India’s Digital Revolution: Distinctive Features

What the paper says

The authors of the article analyze a number of characteristics that distinguish the digitization process in India from the digital transformation in other countries, and therefore, in their opinion, deserve special attention. One such important distinctive feature is the role of the state in this process, which has consistently laid the foundations for the digital transformation of the country, having created the most important digital platforms and keeping them freely available to citizens and businesses as public goods. The basis for these platforms has been India’s biometric identity system of citizens called “Aadhaar”. The other distinctive feature is the private-public partnership and the active participation of national private players in India’s rapid digital revolution. In a matter of 5-7 years, digital solutions have occupied a significant place in the life of the Indian people. They now have overarching influence over most sectors of the economy, including primary and most conservative ones, like agriculture. Some of the most important consequences of India’s digital makeover include increased financial inclusivity, better functioning social welfare system, as well as apparent surge in entrepreneurship, that has taken over the entire country. The paper pays attention both to the beneficial as well as to negative consequences of the digitization phenomenon, and examines the obstacles and limitations associated with the unprecedented growth of this sector in the context of India. Despite the strong political drive to bring India back to its cultural and historical routes, the country is simultaneously moving towards its very ambitious goal of becoming a new powerful technology player and a global innovation hub in the near future. Digital technology has occupied center stage in the vision of India’s leadership and its citizens of what the country should be like in the XXI century. Successful digital transformation has given hopes about addressing many of the serious challenges that India faces today, such as the need to create jobs, improve quality of education, raise energy efficiency, promote sustainable development and combat climate change – by means of technology. These forward-looking aspects of India’s digital revolution receive the attention of the authors too.