The Digital India Mission programme was inaugurated on July 1, 2015, by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. Digital India was launched to provide government services online by enhancing digital infrastructure and internet availability. These initiatives prepare India for a knowledge-based transformation. It also aims to enhance the country’s digital and technological capabilities.
Digital India Mission
| Name of the Mission | Digital India Mission |
| Date of Launch | July 1, 2015 |
| Implemented by | Government of India |
| Name of Ministry | Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. |
| Key focus area | Digital services Digital Infrastructure Digital Literacy |
| Target Beneficiaries | Businesses Citizens Government departments |
| Main Feature | Broadband Connectivity Digital payments Digital identity |
| Official Website | www.digitalindia.gov.in |
Elements of Digital India Mission
The Digital India mission is built on three main elements:
- Ensuring that digital infrastructure is available to all Indian citizens.
- To ensure every citizen is digitally empowered.
- Providing government services whenever people need them.
Goal of Digital India Mission
The main objective of the Digital India Mission is to power to empower. The initiative is built on three core components:
- Delivering Services Digitally.
- Creating Digital Infrastructure.
- Promoting digital literacy.
The key objectives are as follows:
- To make the common service centre (CSC) easily available in every area.
- The Digital India programme also aims to recognise existing schemes for better coordination.
- To deliver high-speed internet service to every gram panchayat.
- Digital India brings many ideas together under one clear and comprehensive vision.
Digital India Programs
The Government of India has started many programmes under the Digital India campaign. Some important ones are listed below:
- BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money): BHIM is a UPI-based app for fast and secure digital payments.
- E-Pathsala: Developed by NCERT, E-Pathsala is a digital library that provides textbooks, videos, magazines & other learning sources through its website and mobile App.
- DigiLocker: This program helps citizens stay digitally empowered by giving them safe access to verified documents in an online wallet.
- E-Hospital: The E-hospital system is an HMIS platform that connects patients, doctors, and hospitals. By February 2021, about 420 E-Hospitals had been set up under Digital India.
Advantages of the Digital India Mission
The Digital India Mission aims to provide high-speed internet to rural areas and improve digital connectivity across the country. The public internet access programme is one of Digital India’s pillars. India is among the world’s top two countries in digital adoption, and its digital economy was projected to surpass 1 trillion by 2023.
- Internet data plays a key role in delivering services.
- Electronic transactions in e-governance have increased.
- Bharat Net has connected over 1.15 lakh gram panchayats with 274,246 km of optical fibre.
- Digital villages are being developed with facilities like solar lighting, a sanitary napkin production unit, an LED assembly unit, and Wi-Fi corridors.