The Digital India program, launched on July 1st, 2015, has since been a key driver in India’s remarkable growth story of empowering its citizens. On this Independence Day, this blog is a heartfelt tribute to being a proud citizen of Bharat, from Livebrain Digital Marketing Agency in Vadodara, India. Today, the digital world is almost universally recognized, and the fact that MSMEs see website design and promotion as vital to their success has fueled the rise of many digital businesses. Let’s explore this inspiring journey of digital growth.
Digital India – Why it started ?
Over the past nine years, the Digital India program has transformed the nation by significantly improving digital infrastructure, making government services more accessible, and empowering citizens through technology. The project began with a clear vision and has steadfastly pursued its ultimate goal ever since. The motto of this initiative is “Power to Empower.”
Launched by the Government of India, this project aimed to tackle the major hurdle of bribery and ensure that the benefits offered by the government reached the poor directly, bypassing the interests of middlemen.
At the core of this initiative is the empowerment of Indian citizens, and we take immense pride in its continued success. The government recognized the importance of providing universal education, ensuring access to information for all, and developing broadband internet services across every city and village.
Overcoming the challenges
In 2015, the ambition to extend high-speed broadband to connect various government departments, 250,000 villages, universities, and more was a monumental challenge. Yet, the results speak for themselves. By 2016, the average cost of data was decreased to Rs 75.57 per GB, dropping further to Rs 19.35 per GB in 2017, and Rs 11.78 per GB in 2018. |
Pandemic A curse or a boon
Associating the word “boon” with a pandemic might seem absurd, but the intention here is to highlight how even the worst situations can yield positive outcomes when executed with proper planning and timing. The importance of the Digital India program was truly realized during the pandemic when offline life came to a standstill. Despite life being on the brink of halting for humanity, everything continued in “keep-going” mode, thanks to the digital infrastructure in place.
“When goal meets the planning”
As the saying goes, “Good fortune is when opportunity meets preparation.”
We Indians were fortunate to harness the power of digital technology, thanks to the foresight and planning that began with Aadhaar and Jan Dhan accounts in 2014, even before this project was launched in 2015. Aadhaar provides a simple yet effective way to verify individuals and beneficiaries using their biometric data. Together, Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile connections have laid the foundation for a Digital India, where citizens can access a wide range of government services directly and more conveniently, without the need for middlemen.
Counting the milestones
As of 2024, the Digital India program stands as a remarkable success, a testament to India’s digital transformation journey that has left an indelible mark on every aspect of life. This initiative is ensuring digital access, the delivery of services, and the inclusion of all citizens, based on technology that is sustainable, affordable, and transformative. Visionary leadership has guided this program, connecting a population of 1.428 billion. The World Bank reports that financial inclusion in India has risen from 59% in 2014 to 81.5% in 2021. Additionally, Business Today projects that India’s internet economy will grow six-fold over the next eight years, reaching $1 trillion by 2030, up from approximately $175 billion today.
Digital Revolution
From an impressive 3.9 million kilometers of optical fiber cable to the implementation of various programs like the cashless health insurance scheme, PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana), India’s digital revolution has made a significant impact both locally and globally through digital payment modes. The motto of this program, “Power to Empower,” has been successfully realized. According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), India has achieved in nine years what would have otherwise taken 47 years.
What better moment to express our gratitude for being Indian than during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav?
