E-governance in India

 

About E-Governance

 

1. The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the government to provide and facilitate government services, the exchange of information, communication transactions, and the integration of various standalone systems and services is referred to as electronic governance or e-governance.
2. To put it another way, it refers to the use of technology to carry out the functions of the government and accomplish the goals of governance. Government services are made accessible to citizens and businesses in a way that is convenient, effective, and transparent through e-governance.
3. Digital India, the National Portal of India, the Prime Minister of India Portal, Aadhaar, online tax filing and payment, digital land management systems, the Common Entrance Test, and other examples are all examples of e-governance.

 

Origin of E-Gov in India            

 

1. In the 1970s, India was the birthplace of e-Governance, which focused on in-house government applications in the areas of defense, economic monitoring, planning, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to manage data-intensive tasks like elections, census, tax administration, and others.

 

The beginning of e-gov in India

 

1. The establishment of the Department of Electronics in India in 1970, with a focus on "information" and its communication, marked the first significant step toward e-governance.
2. The District Information System was launched by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which was established in 1977, to computerize all of the country's district offices. The launch of the national computer network NICNET, which was based on satellites, in 1987 served as the primary impetus for e-governance.

 

Objectives of e-Governance

 

1. To lessen government dishonesty.
2. To ensure that services and information are handled quickly.
3. Through e-business, provide businesses with immediate information and make digital communication possible.
4. To make governance by government, citizens, and businesses easier and more streamlined.
5. To foster effective interactions between individuals, businesses, and the government while simultaneously increasing government transparency and accountability and meeting society's needs and expectations.

 

MODELS OF E-GOV

 

Depending on the particular conditions and governance requirements, Professor Arie Halachmi suggested five important models of e-governance-

1. Comparative Analysis model- The model continuously assimilates best practices in the area of governance and use them as bench mark to evaluates other governance practices.
2. Critical Flow model- The model is based on disseminating, channelling information of critical value to the targeted audience or into the wider public domain.
3. The e-advocacy- This model helps the global civil society to impact on global decision-making process.
4. The Interactive service model- Under this model the various services offered by the government and it become directly available to its citizen in an interactive manner.
5. Broadcasting Model- The model is based on dissemination, broadcasting of useful Governance information and it will also provide people with correct information.

 

NEED OF E-GOVERNANCE

 

1. E-governance will also reduce business expenses and play a significant role in reducing corruption.
2. It will streamline government procedures and increase service and work efficiency.
3. Businesses and new opportunities will also be created through e-governance.
4. E-governance will be helpful in achieving the goal of inclusive growth.
5. The work and services that every citizen requires from the government are made more efficient and of higher quality through e-governance.
6. The common data of e-governance can be used for many different things. The public and the government can now have more open and constructive discussions as a result of this.
7. The government will be able to better inform the public about various government plans and policies by analyzing these data.

 

Types of interactions in e-Governance

 

e-Governance can take place in four major types of interactions, apart from the processes and interactions in the back-office, within the government framework:

1. Government to Businesses (G2B): The businesses are able to interact with the government seamlessly with respect to the services of the government offered to businesses
2. Government to Government (G2G): Information is exchanged within the government i.e., either, between the central government, state government and local governments or between different branches of the same government.
3. Government to Citizen (G2C): The citizens have a platform through which they can interact with the government and get access to the variety of public services offered by the Government.
4. Government to Employees (G2E): The interaction between the government and its employees occurs in an efficient and speedy manner.

 

E-Governance in the Indian context

 

1. In India, the concept of e-government was only recently developed. The introduction of the National Satellite-Based Computer Network (NICENET) in 1987 and the District Information System of the National Informatics Centre (DISNIC) program, which was intended to computerize all district offices in the nation and provided free hardware and software to State Governments, provided the necessary impetus for e-governance.
2. After that, e-government was created as a result of technological advancements. Numerous e-Governance initiatives are currently underway at the Union and State levels. The National E-Governance Plan (NeGP) was created in 2006 by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.
3. In order to meet the basic needs of the common man, this plan aims to make all government services available to the general public, guarantee their effectiveness, transparency, and dependability, and offer them at reasonable prices.

 

The NeGP has enabled many e-governance initiatives like-

 

1. Digital India Mission: was launched in 2015 to digitally empower the nation. The creation of a digital infrastructure that is both secure and stable, the digital delivery of government services, and achieving universal digital literacy are its main components.
2. Digi-Locker assists citizens in storing important documents in a digital format, such as degree certificates, PAN numbers, and mark sheets. This makes it easier to share documents and reduces the need for physical documents.
3. Mobile Seva aims to provide government services via tablets and mobile phones. Over 200 live applications are available in the m-App store, and they can be used to access a variety of government services.
4. myGov.in: is a platform for national citizen engagement where people can share ideas and get involved in policy and governance issues.
5. UMANG is a unified mobile application that gives users access to services offered by the federal and state governments, such as Aadhar, Digital Locker, PAN, and Employee Provident Fund services, among other things.
6. Computerisation of Land Records ensures that landowners get digital and updated copies of documents relating to their property. 

 

e-Governance Portal of India

 

1. https://nceg.gov.in is the e-governance portal for India. One can find reports from previous conferences and comprehensive information about the National Conference on e-Governance on this portal. Links to the following important pages are also available through the portal.
2. PM India Website: provides information relating to the Prime Minister’s Office.
3. United Nations e-governance website

 

The limitations of e-governance take in:

 

1. Public Trust: Both the government and the technology and tools that people are using should be trusted. However, the deterioration of public trust as a result of fraudulent transactions and other factors is one of the reasons for the limited use of e-governance.
2. Digital divide: It's about the difference between people who can use digital technology and those who can't. Economic hardship is a major factor in the digital divide. Most people can't afford computers.
3. Insufficient Awareness: Additionally, digital technology contributes to the limited use of e-governance strategies. Because they are unaware of its scope, people use e-governance through intermediaries.
4. High infrastructure Cost: In developing nations like India, regulating e-governance is heavily influenced by cost.
5. Privacy and security: Security and privacy of personal information are a source of concern for many individuals. In this regard, the government should ensure that no concessions are made.
6. Accessibility to services: In rural areas, language barriers and inadequate infrastructure prevent people from using e-governance.
7. Inadequate Computer Skills: Over 90% of Indians are digitally illiterate. Additionally, the 25%-30% illiterate population is one of the greatest obstacles.
8. Resistance to Change: Since the introduction of information technology, a lot has changed, but there are still officials, citizens, and politicians who don't like change and have different opinions about e-Governance.
9.  

E-Gov Reforms suggested by 2^nd Administrative Reforms Commission

 

1. In order for government structures, procedures, and forms to adapt to e-Governance, legal, procedural, and institutional changes should be made.
2. Each government agency ought to devise a schedule for making transactional data available on their websites.
3. Independent organizations may assess the success or failure of e-Governance projects using predetermined criteria. In several e-Governance project components, public-private partnership should be promoted.
4. Gram Panchayats ought to be involved in monitoring the Common Service Centres for the first four years of operation.
5. State and union governments should take proactive steps to set up Knowledge Management Systems as a crucial step in e-Governance and general administrative reform.
6. Create a national e-Government "enterprise architecture" framework, as has been done in some countries.
7. Putting New Technologies into Use: Create a national e-Government "enterprise architecture" framework, as has been done in some countries.

 

NITI AAYOG Action Plan On E-Governance

 

The following recommendations for an action plan were provided by Niti Aayog to enhance e-governance over the three-year period (2017-2020):

1. Electronic Education: Enhancing citizens' digital literacy will be crucial to encouraging adoption of interoperability, in addition to connectivity: We need to encourage a variety of ministries and departments to implement interoperable e-government platforms in order to guarantee their accessibility and ease of use for citizens.
2. Redress for Conflicts: Expanding state-level grievance redress portals and improving grievance resolution through the use of data e-office      
3. Technology Facilities: To make it easier to get government services at any time, we need to build a reliable IT infrastructure down to the Gram Panchayat level.

One of the biggest obstacles to e-governance service delivery is a lack of ICT expertise. The potential which e-governance has makes public administration responsive and effective, and can truly involve citizens in the process of governance by broadening their scope of interacting with policymakers throughout the policy cycle for the social and economic growth of the nation.

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