With MeitY’s call, states unite to shape India’s digital future. The conference discussed ongoing policies on electronics and IT, service delivery, and cybersecurity through emerging technologies and collaboration.
Last week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) organised a conference at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing IT secretaries and senior officials from 34 states and union territories (UTs).
The meeting, chaired by MeitY Secretary Shri S. Krishnan, aimed to promote collaboration on digital initiatives, improve government service delivery, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen cybersecurity across India. It also focused on automating backend processes, ensuring data protection, and advancing the digital transformation of public services.
Furthermore, a special breakfast meeting was held with representatives from North Eastern and hilly states of Northern India to address their unique digital challenges. Key topics included infrastructure development, expanding BharatNet at the block level, adopting e-office systems, and promoting digital skills and entrepreneurship.
During the conference, MeitY officials presented updates on various initiatives, such as expanding Aadhaar usage. They also discussed the IndiaAI Mission and the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, and efforts to develop India’s semiconductor ecosystem through the India Semiconductor Mission.
Afterwards, an interactive session was held to gather feedback from the States and UTs on these initiatives. The meeting also included parallel thematic breakout sessions, which focused on three main pillars: data standardisation and data exchange platforms, strengthening state digitalisation efforts, and adopting emerging technologies in public service delivery.
Under the first pillar, discussions centred on building secure platforms for data exchange, emphasising cybersecurity and adherence to the DPDP Act.
The second pillar focused on improving state-level digitalisation, including enhancing IT agencies and ensuring secure data interchange between state and national governments.
The third pillar highlighted using AI, ML, IoT, drones, and blockchain technologies to improve citizen services and government operations, emphasising accessibility and inclusion.
The conference concluded with states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Delhi committing to a unified digital infrastructure, supporting India’s goal of digital governance.
MeitY stated in their press release, “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.”