Review, Reshuffle, Restructure: Digital Governance Reform in 2026 for Viksit Bharat 2047

 Considering that Indian economy is projected to grow to USD five trillion by 2030 and the digital economy accounting for one-fifth of the GDP, the latter should grow to USD one trillion even as ‘India’s Trillion-Dollar Digital Opportunity’ – a 2019 report by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with McKinsey & Company, had projected that “India can create up to $1 trillion of economic value from the digital economy in 2025”.

Blast from the Past won’t Last

Since then, three global developments have reordered the digital economy and continue to do so.

 First, notwithstanding the pandemic shock that lasted for almost two years, it underscored the increasingly crucial role of digital ecosystem – from tele-consultation, online education and ‘‘Work from Home’ (WFH); from contactless payments, digitally verifiable vaccine certificates and supply chain disruptions. However, it also highlighted the urgency for ensuring universal and meaningful connectivity by bridging the digital divide, especially sharp along the lines of geography, gender and generation.

 Second, a plethora of user-friendly generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and agentic AI tools launched over the past three years hold enormous potential as well as pose grave challenges. Massive amounts of investments are being poured in 5G networks, submarine cables and satellite connectivity for ‘carriage’ but even more in data centres for information storage, cloud computing and AI processing in the form of ‘content’.

 Last but not the least, the policy and regulatory landscape is trying hard to keep pace with the advances in technology and business models. These pertain mostly to ‘conduct’ of the stakeholders - cyber security, data protection, trade, tariff, competition, immigration, labour and sustainability.

Present Tense

 ‘Governing Digital India: A Report on Institutions and Instruments’ – the research published by the think-tank Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) uses the ‘3C Framework’ of ‘Carriage’, ‘Content’ and ‘Conduct’ to assess the future-readiness in the context of growing convergence of IT, telecom and broadcasting. In the process, it identifies numerous examples of gaps and overlaps even as the Allocation of Business Rules lay down the functions of the respective ministry. In addition, states too have their own IT department and policies.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) deals with ‘content’ – largely under the Information Technology Act, 2000. However, some aspects of content is also dealt by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB). However, it is the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications that issues directions to the telecom licensees and the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block websites.

‘Carriage’ is essentially dealt by DoT as it administers the laws pertaining to telecommunications – both wired and wireless. However, cable TV and satellite up-linking and down-linking are with MIB. IPTV operators need to obtain licesnse from DoT but also be registered with MIB.

When it comes to ‘conduct’ the responsibilities are even more diffused.

For example, office of the National Cyber Security Coordinator Cybersecurity is within the National Security Council Secretariat. National Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is under the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO). Both NSCS and NTRO are under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)https://www.cert-in.org.in/ is under the MeitY while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) looks at cybercrime. In addition, Ministry of External Affairs look at cyber diplomacy, and it is an important consideration for sector regulators whether it is financial services, electricity or any other.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is the common regulator for both telecommunications and broadcasting. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) is the common tribunal for telecom, broadcasting and airports even as it would also entertain appeals under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023!

Clearly, to paraphrase title of a bestseller - what got India’s digital ecosystem here, won’t get us there - whether we look at the trillion-dollar vision for 2030 or Viksit Bharat by 2047 by when the digital economy should account for at least one-third of the GDP.

 Future Perfect?

 Despite several challenges, India has demonstrated its mettle across IT services, Digital Public Infrastructure and low-tariff mobile data services as well as through innovations like UPI, Bhashini, CoWin and ONDC.

The trillion-dollar question is – should we not have a Digital Ecosystem – Administrative and Legislative Review Committee (DEAL-RC) in 2026 to recommend policy pathways for the next two decades in the lead up to 2047, based on holistic review, thoughtful reshuffle and futuristic restructure so that Digital India Programme evolves into Digital India Strategy?

-By Deepak Maheshwari, Senior Policy Advisor, Centre for Social and Economic Progress(CSEP) 

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of CyberMedia or its affiliates.)