e-Governance and Digital Governance

e-Governance

World Bank definition of e-governance "Used by government agencies, information technology, wide-area network, mobile for service delivery, improved interaction, citizen empowerment is e-governance. The primary object is to ensure transparency, accountability, and cost reduction."

e-governance definition by UNESCO "E-governance is defined by UNESCO as the performance of governance via the electronic medium to facilitate speedy efficient transmission and dissemination of information to the public and other agencies for performing governmental administrative activities."

E-governance stands for electronic governance. According to the Second ARC, e-governance is basically associated with carrying out the function and achieving the result of governance through the utilisation of what has come to be known as information and communication technology.

There are different types of interaction models, which can be classified as:

Government-to-citizen model
Government-to-business model
Government-to-government model
Government-to-employee model

Digital Governance

Digital governance is a broader concept, more modern, and goes beyond merely putting government services online.

It refers to how the state uses advanced digital tools, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, etc., to govern the entire digital ecosystem, set public policy, and manage societal interactions.

The broader dimension may include data-driven policy-making, cybersecurity, and integrating a public platform, which would be part of e-governance.

Timeline of e-governance initiative

In 1970 the Department of Electronics was established and in 1976 the National Informatics Centre was set up. The focus was on establishing a foundation for data processing in the sectors of defence, election management, and economic monitoring.
In 1987 NICNET was launched with a district network. The objective was extended computerization and satellite-based wide-area network technology across district headquarters.
In 1994 land record computerization started taking place. Liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation have already arrived.
In 1997-98, a National Task Force for Information Technology and Software Development was created.
Later the Ministry of Information Technology was created in the central government, which is one of the first steps to streamline the process of transparency and accountability.
Later, a 12-point agenda was listed for e-governance for ensuring the e-governance initiative involving various ministries and departments. Then, the first Legislation of India was created as Information Technology Act 2008 (IT Act 2008).
Later to the implementation of the functioning of this national conference of CMs of the states. IT ministries were brought in as a result. A common action plan for achieving e-governance implementation was established.
Government then set up the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG), where the focus was on infrastructure development through the state data centre, state WAN, and interconnectivity, which the government was trying to achieve.
Later in 2012, the National Policy on IT was launched, which has outlined the map for future India.
In 2015 the Digital India initiative took place under the Digital India mission, where there are certain pillars that the government has been trying to achieve since 2015. Example
- Broadband highways
  - The objective was connecting 25,000 gram panchayats and cities.
- e-Kranti
  - The focus was on how we are going to ensure service delivery by emphasising and reforming the governance process, digital literacy in university, e-healthcare, e-courts, etc.
- Universal access to mobile
  - The objective was to ensure network penetration in every corner of the country. It specifically targets filling connectivity gaps by providing complete mobile coverage.
- Public Internet Access Programme
  - This enhances digital inclusion by making the internet physically available to all citizens through common service centres and through post offices, to make post offices access points.
- IT sector
  - Creation of IT jobs through skill development employment initiative: focus on training youth in smaller towns and villages for information technology opportunities. It targets training individuals for BPO and creating an IT-skilled workforce.
- Information for all drive
  - The primary objective was participation, driving transparency, which can be achieved by making open data repositories and social engagements.
- E-governance initiatives
  - Reforming government through technology: the pillar of reengineering the IT sector to establish an interconnected cross-departmental online repository was the objective.
- Electronic manufacturing
  - With the target of net zero import, the government's focus was to boost domestic manufacturing of big-ticket items like smartphones, set-top boxes, etc.
- Early Harvest Programme
  - The focus of government is to ensure short-term immediate impact to establish quick infrastructure benefits (for example, a biometric attendance system and public Wi-Fi hotspots in major cities).

e-Governance

There are different types of interaction models, which can be classified as:

Government-to-citizen model

Government-to-business model

Government-to-government model

Government-to-employee model

Digital Governance

Digital governance is a broader concept, more modern, and goes beyond merely putting government services online.

The broader dimension may include data-driven policy-making, cybersecurity, and integrating a public platform, which would be part of e-governance.

Timeline of e-governance initiative

In 1970 the Department of Electronics was established and in 1976 the National Informatics Centre was set up. The focus was on establishing a foundation for data processing in the sectors of defence, election management, and economic monitoring.

In 1987 NICNET was launched with a district network. The objective was extended computerization and satellite-based wide-area network technology across district headquarters.

In 1994 land record computerization started taking place. Liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation have already arrived.

In 1997-98, a National Task Force for Information Technology and Software Development was created.

Later the Ministry of Information Technology was created in the central government, which is one of the first steps to streamline the process of transparency and accountability.

Later, a 12-point agenda was listed for e-governance for ensuring the e-governance initiative involving various ministries and departments. Then, the first Legislation of India was created as Information Technology Act 2008 (IT Act 2008).

Later to the implementation of the functioning of this national conference of CMs of the states. IT ministries were brought in as a result. A common action plan for achieving e-governance implementation was established.

Government then set up the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG), where the focus was on infrastructure development through the state data centre, state WAN, and interconnectivity, which the government was trying to achieve.

Later in 2012, the National Policy on IT was launched, which has outlined the map for future India.

In 2015 the Digital India initiative took place under the Digital India mission, where there are certain pillars that the government has been trying to achieve since 2015. Example

Broadband highways
- The objective was connecting 25,000 gram panchayats and cities.
e-Kranti
- The focus was on how we are going to ensure service delivery by emphasising and reforming the governance process, digital literacy in university, e-healthcare, e-courts, etc.
Universal access to mobile
- The objective was to ensure network penetration in every corner of the country. It specifically targets filling connectivity gaps by providing complete mobile coverage.
Public Internet Access Programme
- This enhances digital inclusion by making the internet physically available to all citizens through common service centres and through post offices, to make post offices access points.
IT sector
- Creation of IT jobs through skill development employment initiative: focus on training youth in smaller towns and villages for information technology opportunities. It targets training individuals for BPO and creating an IT-skilled workforce.
Information for all drive
- The primary objective was participation, driving transparency, which can be achieved by making open data repositories and social engagements.
E-governance initiatives
- Reforming government through technology: the pillar of reengineering the IT sector to establish an interconnected cross-departmental online repository was the objective.
Electronic manufacturing
- With the target of net zero import, the government's focus was to boost domestic manufacturing of big-ticket items like smartphones, set-top boxes, etc.
Early Harvest Programme
- The focus of government is to ensure short-term immediate impact to establish quick infrastructure benefits (for example, a biometric attendance system and public Wi-Fi hotspots in major cities).