New Delhi, 01 July (H.S.): As the Digital India programme completed 11 years on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin said the initiative, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has transformed technology into a powerful instrument of good governance, transparency and citizen empowerment rather than merely a tool of convenience.

Nabin said the digital revolution has made governance in the country more efficient, transparent and citizen-centric.

He noted that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has brought about a revolutionary change in digital payments, while DigiLocker has significantly promoted paperless public services. He added that the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has enabled government welfare benefits to reach beneficiaries directly in a transparent manner.

According to him, India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a successful global model of inclusive, technology-driven development.

The BJP president said India's digital capabilities, from villages to global platforms, are becoming a symbol of innovation and digital transformation. He added that the Digital India campaign is accelerating the country's vision of a developed India while strengthening its position as a global digital leader.

The Digital India programme was launched on July 1, 2015. It has now completed 11 years of implementation. The initiative has helped bridge the digital divide by expanding internet connectivity and bringing a wide range of public services online. It has strengthened digital governance and made government services faster, more transparent and more accessible to citizens.

Today, millions of people use digital platforms to access healthcare, education, banking services and government welfare schemes.

Government investment in digital infrastructure has significantly improved connectivity across both rural and urban India. The programme has also promoted the democratisation of digital technology through affordable internet access and widespread digital inclusion.

Over the past decade, Digital India has become the foundation of India's digital economy and Digital Public Infrastructure. India is now a global leader in real-time digital payments, with UPI accounting for nearly 49 per cent of the world's real-time digital transactions by volume.

The digital economy currently contributes approximately 12-14 per cent to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and its contribution is projected to increase to nearly one-fifth of the economy over the next decade.

The Digital India initiative has accelerated innovation, startup growth and the adoption of advanced technologies across multiple sectors. It has also strengthened India's capabilities in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity.

As India progresses towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the Digital India programme continues to promote inclusive development, technological self-reliance and citizen empowerment across the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar