07-February-2025-Editorial

INDIA’S DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH AND INDIAAI MISSION

India’s digital infrastructure has experienced rapid growth, contributing 11.74% to the GDP in 2022-23, with projections reaching 20% by 2029-30. To further enhance this progress, the Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, focusing on AI-driven development and digital expansion.

Key Achievements in India’s Digital Growth

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

• Launched in 2016, UPI now handles nearly half (49%) of global real-time digital transactions (ACI Worldwide Report 2024).
• Transactions surged from Rs 707.93 crore in 2016 to Rs 23.24 lakh crore in 2024.
• The number of participating banks grew from 35 to 641.
• UPI has expanded to 7 countries, including UAE, Singapore, and France.

Internet and Connectivity Expansion

• Telephone connections increased from 933 million (2014) to 1,188.70 million (2024).
• Internet users grew from 25.15 crore in 2014 to 96.96 crore in 2024, marking a 285% rise.
• Broadband penetration increased by 1,452%, from 6.1 crore users in 2014 to 94.92 crore in 2024.
• BharatNet, aimed at providing affordable high-speed internet to rural areas, connected 2.14 lakh Gram Panchayats by 2025 with 6.92 lakh km of optical fiber laid and 1.04 lakh Wi-Fi hotspots installed.

Aadhaar and Digital Identity

• Aadhaar, launched in 2009, integrates biometric and demographic data for digital identity verification.
• By March 2023, 136.65 crore Aadhaar cards were issued.
• Aadhaar face authentication transactions crossed 100 crore in January 2025.
• E-KYC transactions grew from 0.01 crore in 2014 to 1,470.22 crore in 2023, enhancing financial and social service access.

Digital Governance: DigiLocker & UMANG

• DigiLocker, launched in 2015, provides secure access to digital documents, reducing dependence on physical records.
• By February 2025, 46.52 crore users were registered, up from 9.98 lakh in 2015.
• UMANG, launched in 2017, integrates e-Governance services and has grown to 7.34 crore users by 2024.

Digital Commerce: ONDC & GeM

• ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), launched in 2022, supports fair competition in e-commerce and benefits MSMEs.
• By December 2024, it expanded to 616+ cities, with 7.64 lakh sellers and 154.4 million orders.
• GeM (Government e-Marketplace), launched in 2016, streamlines government procurement, achieving Rs 4.09 lakh crore GMV in FY 2024-25.
• GeM supports 1.6 lakh buyers and 22.5 lakh sellers, fostering transparency and efficiency.

BHASHINI: Digital Inclusion Through Languages

• BHASHINI enhances digital access in 22+ Indian languages, promoting digital governance and inclusivity.
• Over 100 million transactions are processed monthly.
• The platform has over 500,000 app downloads, bridging the linguistic gap in the digital space.

IndiaAI Mission: Transforming AI Development

About the Mission

• The IndiaAI Mission is a government-led initiative aimed at fostering an AI-driven ecosystem in India.
• It promotes AI innovation, research, and development to advance sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and governance.
• The mission supports AI startups, talent acquisition, and ethical AI practices.

Budget Allocation

• The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated Rs 2,000 crore, nearly 20% of the scheme’s total financial outlay.

Key Components of the IndiaAI Mission

• AI Centers of Excellence: Focus on integrating AI technologies into education and research, with Rs 500 crore allocated.
• IndiaAI Innovation Centre: Supports AI startups and entrepreneurs.
• IndiaAI Datasets Platform: Enhances data quality and accessibility for AI research.
• IndiaAI Application Development Initiative: Encourages the creation of AI-based solutions.
• IndiaAI FutureSkills: Aims to train professionals in AI and emerging technologies.
• IndiaAI Startup Financing: Provides financial assistance to AI-driven enterprises.
• Safe & Trusted AI: Ensures the ethical and responsible use of AI.