ICT : NET PAPER 1: ICT and Governance

 

ICT and Governance

e-Governance is basically associated with carrying out the functions and achieving the results of governance through the utilization of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). In this century where almost, everything has been made electronic like e-commerce, e-service, e-learning, etc. the Indian government is also trying to go with the wave and wants to govern through ICT. e-governance needs the help of ICT services to achieve their objective anytime and anywhere.

Objectives:

Ø The major objective of e-governance is to support and simplify governance for all the government agents, citizens and businesses.

Ø e-governance also means e-democracy where all forms of communications between the electorate and the electoral happen electronically or digitally.

Types of Government Interaction in e-governance.

Ø G2G: Government to Government: File movement across the departments quick search and retrieval of files and office orders, digital signatures for authentication, forms and reporting components etc.

Ø  G2C: Government to Citizen: To strengthen the relationship between government and citizens using technology by using different digital mode like Bharat Bill Pay, Passport Seva Kendra, online mode exams, PAN Service, IRCTC, e-panchayat, e-court, etc.

Ø  G2B: Government to Business To strengthen the relationship between government and business companies by digital mode like:  e-tender, GST, e-Marketplace, etc

Ø  G2E: Government to Employee:   Empowering their own employees to assist citizens in the fastest and most appropriate way, speed-up administrative processes, and optimize governmental solutions by digital mode.  Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana , The EPF-EPS model- EPFO & provident funds, etc

 

Nine Pillars of   Digital India

1.    Broadband highways – To support Broadband for all Rural, Broadband for all Urban & National Information infrastructure.

2.    Universal access to mobile connectivity- For providing coverage to uncovered villages with mobile connectivity

3.    Public internet access programme- This has two important sub components 1. CSCs- Aims to cover each gram panchayat to provide delivery of e-services to the citizens 2. Post-Office- To be converted into multi service centres.

4.    e-governance – Reforming government through technology

Ø Online applications and tracking – Online applications and tracking of their status should be provided.

Ø Online repositories – Use of online repositories e.g. for certificates, educational degrees, identity documents, etc. should be mandated so that citizens are not required to submit these documents in physical form

Ø  Integration of services and platforms – Integration of services and platforms e.g. Aadhaar platform of Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI), payment gateway, Mobile Seva platform, sharing of data through open Application Programming Interfaces (API) and middleware such as National and State Service Delivery Gateways (NSDG/SSDG) should be mandated to facilitate integrated and interoperable service delivery to citizens and businesses.

5.    e-kranti – electronic delivery of services-There is 44 Mission Mode Projects under e-Kranti programme. These mission mode projects are grouped into Central, State and Integrated projects.  

6.     Information for all- Open Data platform, Social Media Engagement and Online Messaging

7.    Electronics manufacturing- promoting electronics manufacturing in the country. 

8.    IT for jobs- This pillar focuses on providing training to the youth in the skills required for availing employment opportunities in the IT/ITES sector.

9.    Early harvest programmes- Early Harvest Programme basically consists of those projects which are to be implemented within short timeline. Such as Biometric attendance, Wi-Fi in public places, secure email, SMS based alerts.