“Improving digital technology across the economy, including the adoption of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, is a critical element if India aims to become a developed country,” stated Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY), Government of India. He was giving a speech at PHDCCI’s Digital Public Infrastructure – Roadmap for Digital Equity event, which was held at its New Delhi offices.
Shri Krishnan emphasized the importance of outreach to MSMEs and regional businesses, stating, “Today’s discussion revolves around initiatives using the PPP model to offer platforms at reasonable costs, which will be accessible to businesses worldwide, including global players who have shown great interest.” MeitY Secretary highlighted how digital technology presents opportunities for developing nations, enabling them to leapfrog to advanced stages of business growth. Currently, digital technology contributes approximately 12% to India’s economy.
Recognizing India’s pivotal role in building digital infrastructure, Shri Krishnan lauded the success of initiatives such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, UMANG, GeM, ONDC, and eSanjeevani, while stressing the need for further development of similar platforms. S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY underscored the opportunities available for MSMEs through universal lending infrastructure and encouraged businesses to utilize DPI applications to further digitize their operations. Shri S. Krishnan also pointed to data security as a key area for business involvement, concluding that this space holds significant potential for growth.
Mr. Pranav Poddar, Co-chair of PHDCCI, said, “In an era where technology influences every facet of our lives, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has become critical. It forms the backbone of our economy, driving innovation, efficiency, and inclusivity in an increasingly digital world.” He added that DPI spans digital payments, data-sharing frameworks, digital identity, and access to essential services, and plays a key role in ensuring that technology’s benefits reach every corner of society. The event’s theme, Digital Equity, reflects this goal.
Addressing challenges, Mr. Poddar mentioned barriers such as infrastructure gaps in rural areas, affordability issues, and digital literacy. However, he remained optimistic that collaborative efforts between the government, industry, and civil society could create a roadmap to ensure no one is left behind in the digital revolution.
Shri A.K. Tiwari, President (Regulatory & Policy), Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., noted that DPI is the outcome of the collaborative work of various interoperable technologies. He praised India’s advancements, particularly UPI and Aadhaar, for setting significant milestones in digital empowerment. Shri Tiwari shared data, stating that India’s current per-person data consumption is 30 GB per month, and noted that 93 crore mobile users have 4G or 5G connectivity. However, he acknowledged that digital literacy and affordability gaps remain, particularly for the 7% of users still on 2G/3G.
He further highlighted that 98% of India’s population is now connected through 4G and 5G, but the remaining 2% must also be integrated for complete inclusion.
Shri Sivakumar Moorty, Partner at EY, explained the essence of DPI as infrastructure that fosters innovation, inclusiveness, and interoperability. He pointed out that DPI had enabled India to achieve in 6 years what would have otherwise taken 47 years in terms of financial inclusion. He emphasized the global acceptance of DPI, with G7, G20, and OECD countries now implementing DPI models. He also highlighted the importance of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally.
