certificates, e-District, e-Panchayat, police clearance, passport, other utility services from private companies and much more.[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/government-unveils-umang-app-for-citizen-services/articleshow/61769676.cms "Government unveils Umang app for citizen services."], Economic Times, 23 Nov 2017.
eSign framework allows citizens to digitally sign a document online using Aadhaar authentication.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Mobile app is being used by people and Government organizations for achieving the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission.
e-Hospital application provides important services such as online registration, payment of fees and appointment, online diagnostic reports, enquiring availability of blood online, etc.{{Cite web|url=https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/health-it/digital-india-health-summit-recognises-the-role-of-healthtech/72279571|title=Digital India Health Summit recognises the role of healthtech |website=ETHealthworld.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-16}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/all-govt-hospitals-will-have-e-hospital-management-system-119061000772_1.html|title=All govt hospitals will have e-hospital management system|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2019-06-10|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-12-16}}
Digital attendance: attendance.gov.in{{Cite web |title=Attendance {{!}} Dashboard |url=https://attendance.gov.in/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220906050756/https://www.attendance.gov.in/ |archive-date=2022-09-06 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=attendance.gov.in}} was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 1 July 2015, to keep a record of the attendance of Government employees on a real-time basis.{{citation |title=Attendance.gov.in: Modi government launches website to track attendance of government employees |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-07/news/54735540_1_biometric-attendance-system-government-employees-attendance-records |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009174124/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-07/news/54735540_1_biometric-attendance-system-government-employees-attendance-records |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 October 2014 |work=The Economic Times |date=7 October 2014 }} This initiative started with implementation of a common Biometric Attendance System (BAS) in the central Government offices located in Delhi.{{citation |title=Attendance.gov.in - Government offices will no longer be the same, courtesy Narendra Modi |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-attendancegovin-sarkaari-offices-will-no-longer-be-the-same-courtesy-narendra-modi-2024226 |work=Daily News and Analysis |date=7 October 2014 }}
Back-end digitization
Black money eradication: The 2016 Union budget of India announced eleven technology initiatives including the use of data analytics to prevent tax evasion.{{citation |title=Budget 2016: Technology initiatives to boost Digital India drive |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/budget-2016-technology-initiatives-to-boost-digital-india-drive/articleshow/51194047.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=29 February 2016 |last1=Mendonca |first1=Jochelle }} Digital Literacy mission will cover six crore rural households. It was planned to connect 550 farmer markets in the country through the use of technology.{{citation |title=Government aims to give 'Digital India' benefits to farmers: PM Modi |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Government-aims-to-give-Digital-India-benefits-to-farmers-PM-Modi/articleshow/51046765.cms |work=The Times of India |date=18 February 2016 }}
Facilities to digitally empower citizens
Digital Locker facility aims to help citizens to digitally store their important documents like PAN card, Passport, mark sheets, driving licence, Aadhaar card, and degree certificates. Digital Locker will provide secure access to Government-issued documents. It uses authentication services provided by Aadhaar, and is designed to eliminating the use of physical documents and enable the sharing of verified electronic documents across Government agencies. Three key stakeholders of DigiLocker are Citizen, Issuer and requester.{{Cite web|url=http://maximumgovernance.com/perspectives/digilocker-is-a-potential-digital-india-catalyst/|title=Can DigiLocker Catalyze Digital India? – Maximum Governance|website=maximumgovernance.com|date=4 September 2016|access-date=2016-09-08}}{{citation|title=DigiLocker - Online document storage facility National Portal of India |url=http://india.gov.in/spotlight/digilocker-online-document-storage-facility |website=india.gov.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515073907/http://india.gov.in/spotlight/digilocker-online-document-storage-facility |archive-date=15 May 2015 |df=dmy }}
BPO and job growth: The government planned to create 28,000 seats of BPOs in various states and set up at least one Common Service Centre in each of the gram panchayats in the state.{{citation |title=Under the Digital India initiative: Software Technology Park of India |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/digital-india-digital-india-initiative-software-technology-park-of-india-software-technology-park-in-panchkula-panchkula-news-under-the-digital-india-initiative-software-technology-park-of-india |work=The Indian Express |date=28 February 2016 }}
e-Sampark Vernacular email service: Out of 10% English speaking Indians, only 2% reside in rural areas. Rest everyone depends on their vernacular language for all living their lives. However, as of now, email addresses can only be created in the English language. To connect rural India with Digital India, the Government of India impelled email services providers including Google, Microsoft, and Rediff to provide the email address in regional languages.{{Cite news|url=http://trak.in/tags/business/2016/08/01/local-regional-language-email-address-vernacular-push/|title=Vernacular Push: Govt. Wants Email Providers To Support Regional Email Addresses|date=2016-08-01|newspaper=Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-28}} An Indian-based company, Data Xgen Technologies Pvt Ltd, has launched world's first free linguistic email address under the name ‘DATAMAIL’{{Cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/datamail-worlds-first-free-linguistic-email-service-supports-eight-india-languages/articleshow/54923001.cms|title=DataMail: World's first free linguistic email service supports eight India languages - The Economic Times|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=2016-10-28}} which allows creating email ids in 8 Indian languages, English; and three foreign languages – Arabic, Russian and Chinese. Over the period of time, the email service in 22 languages will be offered by Data XGen Technologies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/181016/data-xgen-technologies-launches-email-address-in-local-indian-languages.html|title=Data Xgen Technologies launches email address in Indian languages|date=2016-10-18|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2016-10-28}}
The India Business Promotion Scheme (IBPS), was designed to stimulate the growth of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sector nationally, with a budget of Rs. 493 Crore.{{citation |title=Govt BPO promotion scheme provides employment to over 40,000 local youths in tier cities |url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/digital-india/govt-bpo-promotion-scheme-provides-employment-to-over-40000-local-youths-in-tier-2-3-cities-stpi/83662841 |work=The Economic Times |date=19 June 2021 |access-date=20 September 2023 }}{{citation |title=Software body organises event to honour women |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/software-body-organises-event-to-honour-women/article34047804.ece |work=The Hindu |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=20 September 2023 }}{{citation |title=Software body organises event to honour women |url=https://www.meity.gov.in/bpo-promotion-schemes |work=www.meity.gov.in |access-date=20 September 2023 }}

= Training =

File:PMGDISHA logo.png

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan was executed by PMGDisha with an outlay of Rs 2,351.38 crore with the objective of making 6 crore rural households digitally literate by March 2020.{{cite news|title=One of world's largest digital literacy programmes in world, 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' cleared by Cabinet|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan/543139/|publisher=Financial Express|date=February 8, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan|url=http://vikaspedia.in/e-governance/digital-india/national-digital-literacy-mission|publisher=Vikaspedia|access-date=May 22, 2017}}{{cite news|title=2,351 करोड़ से गांवों को डिजिटल साक्षर बनाएगी सरकार, PMGDISHA को मंजूरी|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/news/national/article1-modi-cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-697220.html|publisher=Live Hindustan|date=February 9, 2017|language=hi}} Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (abbreviated as PMGDisha{{cite news|title=Cabinet approves PMGDISHA under Digital India Programme|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/cabinet-approves-pmgdisha-under-digital-india-programme-117020801404_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|date=February 8, 2017|location=New Delhi}}) is an initiative under Digital India program, approved by The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM Narendra Modi.{{cite news|title=Cabinet nod for rural digital literacy programme|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/Cabinet-nod-for-rural-digital-literacy-programme/article17265514.ece|work=The Hindu|date=February 9, 2017}}{{cite news|title=abinet approves 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' for covering 6 crore rural households|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158292|publisher=Press Information Bureau|date=February 8, 2017}} The main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan was to make 6 crore people in rural areas across India digitally literate, reaching around 40% of rural households by covering one member from every eligible household.{{cite web|title=Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)|url=https://www.mygov.in/task/logo-and-slogan-design-contest-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-pmgdisha/|publisher=MyGov.in|access-date=May 22, 2017}}{{cite news|title=Digital literacy classes for unemployed|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Khammam-Tab/2017-05-02/Digital-literacy-classes-for-unemployed/297175|publisher=The Hans India|date=May 2, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Shrivastava|first1=Shilpika|title=Union Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/union-cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-gramin-digital-saksharta-abhiyan-1486636436-1|publisher=Jagran Josh|date=February 9, 2017}}

Annual Digital India Summit & Awards were held in 2016.{{citation |title=Times Now and ET Now announce 2nd edition of Digital India Summit & Awards; on 22 March |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/press-releases/times-now-and-et-now-announce-2nd-edition-of-digital-india-summit-awards-on-22-march/articleshow/51156592.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=19 February 2016 }}

E-Cabinet

In 2014 the Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his Council of Ministers held the first paperless e-Cabinet meeting in the country using the app e-Cabinet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/dp-mail-ecabinet-713975.html|title=India's first ever eCabinet in Andhra Pradesh|website=News18|date=15 September 2014|access-date=2019-03-20}} The ministers accessed the agenda of the Cabinet meeting in electronic form by logging into the app on their laptops or Tabs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chandrababu-naidu-holds-ecabinet-meeting/article6412789.ece|title=Chandrababu Naidu holds e-Cabinet meeting|date=2014-09-15|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|agency=PTI|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

= E-Pragati =

E-Pragati, the Andhra Pradesh State Enterprise Architecture, is a framework designed to provide 750 services to over 30 million citizens by integrating 34 departments on a single platform.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-launches-e-pragati-core-platform/article24465768.ece|title=Naidu launches e-Pragati core platform|author=Staff Reporter|date=2018-07-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

= Bhudhaar =

Bhudhaar is a 2018 E-Governance project that is intended to assign an 11-digit unique number{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/naidu-launches-bhudhaar/article25551979.ece|title=Launching of Bhudhaar|date=November 20, 2018|work=The Hindu}} to every land parcel in the state of Andhra Pradesh,{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/land-parcels-in-andhra-to-get-unique-code-under-bhudhaar-programme/articleshow/65520837.cms|title=Land parcels in Andhra to get unique code under Bhudhaar programme|date=August 23, 2018|work=The Times of India}} as part of the "land hub in E-Pragati programme".{{Cite web|url=https://nicea.nic.in/download-files.php?nid=203|title=Land Hub}} Bhuseva Authority, an inter-departmental committee was formed to implement and monitor its progress.{{Cite web|url=https://bhuseva.ap.gov.in/dashboard/stats|title=ప్రగతి సూచిక - భూసేవ|website=bhuseva.ap.gov.in|language=te|access-date=2014-02-04}} Eventually all land related transactions are planned to use Bhudhaar as a single source of truth to reduces land related disputes. On 20 Februarly 2019, Andhra pradesh Assembly gave its consent to the legal usage of Bhudhaar Number in land documents.

= e-Panta (crop booking) =

Electronic crop booking (e- Crop booking) is an Android application launched with an Andhra Pradesh company e-Panta,{{Cite web |title=e-Panta |url=https://karshak.ap.gov.in/ecrop/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=karshak.ap.gov.in}} to assess crop details and to analyse the crop pattern across Andhra Pradesh state and to capture the standing crop in the state.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-09-19/Geo-tagging-to-ensure-better-land-management/254649|title=Geo-tagging to ensure better land management|date=2016-09-19|website=www.thehansindia.com|access-date=2019-03-20}} Photographs as evidence in the case of crop damage and insurance are also available as the arable land in the state has been captured in latitude and longitude along with subdivision and occupancy. Field officers are trained to capture the crop details in the existing agricultural fields using tabs and to upload the crop details to the server for every crop season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2017/dec/15/agri-and-allied-sectors-register-growth-rate-of-256-in-first-6-months-1727684.html|title=Agri and allied sectors register growth rate of 25.6% in first 6 months|website=The New Indian Express|date=15 December 2017 |access-date=2019-03-20}} The features include an online transfer of crop details to Webland (land record management website), evidence in the case of crop damage for insurance, evidence for crop loans by banks, crop pattern and water tax demand analysis, and GPS location of each land parcel across the state. The mobile app covers land use and the entire Pattadar's history of land cover.{{Citation|title=e-Crop Booking: A Geo-tagging To Ensure Better Land Management Launched In AP| date=2 October 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dLyVuFyGwg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211118/1dLyVuFyGwg| archive-date=2021-11-18 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}{{cbignore}}

= Loan charge =

Loan charge creation project of Government of Andhra Pradesh was initially developed in India to curtail bogus and multiple loans issued to farmers.{{Cite web|url=http://loancharge.ap.gov.in/|title=Loan Charge:: Login|website=loancharge.ap.gov.in|access-date=2019-03-20}} By using this module, bankers can verify the land details in adangal and ROR‐1B copies and also know whether any loan is taken on the same land. The financial institutions like banks, Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Sub Registrar offices of Registration Department in Andhra Pradesh are covered under the application. Nearly 78 lakhs of farmers, 2.25 crores people of the State are covered under the project along with 61 Major Banks, PACS and District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCBs) having 6000 branches are using this application to deliver the loans and for creating charges on the land.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/bankers-asked-to-advance-crop-loans-based-on-webland-details/article19273181.ece|title=Bankers asked to advance crop loans based on webland details|date=2017-07-14|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-03-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

Outcomes

=Reception=

File:The tableau of Ministry of Communications and Electronics & Information Technology passes through the Rajpath at the 72nd Republic Day Celebrations, in New Delhi on January 26, 2021.jpg and Electronics and Information Technology passes through the Rajpath at the 72nd Republic Day Celebrations, in New Delhi on January 26, 2021.]]

In 2017 the government of Vietnam opened discussions with the government of India on emulating its use of cybersecurity and egovernance.{{citation |title=Vietnam may emulate Digital India, seeks cooperation on e-governance |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vietnam-may-emulate-digital-india-seeks-cooperation-on-e-governance/story-GTgaVp5IFYKVNInNeaj6BN.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=28 March 2017 }}

At the launch ceremony of Digital India Week by Prime Minister Modi in Delhi on 1 July 2015, CEOs from India and abroad committed to invest {{INRConvert|224.5|lc}} towards the initiative.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} The CEOs said the investments would be utilized towards making smartphones and internet devices at an affordable price in India which would help generate jobs in India as well as reduce the cost of importing them from abroad.{{cite news|title=Digital India: Top CEOs commit to invest Rs 4.5 trillion|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/digital-india-top-ceos-commit-to-invest-rs-4-5-trillion/articleshow/47901803.cms }}

Leaders from Silicon Valley, San Jose, California expressed their support for Digital India during Modi's visit in September 2015. Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed his profile picture in support of Digital India and started a chain on Facebook and promised to work on WiFi Hotspots in rural area of India.{{citation |agency=TNN |title=Mark Zuckerberg changes his profile picture to support 'Digital India' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech-news/mark-zuckerberg-changes-his-profile-picture-to-support-digital-india/articleshow/49128369.cms|work=The Times of India|date=27 September 2014}} Google committed to provide broadband connectivity on 500 railway stations in India.{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2015 |title=Google to give Wi-Fi access in 500 railway stations |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/google-to-give-wi-fi-access-in-500-railway-stations-115092700187_1.html |website=Business Standard}} Microsoft agreed to provide broadband connectivity to five hundred thousand villages in India and make India its cloud hub through Indian data centres.{{Cite web |last=Jha.K |first=Lalit |title=Microsoft to take technology to 5 lakh villages: Nadella |url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/roIpQHDhoL5zS6ekzhVaEO/Microsoft-to-take-technology-to-5-lakh-villages-Nadella.html |website=mint}} Qualcomm announced an investment of {{USD|150 million}} in Indian startups.{{citation|last=Thomas|first=K|title=Modi effect: Silicon Valley giants commit to Digital India|url=http://thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/modi-in-silicon-valley-tech-giants-commit-to-digital-india/article7694877.ece|publisher=Business Line The Hindu|date=27 September 2015}} Oracle plans to invest in 20 states and will work on payments and Smart city initiatives.{{citation|title=Digital India to propel economy to its best era: Oracle|url=http://moneycontrol.com/news/business/digital-india-to-propel-economy-to-its-best-era-oracle-_3498821.html |work=Moneycontrol.com|date=8 October 2015}} However, back in India, cyber experts expressed their concern over internet.org and viewed the Prime Minister's bonhomie with Zuckerberg as the government's indirect approval of the controversial initiative.{{citation |url=http://www.thestatesman.com/news/section-ii/digital-india-at-the-expense-of-net-neutrality/95497.html |title=The Statesman: Digital India at the expense of Net neutrality? |work=The Statesman |date=8 October 2015 }} The Statesman reported, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chemistry with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the social media giant's headquarters in California may have been greeted enthusiastically in Silicon Valley but back home several social media enthusiasts and cyber activists are disappointed."{{cite web|url=http://epaper.thestatesman.com/c/6714327|title=Clipping of The Statesman - Delhi |work=The Statesman |date=29 September 2015 }} Later the Prime Minister office clarified that net neutrality will be maintained at all costs and vetoed the Basic Internet plans. Digital India has also been influential in promoting the interests of the Indian Railways.{{cite web|url=http://politicsnow.in/digital-india-and-indian-railways/|title=Digital India and Indian Railways |work=Politics Now |author = Dipankan Bandopadhyay | date=14 April 2017 }}

As of March 2024, India had approximately 954.40 million internet subscribers, a substantial increase from 251.59 million in March 2014. The growth has been largely driven by increased adoption in rural areas, which accounted for 398.35 million subscribers.{{citation |title=Universal connectivity and Digital India initiatives reaching to all areas |date=2 August 2024 |work=Press Information Bureau |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2040566#:~:text=As%20of%20March%202024%2C%20out,7696}} On 28 December 2015, Panchkula district of Haryana was awarded for being the top-performing district in the state under the Digital India campaign.{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/digital-india-campaign-panchkula-comes-out-on-top-among-all-districts-of-haryana/ |title=Digital India campaign;Panchkula comes out on top among all districts of Haryana |author= |date=26 December 2015 |website=The Indian Express |publisher=The Express Group |access-date=December 27, 2017}} As of 2018, India was adding 10 million daily internet users a month, which at the time was the highest rate of rate of internet-adoption recorded anywhere in the world.{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-is-adding-10-million-active-internet-users-per-month-google-118062700882_1.html|title=India is adding 10 million active internet users per month: Google|date=2018-06-27|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-10-26|url-access=subscription}}

=Criticisms=

Several academic scholars have critiqued ICTs in development. Some take issue with technological determinism, the notion that ICTs are a sure-fire antidote to the world's problems. Instead, governments must adjust solutions to the specific political and social context of their nation. Others note that technology amplifies underlying institutional forces, so technology must be accompanied by significant changes in policy and institutions in order to have meaningful impact.{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Rema|title=To fix social problems, invest in human beings, not tech magic: Kentaro Toyama|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/all-that-matters/To-fix-social-problems-invest-in-human-beings-not-tech-magic-Kentaro-Toyama/articleshow/49027394.cms |work=Times of India |date=20 September 2015 }}{{citation |last=Toyama|first=Kentaro|title=Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology|url=http://geekheresy.org |work=PublicAffairs |date=2015 }}

It is being thought that there needs to be more research on the actual worth of these multimillion-dollar government and ICT for development projects. For the most part, the technological revolution in India has benefited the already privileged sectors of Indians.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SOqICwAAQBAJ&q=digital+india&pg=PT8|title=Digital India: Understanding Information, Communication and Social Change|last=Thomas|first=Pradip Ninan|date=2012-07-11|publisher=SAGE Publications India|isbn=9788132116851|language=en}} It is also difficult to scale up initiatives to affect all Indians, and fundamental attitudinal and institutional change is still an issue.{{Cite journal|last=Walsham|first=Geoff|year=2010|title=ICTS for the Broader Development of India: An Analysis of the Literature|url=http://www.indiagovernance.gov.in/files/ICT-for-broader-dev-in-India.pdf|journal=The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries|volume=41|pages=1–20|doi=10.1002/j.1681-4835.2010.tb00293.x|s2cid=153714812|doi-access=free}} While much ICT research has been conducted in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat, poorer states such as Bihar and Odisha are rarely mentioned.

Digital India as a programme has been considered by some as a continuation of the long history of bias towards RIL, which has previously manifested in the form of altering TRAI regulations in favour of the company. Reliance Jio has cited the Digital India initiative numerous times for its own marketing purposes.{{Cite web|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/government-helping-reliance-jio-monopolise-telecom|title=How Reliance Jio is monopolising the telecom sector|last=Block|first=Daniel|website=The Caravan|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}}

The government has faced criticism over frequent data breaches. The Aadhaar biometrics have been criticised for being an easy target for hackers.{{cite web | title=Aadhaar: Watch out, Aadhaar biometrics are an easy target for hackers | website=The Economic Times | date=2017-10-23 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/watch-out-aadhar-biometrics-are-an-easy-target-for-hackers/articleshow/61183055.cms?from=mdr | access-date=2024-10-15}}