NITI Aayog launches roadmap for next phase of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure journey

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) NITI Aayog has launched a strategic roadmap that charts the next phase of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) journey as a driver of inclusive, non-linear, and productivity-led growth, an official statement said on Tuesday.

The ‘DPI@2047 for Viksit Bharat’ marks an important evolution in India’s digital journey — from digital inclusion alone to enabling capability, productivity, and opportunity at scale.

According to a NITI Aayog statement, the roadmap, developed in partnership with EkStep Foundation and Deloitte, sets out a two-phase path for India’s digital transformation: DPI 2.0 (2025–2035) to drive livelihood-led growth at scale, followed by DPI 3.0 (2035–2047) to enable broad-based prosperity. The immediate focus is DPI 2.0.

Under DPI 2.0, the roadmap identifies eight sectoral transformations to address structural bottlenecks across MSMEs, agriculture, education, and health, while strengthening systemic enablers such as credit, decentralised energy, and benefit delivery.

To translate intent into outcomes, it outlines four execution imperatives: district-led demand aggregation, scaling technology entrepreneurship, leveraging AI, and deploying cross-sector unlocks through better data use, digital transactions, stronger human capacity, and the democratisation of AI, said the statement.

At its core, DPI 2.0 is about extending India’s digital rails beyond identity, payments, and welfare into the engines of livelihoods, productivity, and market access.

It reflects a larger shift in how growth will be created in the years ahead: not simply by inventing new technologies, but by building the connective infrastructure that allows innovation to work together, travel faster, and reach more people. By combining open digital infrastructure with trusted data flows and ecosystem-led innovation, the roadmap creates the conditions for technologies such as AI to diffuse at scale across citizens and small enterprises.

Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, highlighted that technology leadership will increasingly be defined by our ability to translate science and innovation into scalable, trusted public outcomes.

“India’s DPI has demonstrated the power of open, interoperable systems at population scale. The next phase must build on this foundation, integrating frontier technologies with strong scientific rigour and safeguards. This roadmap reflects that direction, focusing on responsible deployment and real-world impact. India has the scientific depth and digital foundations to lead by example,” he mentioned.

Suman Bery, outgoing Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, said the focus has shifted from GDP to productivity.

Higher quality employment, stronger incomes, and better living standards depend on rising productivity. DPI 1.0 has shown that harnessing networks is the secret of where we have reached.

“This roadmap makes that shift clear. The next phase of India’s development will be shaped by how AI and DPI raise productivity at scale, placing it at the centre of India’s development journey and helping lay the foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047,” he noted.

Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog, said our perspective is simple: when states grow fast, India grows faster.

DPI can become a significant enabler in accelerating inclusive growth for states, said Chhibber.

Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog, remarked that the roadmap sets out how DPI 2.0 can move India from digital inclusion to productivity-led, livelihood-centred growth on the road to Viksit Bharat 2047.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) A high-level delegation from the government of Ethiopia has concluded a week-long learning and exposure visit to India, which focused on understanding the implementation strategies of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), India’s flagship initiative for poverty alleviation and women’s economic empowerment.

The Ethiopian delegates expressed their intention to apply the lessons learned from NRLM to their Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and invited Indian partners to collaborate in driving further innovation.

World Bank representatives reaffirmed their commitment to supporting women’s livelihood transformation in Ethiopia and underscored the importance of government leadership, enabling policies, and private sector engagement, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The wrap-up session was attended by Molalign Asfaw, Deputy Ambassador of Ethiopia to India, representatives from the World Bank, and Rajeshwari S. M., Director, DAY-NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development. The Ethiopian delegation included representatives from nine regions, one city administration, and two key sectors.

The delegates appreciated the depth of engagement, the expertise demonstrated by Indian officials, and the value of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange throughout the visit.

The delegation commended the standardisation and adaptability of NRLM’s design, noting how it customises programme structures to suit diverse local contexts.

They were particularly impressed by the role of ‘sakhis’ – community-based facilitators who deliver last-mile support and resources to women across rural India.

The delegates highlighted several innovations, such as bank linkages, diversified livelihood activities, and departmental convergence as key contributors to social and economic empowerment for women, according to an official statement.

Inspired by the success stories of women’s collectives, one delegate remarked, “Women are the foundation of any economy. When we invest in women, we invest in the whole world.”

Addressing the concluding session, the Ambassador of Ethiopia to India emphasised the long-standing partnership between the two nations and the importance of sustained policy exchanges in shaping institutional evolution and impactful interventions.

He highlighted the need for a comprehensive conceptual framework and constant monitoring to ensure policy inclusion and improvement.

The Ambassador also recognised India’s global leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and acknowledged Ethiopia’s parallel efforts toward holistic sectoral collaboration.

He called for strengthening institutional commitments and adapting India’s successful experiences to the Ethiopian context.

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Feeling proud: Parents and teacher of Shubhanshu Shukla celebrate his journey to ISS

Lucknow, June 27 (IANS) The parents and teacher of India’s second astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, on Friday expressed pride after he successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS).

Speaking with IANS, they shared their emotions and reactions, highlighting their pride and thanking God for his safe arrival.

IAF officer Shukla made history as the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, nearly 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s mission with the Soviet space programme in 1984. He travelled aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Axiom 4 mission, which involves Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary – the three countries that sent their astronauts to space in decades.

Shukla’s mother, Asha Shukla, shared her joy and relief: “I am feeling very good. I spoke with him once after he reached space. I hope he returns safely. I felt proud when he landed in space. It’s a proud moment for India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to meet us and offered his congratulations. I also feel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played an important role in this journey.”

His father, Shambhu Dayal Sharma, said: “I am very happy and thankful to God for his safe journey. When he was going, he told us to stay happy and not to worry. I pray for his safety and success. CM Yogi came and congratulated us. He said it’s a proud moment that a son of Uttar Pradesh has gone to space. He also assured that steps will be taken to encourage such achievements in the future.”

Shukla’s former teacher, Nageshwar Prasad Shukla, also shared memories associated with him.

“He was always a top student and had a dream to join the NDA. I spoke to him five months ago. We had some idea about his selection, but it became official when Prime Minister Modi announced it. He was shy in nature back then, but we’ve seen a transformation over 22 years. His confidence has grown tremendously. I pray for the success of his mission.”

As the nation celebrates this milestone, pride runs high in his hometown and among those who shaped his journey.

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India set to redefine global trade at 6.4 pc CAGR over next decade: Report

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) India is poised to redefine its role in global trade, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4 per cent in trade over the next decade, roughly in line with its high GDP growth, according to a report on Monday.

The ASEAN region and especially India, are among the greatest beneficiaries of production shifts spurred by geopolitics, such as trade tensions between the US and China.

“We project 6.4 per cent CAGR in India’s total trade through 2033, to $1.8 trillion annually, roughly in line with its high GDP growth,” according to the report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

As the world increasingly pivots toward resilient and diversified supply chains, India’s ‘China+1’ strategy, backed by its large domestic market, skilled workforce, and forward-looking policies, positions it as a preferred global manufacturing hub.

“Strengthening partnerships with the US, EU, and emerging regions like Africa and ASEAN will be pivotal for India to capitalise on this momentum and drive inclusive, sustainable growth in global trade,” said Nishant Gupta, Managing Director Partner, BCG India.

India is emerging as the other big Global South trade story as it pursues favourable relations with most of the world’s major economies.

Among the drivers will be India’s growing popularity as a production base for companies seeking to diversify supply chains concentrated in China, hefty government incentives for manufacturing, a huge low-cost workforce, and rapidly improving infrastructure, said the report.

The analysis by BCG’s Center for Geopolitics estimates that global trade is set to top $29 trillion by 2033, but the routes these goods will travel is changing at a remarkable pace. The Global South, which accounts for around 30 per cent of global trade, is likely to see several major shifts over the coming decade.

Geopolitical rivalries, alliances, and aspirations are rewiring the global economy — and will continue to do so in the years ahead, accelerated by the imposition of tariffs by the US on foreign imports, the report mentioned.

Without a broad increase in tariffs, world trade in goods will keep growing at an average of 2.9 per cent annually for the next eight years, but the routes goods travel will change markedly as North America reduces its dependence on China and China builds up its links with the Global South, which is cementing its power in the global trade map.

“Trade lanes were already shifting from historical patterns and looming US tariffs will accelerate this. Navigating these new dynamics will be critical for any global business,” said Aparna Bharadwaj, managing director and partner at BCG, global leader of the Global Advantage practice.

In terms of product categories imported by the US, the greatest impact would be on imported auto parts and automotive vehicles, which would primarily affect trade with Mexico, the EU, and Japan.

Consumer electronics, electrical machinery, and fashion goods would be most affected by higher tariffs on Chinese goods.

“We estimate that a 60 per cent tariff rate would add $61 billion to cost of importing consumer electronics products from China into the US,” said the report.

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