Union Cabinet Approved ₹14,903 Cr. expansion of Digital India program

The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the 'Digital India Programme' to 16 August 2023 with an outlay of Rs 14,903 crore.

The 'Digital India Programme' was launched on July 1, 2015 to provide digital services to the citizens. which has proved to be highly successful.

Benefits of expansion of the Digital India program

• 6.25 lakh IT professionals to be re-skilled and up-skilled under the Future Skills Prime programme;

• Under the Information Security and Education Awareness Phase (ISEA) programme, 2.65 lakh persons will be trained in the field of information security;

• 540 additional services will be available under the Unified Mobile Application for New Age Governance (UMANG) app/platform.

• Currently, over 1,700 services are already available on UMANG, the free mobile app of the Government of India.

• 9 more super computers will be added under the National Super Computer Mission. This is in addition to the 18 supercomputers already deployed.

• Artificial intelligence enabled multi-language translation tool (currently available in 10 languages) Bhashini will be launched in all 22 schedules and 8 languages.

• The National Knowledge Network (NKN) will be modernised. 1,787 educational institutions will be added to this.

• Digital document verification facility will be provided under DigiLocker. Now this facility will also be available for micro, small and medium enterprises and other organisations.

• 1,200 startups will be supported in Tier 2/3 cities.

• Three Artificial Intelligence Centers of Excellence based on the needs of health, agriculture and sustainable cities will be set up.

• Cyber-awareness courses will be run for 12 crore college students.

• New initiatives will be launched in the field of cyber security including development of tools and integration of over 200 sites with the National Cyber Coordination Centre.

• The August 16 announcement will boost India's digital economy, enable digital access to services and support India's information technology and electronics ecosystem.

Digital India Program:

• This program was started in the year 2015. The program has been enabled for several flagship government schemes such as BharatNet, Make in India, Startup India and Standup India, Industrial Corridors etc.

Program Objectives:

• Realising change means realising IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology = IT (India Tomorrow).

• Making technology central to enabling change.

• Creating a top-notch program that reaches multiple departments.

• Preparing India for a knowledge future.

9 pillars of Digital India:

• Broadband Highway

• Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity

• Public Internet Access Program

• E-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology

• e-Kranti: Electronic Delivery of Services

• Information for all

• Early Harvest Program

• Electronics Manufacturing

• IT jobs.