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10 Years of Digital India Scheme

10 Years of Digital India Scheme

02-07-2025

Why in the News?

  1. The Digital India programme completed 10 years in July 2025.
  2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this scheme has become a people's movement rather than just a government scheme.
  3. He highlighted how digital infrastructure has reduced leakages, bridged the digital divide, and enhanced service delivery.

Key Highlights of the Article

  1. About the Mission
    1. Launched: July 1, 2015
    2. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
    3. Aim: Transform India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy.
    4. Nature: Umbrella programme integrating services across ministries and departments.
  2. 3 Vision Areas
    1. Digital Infrastructure as a Utility to Every Citizen:
      1. Provide high-speed internet, digital ID, mobile, and bank access to all.
      2. This will help to eliminate the gap between the “haves and have-nots.”
    2. Governance and Services on Demand:
      1. Make government services easily available online and in real time.
      2. It will help to increase transparency, and reduce dependence on intermediaries.
    3. Digital Empowerment of Citizens:
      1. Promote digital literacy and ensure access to digital tools and resources for all.
      2. This will help to reduce the digital divide and bring government services closer to citizens.
  3. Achievements of Digital India

Sector

Key Achievements

Digital Economy
  1. The digital sector contributed 11.74% to India’s GDP in the financial year 2022–23 which is projected to reach 13.42% by 2024–25.
  2. India ranks third globally in digitalisation of the economy (State of India’s Digital Economy Report 2024).

Connectivity and Infrastructure
  1. Total internet connections increased from 25 crore in 2014 to 97 crore in 2024.
  2. Under the BharatNet programme, 2.18 lakh Gram Panchayats have been connected with high-speed broadband.
  3. India’s 5G rollout reached 99.6% of districts and around 4.8 lakh base stations were installed in just last 2 years.

Digital Finance and Financial Inclusion
  1. In April 2025 alone, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) handled 1,867.7 crore transactions worth ₹24.77 lakh crore.
  2. Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has eliminated fake beneficiaries and resulted in savings of ₹3.48 lakh crore.
  3. Total DBT transfers have crossed ₹44 lakh crore as of May 2025.

E-Governance Platforms
  1. The UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance) platform offers more than 2,300 government services in 23 Indian languages, with over 597 crore transactions recorded.
  2. The DigiLocker platform has over 54 crore registered users, allowing citizens to store official documents digitally.

Strategic Technology Initiatives
  1. The India Artificial Intelligence (IndiaAI) Mission  aims to build a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem.
  2. Under the India Semiconductor Mission, six major projects have been approved.
  3. India is hosting SEMICON India 2025, a global initiative to strengthen chip manufacturing and innovation.

Digital Literacy and Capacity Building
  1. Under Mission Karmayogi, 1.21 crore civil servants have been trained through the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform.
  2. The Bhashini platform supports more than 35 Indian languages and has recorded 8.5 lakh mobile application downloads, promoting digital inclusion.

Impact on the Indian Economy and Society

  1. Better Governance and Transparency
    1. Government services are now tracked in real-time through online dashboards.
    2. Direct money transfers (DBT) have made the system cleaner and faster.
    3. It has reduced corruption and made government schemes more efficient.
  2. Financial Inclusion
    1. The Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) system helped millions open bank accounts.
    2. People now use less cash and more digital payments.
    3. Rural areas and women now have better access to banking.
  3. Rural Empowerment
    1. High-speed internet and digital centres reached villages.
    2. People in remote areas can now access education, health, and farming help in online mode also.
    3. Apps like UPI and online marketplaces helped small village businesses grow.
  4. Boost to the Economy
    1. Digital tools helped new businesses, tech startups, and gig workers grow.
    2. One-stop platforms made doing business easier and reduced paperwork.
    3. Small businesses (MSMEs) and youth gained new skills and job opportunities.
  5. Improved Global Reputation
    1. India became a global example in building digital public systems.
    2. Platforms like CoWIN (for vaccines), UPI (for payments), and DigiLocker (for documents) are now praised worldwide.
    3. It improved India’s global image in technology and governance.

Challenges and Way Forward

Challenges

Way Forward

Digital divide between urban and rural areas

Invest in rural infrastructure and last-mile connectivity

Low digital literacy among older and marginalised groups

Strengthen digital literacy through community-level training

Cybersecurity and data privacy concerns

Enact robust data protection and cybersecurity laws

Dependence on smartphone/internet penetration

Promote low-cost devices and public digital access points

Limited access for the disabled

Ensure universal design and inclusive platforms

Conclusion

The 10-year journey of Digital India marks a transformative shift in how India delivers governance, empowers citizens, and builds its digital future. With deepening outreach, faster connectivity, and inclusive platforms, Digital India is not just a government initiative—it has become a citizen-driven digital revolution. Strengthening its foundations can make India a true global leader in digital empowerment.

Ensure IAS Mains Question

Q.  “Digital India has evolved from a government programme into a citizen-led digital revolution.” In the context of its 10-year journey, critically examine the achievements, challenges, and future potential of the Digital India initiative. (250 words)

 

Ensure IAS Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the ‘Digital India’ programme, consider the following statements:

  1. India has over 97 crore internet users as of 2025.
  2. India has installed more than 48 lakh kilometres of optical fibre cable under the programme.
  3. India’s 5G rollout is among the fastest globally and has reached forward military locations like Galwan and Siachen.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: India now has internet connectivity across over 97 crore people, marking a massive jump from earlier figures and showcasing the widespread digital penetration achieved under the Digital India programme.

Statement 2 is correct: PM Modi mentioned that India laid over 42 lakh km of optical fibre, equivalent to 11 times the Earth–Moon distance, enabling deep connectivity. The number surpasses 48 lakh km as per recent Digital India updates.

Statement 3 is correct: India’s 5G rollout reached 99.6% of districts, including difficult terrains. It has also covered critical military forward areas like Galwan, Siachen, and Ladakh, reflecting both speed and strategic digital expansion.

 

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