e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan
e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan
e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) falls under the purview of the Digital India Programme. Its implementation is considered vital for the delivery of e-governance, easy governance and good governance in the country. The initiative has been formulated by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) to address the electronic delivery of services through a selection of Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) that is vested under several Government Departments. This article covers this government initiative in detail.
The National e-Governance Plan
The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) was introduced with a focus on national-level e-Governance initiatives. Its object is to “Make all Government services accessible to the common man in his locality through common service delivery outlets, and ensure efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs to realize the basic needs of the common man”.
Key Components of NeGP
The following are the key components of NeGP:
- Integrated Service Delivery Platform
- Mission Mode Projects
- Core ICT Infrastructure, which includes State Data Centre (SDC), State Wide Area Network (SWAN), Common Service Centers (CSCs), and State Portal and State Service Delivery Gateway (SSDG)
- Supporting components such as Core Policies, standards, HRD & Training
Vision and Mission of e-Kranti
e-Kranti has been initiated with the vision of “Transforming e-Governance for Transforming Governance”. Its mission is “To ensure a Government-wide transformation by delivering Government services electronically to the citizens through integrated and interoperable systems via multiple modes, while ensuring efficiency, transparency and reliability of such services at affordable costs.”
Objectives
The following are the objectives of e-Kranti:
- To redefine NeGP through transformational and outcome-based e-Governance initiatives.
- To achieve the vision of Digital India Programme.
- To enhance the portfolio of services that cater to the citizens.
- To ensure optimum utilization of core Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
- To promote rapid replication and integration of eGov applications.
- To make the best use of emerging technologies.
- To employ more agile implementation models.
- To avoid the risk of obsolescence.
Focus Areas
The following areas are catered to by e-Kranti as a part of the Digital India initiative:
- e-Education
- e-Healthcare
- Farmers
- Financial Inclusion
- Planning
- Justice
- Security and Cybersecurity
Mission Mode Projects under e-Kranti
The e-Kranti initiative deals with the following Mission Mode Projects (MMP):
- Central Mission Mode Projects
- State Mission Mode Projects
- Integrated Mission Mode Projects
The projects to be adopted under each of these categories are enlisted below:
Central Mission Mode Projects
- Income Tax
- Passport
- MCA21
- Insurance
- National Citizen Database
- Central Excise
- Pensions
- Banking
- e-Office
- Posts
- Visa and Immigration
- E-Sansad
- Common IT Roadmap for Para Military Forces
State Mission Mode Projects
- Land Records
- Road Transport
- Property Registration
- Agriculture
- Treasuries
- Municipalities
- Gram Panchayats
- Commercial Taxes
- Police
- Employment Exchanges
- School Education
- Health
- Public Distribution System (PDS)
- E-Vidhaan
- Agriculture
- Rural Development
- Women and Child Development
Integrated Mission Mode Projects
- EDI (E-Commerce)
- E-Bitz
- Common Services Centres
- India Portal
- E-Courts
- E-Procurement
- National Service Delivery Gateway
- Financial Inclusion
- National Geographical Information System
- Social Benefits
- Roads and Highways Information System (RAHI)
- E-Bhasha
- National Mission on Education Through ICT (NMEICT)
- Urban Governance
The Key Principles of e-Kranti
e-Kranti is to be operated on the basis of the following principles:
Transformation and not Transition
Project appraisals in the initiative must result in a substantial transformation in the quality, quantity and manner of delivery of services.
Integrated and not Individual Services
A common middleware and integration of the back-end processes and processing systems must be in place to facilitate integrated service delivery to citizens.
Government Process Reengineering (GPR)
GPR must be employed in all new MMPs, without which a project may not be sanctioned. The degree of GPR must be assessed and enhanced for the existing MMPs.
ICT Infrastructure on Demand
All Government departments must be fit-in with ICT infrastructures such as connectivity, cloud and mobile platform (if demanded).
Cloud by Default
All Government departments are mandated to use Government Cloud, wherein all sensitive information of Government Departments would be stored. However, Private Clouds could be employed with the permission of DeitY.
Mobile First
All applications for this purpose must be designed or redesigned to facilitate the delivery of services through mobile.
Fast Tracking Approvals
A fast-track approval mechanism must be laid out for the MMPs, as the decision of the Empowered Committees hinges on the approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the Competent Authority.
Mandating Standards and Protocols
All e-Governance projects must be executed in line with the standards and protocols notified by DeitY.
Language Localization
The information and services pertaining to all e-Governance projects must be presented in both English and the respective regional vernacular.
National GIS (Geo-Spatial Information System)
This system must be employed as a platform and as a service in e-Governance projects.
Security and Electronic Data Preservation
All online applications and e-services must be operated in accordance with the norms specified in the National Cyber Security Policy 2013.
Implementation
e-Kranti would be implemented under the aegis of various Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments. Here’s an overview of its proposed framework of implementation:
Apex Committee
For the implementation of this programme, an Apex Committee will be constituted with Cabinet Secretary as its Chairman. The Secretary, DeitY as its Member Conveyor, would be overseeing the implementation and provide policy and strategic directions for its implementation. The Apex Committee would also play its role in harmonizing and integrating diverse initiative aspects connected with the integration of services, end-to-end process re-engineering and service levels of MMPs, wherever required.
Line Ministries/Departments
Line Ministries/Departments are assigned with the task of implementing the assigned Mission Mode Projects (MMPs)/Components as indicated in annexure-IV(A). These projects would be owned and administered by various line Ministries for Central Government, state governments and Integrated projects. Each of these departments would be enrolled in a project mode within a constricted time-frame.
State Governments
The State Governments, for the purpose of this programme, would be engaged in implementing State Sector MMPs on consultation with the respective Line Ministries. The state-level implementation of e-Kranti would be monitored by a state-level Apex Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary.
DeitY
DeitY will play the role of a facilitator and catalyst for the implementation of e-Kranti. The body would also render technical assistance either directly or by partnering with external professional consultants.
DAR&PG
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG) would be working towards Generic Process Re-engineering and Change Management. For the purpose of upscaling NeGP to deliver services, DAR&PG would adopt a transformational approach in the Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) initiatives of various Ministries/Departments.
Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance
India’s official body of planning and finance would be responsible for allocating funds for the implementation of e-Kranti, both in existing and new MMPs through Plan and Non-Plan budgetary provisions. In addition to their budgetary responsibilities, they are entitled to lay down appropriate procedures in this regard.
Decision-Making
Once the DPR of a project is consented by the Competent Authority, the Empowered Committee constituted for this purpose may take all subsequent decisions. These decisions could be implemented soon after the minutes of the EC (Election Commission) is approved.
Thrust Areas of e-Kranti
The Thrust areas of e-Kranti, as outlined by the Digital India Programme, are as follows:
Technology for Education – e-Education:
Under this domain, e-Kranti envisions:
- The provision of broadband facilities in all schools.
- The provision of free WIFI to all secondary and higher secondary schools.
- A national level digital-literacy program
- Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), which is to be developed and leveraged for e-Education.
Technology for Health – e-Healthcare
Services in this respect would entail online medical consultation, online medical records, online medical supply, pan-India exchange for patient information, and the likes of it.
Technology for Farmers
The initiative seeks to facilitate the farmers to:
- Access real-time price information
- Order inputs online
- Avail loans
- Pay relief with mobile banking
Technology for Security
Measures in this respect would entail the provision of mobile-based emergency and disaster-related services on a real-time basis. These initiatives would aid citizens in employing precautionary measures against the loss of lives and properties.
Technology for Financial Inclusion
Financial inclusion would be strengthened by leveraging mobile banking, Micro-ATM program and CSCs/Post Offices.
Technology for Justice
Measures will be initiated to strengthen the Criminal Justice System by making use of several applications that suit the purpose.
Technology for Cyber Security
e-Kranti would oversee the launch of the National Cyber Security Co-ordination Centre to ensure safe and secure cyber-space within the country.
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