A conference was held on December 17, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi to collaborate and support digital efforts of states/union territories (UTs) in achieving next-generation digital transformation. The meeting, chaired by S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aimed to improve government services, bridge the digital divide, automate backend processes, and implement data protection and cyber security measures. The meeting was attended by State IT Secretaries and senior officers from 34 states and UTs, including North East and hilly states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikikim, Tripura and Uttarakhand).

The need for developing infrastructure, adoption of e-office and extension of BharatNet at the block-level were some of the topics in focus. Additionally, effectiveness of capacity building initiatives and promotion of further training and entrepreneurship were also deliberated.

A series of sessions were organised wherein senior level officers from MeitY gave presentations on recent initiatives undertaken by MeitY and its organisations. The sessions included impactful presentations on partnering with states for expanding Aadhaar usage and strengthening the Aadhaar authentication and enrolment and update systems; how IndiaAI Mission will drive responsible, inclusive growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem; integrated cyber security management for states; Government of India’s (GoI’s) landmark Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023; the development of India’s semiconductor ecosystem through the India Semiconductor Mission; and policy and regulatory issues relating to electronics manufacturing. Thereafter, an interactive session chaired by S Krishnan was conducted to take feedback and suggestions from States/UTs on the initiatives presented.

Parallel thematic breakout sessions held under the following pillars :-

  • Data standardisation and data exchange platforms.
  • Strengthening state digitalisation efforts and consolidation of service delivery portals and public registries.
  • Adoption of emerging technologies in improving public service delivery.

Discussions under pillar one with states such as Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka centred on developing secure and structured platforms for seamless data exchange between government departments and stakeholders. It was recommended that states and UTs follow strong cybersecurity procedures and guarantee adherence to DPDP Act. To improve citizen-centric services and operational efficiency, it was emphasised that robust data protection measures and the use of standardised, machine-readable formats were essential.

The discussion on pillar two focused on strengthening state digitalisation efforts. Representatives from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands etc., participated and gave recommendations for strengthening state IT agencies, creating a family registry, and facilitating two-way data interchange between the union and state governments.

Consensus was also reached on discussions for benchmarking departmental digitalisation with the best practices of IT-savvy states; consent and anonymisation mechanisms in standard operating procedure for onboarding of private sectors; and mandatory thorough security audits of software and hardware before and on a regular basis even after the launch of digital solutions.

Further, discussions under pillar three centred on standard data modelling and the use of AI, machine learning (ML), internet of thing (IoT), drone, and blockchain technologies. Common consensus reflected ensuring technologies are designed to be usable by the general public as well as people with diverse abilities and needs. The aim was to deliberate upon enhancing the quality of life for citizens by integrating technologies.

Participants talked extensively on the use of technology to improve citizen-government interactions and modernise government operations, making them more open, efficient, and accessible while guaranteeing 24/7 access to information and services. Additionally, it was emphasised to use more innovative applications of technology in a variety of fields, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, government leaders unanimously agreed that emerging technologies have the power to transform society and build a future in which technology unites people, builds trust, and protects their interests. States and UTs will innovate, envision such crucial needs, and formulate specific programs in their particular growing technology fields as they go forward with executing these initiatives.

Furthermore, states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Delhi resolved to handhold and bring every state and district to a common digital infrastructure. Overall, the meeting aimed at enhancing digital service delivery and fostering collaboration among states, establishing a robust foundation for the future of governance in India. Participants voiced their commitment to building a unified digital framework that integrates seamlessly with national digital infrastructure.

As India continues its journey towards an enhanced digitally empowered governance model, the outcomes of this meeting are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of public service delivery in the country.