New Delhi — India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is increasingly being viewed as a model for inclusive digital growth, with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America studying various elements of India’s digital ecosystem to improve public services, expand financial inclusion and reduce barriers to accessing essential services.
A report published by Times of Oman said India’s approach is based on the idea that digital infrastructure should operate as a public good — accessible, affordable and interoperable for people, businesses and governments.
India’s digital transformation has been built around the JAM framework of Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar-based digital identity and widespread mobile connectivity. This foundation has subsequently been expanded through platforms such as India Stack, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker.
Together, these systems have helped simplify transactions and reduce the cost and time involved in accessing financial and government services. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for instance, has enabled government benefits to be transferred directly to beneficiaries, improving transparency and reducing the scope for leakages.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has also played a major role by bringing millions of people who previously had limited or no access to formal banking into the financial system.
Another important component is India Stack, an open collection of digital platforms and application programming interfaces (APIs) that allows government agencies, banks and private companies to develop services that can work across a common digital ecosystem.
The report noted that India’s DPI is no longer limited to banking and payments. Newer initiatives have extended the digital infrastructure into healthcare, employment and commerce.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is creating an interconnected digital health ecosystem, while e-Shram provides a national database of workers in the unorganised sector. The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), meanwhile, is designed to provide an open framework for digital commerce and give more businesses and consumers access to online markets.
The report said India’s approach differs from systems built around separate, isolated digital services. Instead, the country has developed interconnected platforms that allow citizens, businesses and government agencies to interact more seamlessly.
This experience is also gaining importance as artificial intelligence begins to reshape economies and public services worldwide. According to the report, India’s existing digital infrastructure could provide an important foundation for deploying AI-enabled services on a large scale while ensuring that the benefits of new technology reach wider sections of society.
The World Bank has also recognised India’s rapid progress in developing an inclusive digital ecosystem capable of reaching a very large population, the report noted.
As developing countries look for cost-effective ways to expand digital access and improve delivery of public services, India’s experience is emerging as a reference point for how large-scale digital infrastructure can support broader economic participation.
With inputs from IANS