digital india – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com Mainstreaming Alternate Fri, 06 Jun 2025 04:15:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://thecommunemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-TC_SF-1-32x32.jpg digital india – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com 32 32 India’s UPI Is Now The World’s Payment Superpower https://thecommunemag.com/indias-upi-is-now-the-worlds-payment-superpower/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 04:14:30 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=116620 “World-beater in the making: UPI on the cusp of surpassing Visa’s daily transaction volume” – Screamed the title of an article in Moneycontrol. As I started the day with this wonderful news on UPI on the verge of becoming world’s largest digital payment interface, I could not help but marvel at this wonderful digital platform […]

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“World-beater in the making: UPI on the cusp of surpassing Visa’s daily transaction volume” – Screamed the title of an article in Moneycontrol. As I started the day with this wonderful news on UPI on the verge of becoming world’s largest digital payment interface, I could not help but marvel at this wonderful digital platform from India for the world, which has not just created another settlement mechanism, but has brought about revolutionary and transformative changes to the way in which people transact, and forcing the world to look at this new jewel from India’s digital prowess.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has transitioned from a niche digital payment method to the backbone of India’s financial ecosystem. With its unprecedented adoption rates, it has not just streamlined transactions, it has also emerged as a transformative force, driving formalisation, enhancing credit access, revolutionising settlements, democratising digital payments, and significantly contributing to the nation’s economic growth. It is not just a payment system. It is a pinnacle of indigenous innovation, emblematic of India’s ongoing digital revolution.

The Digital Revolution And India’s Technological Prowess

Our country has been undergoing a profound digital transformation, structured around what is known as the “India Stack” i.e. our own unique Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). With its open-architecture approach, comprising foundational digital identity (Aadhaar), real-time payments (UPI), and secure data-sharing frameworks (DigiLocker, Account Aggregator), the “India Stack” has created a powerful ecosystem for innovation and public service delivery. No country has seen the sheer scale and speed of this transformation, making our Country a global leader in digital governance.

UPI is arguably the crown jewel of India Stack, showcasing the our nation’s capacity for designing and deploying cutting-edge technology at a population scale. It embodies India’s commitment to building public digital goods that are interoperable, inclusive, and cost-effective. Its success has garnered global recognition as a leading example of DPI, with several countries now looking to emulate its model to build their own real-time payment systems. This reflects India’s growing influence as a thought leader in digital governance and financial technology.

Formalisation Of The Economy Across Sectors

Traditionally, a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector and among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), relied heavily on cash. This cash-based economy often operated outside the tax net, hindering transparency and accurate economic data collection, leading to stunted growth, both at an entrepreneur level and also at the country level. One of UPI’s most profound impacts has been its role in bringing large swathes of the Indian economy into the formal fold.

UPI has fundamentally altered this landscape by enabling seamless digital payments for everything from a street vendor’s tea and snacks to a small business’s supplies. The digital footprint facilitates better record-keeping for businesses, making it easier for them to comply with tax regulations like GST. Studies have shown a significant positive correlation between increased UPI adoption and higher tax revenues, with some research indicating a rise in GST filings among SMEs that adopted UPI. This formalisation improves financial governance, broadens the tax base, and allows for more effective data-driven policymaking.

A good example of the formalisation is the ratio of the value of UPI transactions to the country’s GDP. Over the years, this has grown from less than 1% to almost 80% in FY 25, and expected to breach 100% in the years to come.

Enhancing Access To Credit

For millions of Indians, particularly small entrepreneurs, informal workers, and those in rural areas, access to formal credit has long been a significant barrier. The absence of a verifiable transaction history or a credit score often relegated them to high-interest informal lending channels, which comes with its own set of inefficiencies and baggages in the form of high interest cost, exploitative practices and rampant corruption. UPI is now changing this paradigm.

The real-time transaction data generated by UPI offers lenders valuable insights to assess creditworthiness more accurately and offer “sachet-sized” loans or small credit lines directly on UPI. The introduction of “Credit Line on UPI” by NPCI is a game-changer, allowing banks to extend real-time, low-interest credit to underserved segments who may not qualify for traditional credit cards. This innovation is crucial for financial inclusion, empowering individuals and small businesses to access formal credit, manage cash flow, and invest in their growth, ultimately fostering a healthier credit ecosystem.

Quicker And Cheaper Settlement

Prior to UPI, digital payment methods often involved multiple intermediaries, leading to higher transaction costs and delays in settlement. UPI, built on an Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) architecture, offers instant, 24/7, peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) fund transfers.

For businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, this means immediate access to funds. This quicker settlement significantly improves cash flow management, reducing the need for working capital and enabling faster reinvestment. For consumers, the convenience of instant payments has eliminated waiting times and reduced dependency on physical cash. Moreover, UPI transactions are typically free for consumers and involve minimal or no charges for merchants, making it a highly cost-effective payment solution compared to traditional payment gateways or cash handling costs. This efficiency and cost-effectiveness benefit both individuals and businesses, reducing friction in economic activities.

Digital Transactions Made Size Agnostic

One of UPI’s most remarkable achievements is its ability to facilitate transactions across the spectrum of value, from micro-payments to larger sums, making digital payments truly “size agnostic.” Whether it’s a ₹10 payment for vegetables or a ₹1,00,000 payment for goods, UPI handles it with equal ease and efficiency.

This versatility has democratized digital payments, reaching beyond urban centers and tech-savvy users to embrace street vendors, small kirana stores, and consumers in remote villages. The simple QR code scan has become ubiquitous, transcending literacy and technological barriers. This broad applicability ensures that every transaction, regardless of its value, contributes to the digital economy, fostering a unified payment infrastructure that benefits all participants.

The volume of UPI transactions and its ratio to the Country’s GDP is a testament to the Indian consumer’s preference towards UPI. From just around 1 Lakh crore transactions in FY18 to almost 261 Lakh Crore transactions FY25, we are nudging towards 1 Lakh crore transactions per day. This is unprecedented for any country!

Catalysing Economic Growth

UPI’s multi-faceted benefits directly contribute to India’s overall economic growth. By formalising transactions, it expands the taxable base and improves the accuracy of economic data, leading to better fiscal planning. Enhanced access to credit, particularly for MSMEs, fuels entrepreneurship, investment, and job creation. The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of UPI payments reduce operational overheads for businesses, allowing them to focus on core activities and improve profitability.

The exponential growth in UPI transactions underscores a fundamental shift in consumer behavior towards digital payments, reducing the reliance on cash. RBI’s Annual Report for FY25 highlights that UPI transactions increased by 41.7% in volume and 30.3% in value compared to the previous fiscal, with UPI having the highest share (84%) in total retail payments, affirming its role as a key driver of economic activity. This strong performance contributes to India commanding a significant 48.5% share in global real-time payments by volume.

Conclusion

The Unified Payments Interface has not just facilitated digital payments; it has instigated a quiet revolution in India’s financial landscape. Its impact extends beyond mere transactional convenience, touching upon the very fabric of the Indian economy by formalising economic activities, unlocking access to credit, streamlining settlements, and democratising digital finance. As UPI continues to evolve and expand its global footprint, it remains a powerful testament to India’s digital prowess and a critical enabler of its journey towards a more inclusive, efficient, and robust economy.

G Saimukundhan is a Chartered Accountant.

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Centre’s Public Grievance System Resolves Over 70 Lakh Citizen Concerns In 3 Years https://thecommunemag.com/centres-public-grievance-system-resolves-over-70-lakh-citizen-concerns-in-3-years/ Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:42:51 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=102827 The government said on Monday that the centralised public grievance redress and monitoring system (CPGRAMS) has successfully resolved over 70 lakh grievances in the last three years (2022-2024) in a bid to swiftly address citizen concerns. From 2022 to 2024, the system resolved 70,03,533 grievances and mapped 1,03,183 Grievance Redressal Officers (GROs) as of October […]

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The government said on Monday that the centralised public grievance redress and monitoring system (CPGRAMS) has successfully resolved over 70 lakh grievances in the last three years (2022-2024) in a bid to swiftly address citizen concerns.

From 2022 to 2024, the system resolved 70,03,533 grievances and mapped 1,03,183 Grievance Redressal Officers (GROs) as of October 31. CPGRAMS, developed and monitored by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), is an online platform available 24/7 that connects all ministries and departments nationwide.

The public grievance system now connects 92 central ministries, departments and organisations with 36 states/UTs, offering a seamless platform supported by over 73,000 active subordinate users.

With 96,295 organisations registered, CPGRAMS has significantly improved citizen engagement and service delivery. Citizens can file complaints through the web portal, the mobile app on the Google Play Store, or the UMANG app. Each complaint receives a unique registration ID, allowing users to track its progress.

According to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the ‘My Grievance’ app also serves as an independent platform for filing and tracking complaints.

The government prioritises a citizen-centric approach for a developed Bharat, ensuring active participation from citizens in the development process.

At the third Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads of Public Service Meeting, held in April this year, the Commonwealth Secretariat highlighted it as a future-ready governance tool. The system has proven effective in swiftly resolving citizens’ grievances and improving public safety.

Now, DARPG is developing the NextGen CPGRAMS platform to improve grievance redressal. Building on CPGRAMS 7.0, it will offer features like grievance filing via WhatsApp/Chatbot, voice-to-text lodging, instant alerts, and auto-escalation. Grievance Redressal Officers will benefit from machine learning-based auto-replies and auto-populated reports.

Monitoring bodies can track grievances by grouping, sector and ministry. The ‘NextGen CPGRAMS’ system is set to launch on July 1, 2025, further enhancing the grievance resolution process.

–IANS

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India To Have 1.2 Billion Smartphone Connections By 2030, Half Of Them 5G https://thecommunemag.com/india-to-have-1-2-billion-smartphone-connections-by-2030-half-of-them-5g/ Fri, 18 Oct 2024 07:35:37 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=92183 India is projected to have 1.2 billion smartphone connections by 2030, with half of the users on 5G smartphones, according to a new report. According to global mobile network body GSMA, the country is projected to have over 641 million 5G subscribers by 2030, growing at 49 per cent. “India will see an unprecedented growth […]

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India is projected to have 1.2 billion smartphone connections by 2030, with half of the users on 5G smartphones, according to a new report.

According to global mobile network body GSMA, the country is projected to have over 641 million 5G subscribers by 2030, growing at 49 per cent.

“India will see an unprecedented growth in the number of 5G mobile subscribers, and an explosion of data usage in the next six years,” according to GSMA Intelligence projections.

This stupendous growth in 5G subscribers will also lead to a huge expansion of data consumption, impelling Indian telcos to make large investments.

The data consumption per subscriber is likely to grow at a CAGR of 15 per cent between 2023 and 2029, to reach 68 GB per month per subscriber in India.

In the Asia-Pacific region, India and Indonesia are uniquely positioned to leverage digitalisation to drive economic resilience, job creation, and innovation.

According to the latest ‘GSMA Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2024 Report’, India is projected to have 1.2 billion smartphone connections by 2030, while Indonesia is expected to reach 387 million connections by the same year,” said the organisation.

Furthermore, mobile technologies and services generated 5.3 per cent of GDP across the APAC region in 2023, contributing $880 billion in economic value, and supporting approximately 13 million jobs across the region.

“India and Indonesia are not just the largest democracies in the APAC region; they are the future engines of digital and economic growth for the region. By fostering partnerships and collaboration, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for both nations.” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA.

Meanwhile, the widespread availability of spectrum for 5G is likely to contribute about $27 billion to India’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, according to a recent GSMA report.

The organisation, which represents mobile networks worldwide, said the upper 6 GHz band must also be part of the spectrum roadmap of the country. The launch of 5G has emerged as a significant catalyst for the growth in data usage.

–IANS

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India’s Content Creation Market To Reach $480 Billion By 2035: Minister https://thecommunemag.com/indias-content-creation-market-to-reach-480-billion-by-2035-minister/ Fri, 18 Oct 2024 06:15:53 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=92169 India is poised to become the content creation capital of the world, with the market projected to grow from the current $30 billion to $480 billion by 2035. Addressing a panel discussion during the ‘India Mobile Congress 2024’ in the national capital, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised the democratisation of information access and […]

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India is poised to become the content creation capital of the world, with the market projected to grow from the current $30 billion to $480 billion by 2035.

Addressing a panel discussion during the ‘India Mobile Congress 2024’ in the national capital, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised the democratisation of information access and India’s readiness to embrace next-gen technologies like 6G to lead the digital revolution. According to a recent report by EY, the Indian content industry was expected to hit $30.6 billion this year.

The experts emphasised that AI in content creation is an opportunity to expand revenue streams, reduce costs and tap into new markets, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities in India where content consumption patterns are evolving. As AI facilitates real-time personalisation and interaction with audiences, the creative economy is set to grow exponentially, they added.

The conversation centred on AI’s ability to complement, not replace, human creativity. AI is enhancing regional content, with 95 per cent of YouTube consumption in India now being in regional languages, reflecting a shift from the predominantly English-speaking digital sphere just a few years ago.

AI-driven content can help educate and raise awareness, offering unprecedented opportunities for spreading meaningful information, said industry experts.

The 8th edition of the ‘India Mobile Congress’ was kicked off with its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. PM Modi took a walkthrough of the exhibition area before officially inaugurating the event.

The ‘India Mobile Congress 2024’ is hosting over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups and participation from over 120 countries. The event is also showcasing more than 900 technology use case scenarios, hosting more than 100 sessions with over 600 global and Indian speakers. India is also hosting the prestigious World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) 2024 from October 14-24.

–IANS

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Digi Yatra Launched In 3 Airports Providing Seamless And Contact-less Travel Experience https://thecommunemag.com/digi-yatra-launched-in-3-airports-providing-seamless-and-contact-less-travel-experience/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:29:42 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=49399 Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia today launched Digi Yatra from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi for three airports in the country, namely New Delhi, Varanasi and Bengaluru. Digi Yatra is conceived to achieve contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). Speaking about the Digi Yatra […]

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Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia today launched Digi Yatra from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi for three airports in the country, namely New Delhi, Varanasi and Bengaluru. Digi Yatra is conceived to achieve contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports based on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT).

Speaking about the Digi Yatra project conceived by Digi Yatra Foundation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Minister said that the project envisages a traveller today pass through various check points at the airports through a paperless and contactless processing using facial features to establish her identity which could be linked to the boarding pass. To use this facility, one-time registration on Digi Yatra app is required using Aadhar based validation and a self-image capture. The project has tremendous advantages of improving passenger convenience and ease of travel.

About the privacy features of the project, the Minister said that keeping in mind the privacy, there is no central storage of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).  Passenger’s ID and travel credentials are stored in a secure wallet in the passenger’s smartphone itself. The uploaded data will utilise blockchain technology and all the data will be purged from the servers within 24 hours of use.

With Digi Yatra, India will now stand in the ranks of world class airports like Heathrow in London and Atlanta in United States of America. Elucidating on the benefits of Digi Yatra, the Minister stated the example of Dubai Airport where passenger time upto 40 percent was saved due to this technology. A similar technology saved nine minutes per aircraft time at the Atlanta Airport. The Minister also said that compared to other ports of call, the Indian system has been made far more seamless from entry to exit and therefore will be one of the most efficient systems from across the world.

Digi Yatra in the first phase, will be launched at 7 airports. However, it has been initially launched at 3 airports i.e., Delhi, Bengaluru and Varanasi today, to be followed by 4 airports namely Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada by March 2023. Later it would be implemented across various airports in the country. The service is presently being launched for domestic flights passengers only. Digi Yatra App is available on both IoS and android. It is voluntary is nature.

With Digi Yatra, India is setting a new global benchmark for a seamless, hassle free and health risk free process at airports.

(Published from PIB)

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Digital payments in country sees record transactions in December https://thecommunemag.com/digital-payments-in-country-sees-record-transactions-in-december/ Sat, 02 Jan 2021 05:42:31 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=18344 The expansion of digital payments in India has only grown more and in December the transactions on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) breached the ₹4-lakh crore mark in terms of value.  According to data made available by the National Payments Corporation of India, the transactions on the UPI platform amounted to ₹4,16,176.21 crore in December with […]

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The expansion of digital payments in India has only grown more and in December the transactions on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) breached the ₹4-lakh crore mark in terms of value. 

According to data made available by the National Payments Corporation of India, the transactions on the UPI platform amounted to ₹4,16,176.21 crore in December with a total of 223.41 crore payments processed. 

In November, UPI had recorded 2.21 billion transactions worth Rs 3,90,999 crore.

Ever sicne UPI was launched in 2016, it crossed the one billion transactions benchmark for the first time in October 2019.

Indians were a little slow to avail the benifit of UPI which is why it took three years to reach a billion transactions in a month. However, once that target was breached, the next billion came in just a year.

Transactions on the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)also rose to 35.56 crore amounting to ₹2.92-lakh crore in December.

As per data made avaialble by the Reserve Bank of India, IMPS recorded 355.69 million transactions in December, worth Rs 2.92 trillion, an all-time high, up 38.68 per cent in volume terms year-on-year and 38.58 per cent in value terms.

Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) recorded 26.22 million transactions in December, worth Rs 3,962.76 crore.

Not to be left behind, FASTag, an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highway Authority of India. registered record-high payments. The NHAI FASTag did transaction of ₹13.84 crore transactions worth ₹2,303.79 crore in December.

Transactions on NETC FASTag alsl had risin to 12.48 crore worth ₹2,102.02 crore in November.

A while back, Bill Gates, who is one of the worlds foremost philanthropists hailed India’s policies for innovation in financial inclusion. He perticulalry singled out ndia’s platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the Aadhaar, which he said have drastically reduced the cost of money distributed among the poor.

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DGT-MSDE inks pact with Microsoft and NASSCOM for digital skilling to augment the employability of Young India https://thecommunemag.com/dgt-msde-inks-pact-with-microsoft-and-nasscom-for-digital-skilling-to-augment-the-employability-of-young-india/ Fri, 25 Dec 2020 03:50:26 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=17671 The Directorate General of Training (DGT) joined hands with Microsoft and NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) to provide a digital content for ITI students and boost the various programs for upskilling and reskilling.  Nearly 1,20,000 students in around 3000 ITIs across India can be benefited by this digitized e-learning module via the […]

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The Directorate General of Training (DGT) joined hands with Microsoft and NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) to provide a digital content for ITI students and boost the various programs for upskilling and reskilling.  Nearly 1,20,000 students in around 3000 ITIs across India can be benefited by this digitized e-learning module via the Bharatskills portal.

Over the last two years, DGT has collaborated with several digital industry front-liners like IBM, SAP, Cisco Systems, Accenture Solutions, Quest Alliance, Adobe, SSC-NASSCOM etc., to enable students to become industry-ready. Under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), DGT is responsible for imparting long-term institutional training to the nation’s youth through its extensive network of about 15,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). DGT plays a key role in the execution of vocational training schemes and in realizing the dream of ‘Skill India’.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “Through the DGT-Microsoft partnership, we are aiming to impact thousands of students by enabling digitization in education and hope it to reach more students and teachers soon.  As the pandemic is compelling fast-track digital transition, these new learning initiatives will empower young learners with technical and market-oriented skills.”

DGT launched an online learning platform called Bharatskills (https://bharatskills.gov.in) in October 2019. Bharatskills provides easy access to updated curricula and course content of all courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), Question Banks, mock/practice papers, learning videos, etc. The platform is available to trainees and trainers of the ITI ecosystem, thus enabling learning outside the classrooms. This platform also presents a unique access to a centralized, scalable and a thriving support ecosystem through its industrial partners for students and teachers, who can now learn to meet the demands of the industry.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the usage of the Bharatskills learning platform increased multifold from around 90,000 users in March 2020 to more than 16.55 Lakh users having accessed the portal as on date.

Speaking on the occasion, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said that empowering the next generation of learners with industry relevant digital skills was critical as we moved towards building economic resilience. “The last few months have accelerated the need for upskilling and has shown clearly that the future of learning will be supported by technology. Our partnership with DGT and NASSCOM is built on this foundation of equipping the learners of today with the skills required to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow”, he said.

Under an MoU between DGT, Microsoft and NASSCOM, Microsoft has facilitated access to free content available on the Microsoft Learn platform for more than 24 Lakh students in the ITI ecosystem, by linking the Global Skilling Initiative (GSI) through the Bharatskills platform. Further, it is enabling the digitization of the entire content of a popular course – ‘Computer Operating and Programming Assistant’ (COPA) through NASSCOM.  Trainers/Faculties in the NSTIs and ITIs are participating in the faculty development programs being conducted with Microsoft’s support.

The blended content, with self-learning digital tutorials and handholding from teachers, is expected to be accessed by more than 1 lakh 20 thousand students pursuing the course across 3000 industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) annually. This is expected to reduce the number of class-room hours and student-teacher engagement, leading to the possibility of training double the existing number of students in COPA course within the same infrastructure.

(Published from PIB)

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Now you can file a complaint with Chennai Police through a video message on Whatsapp https://thecommunemag.com/greater-chennai-police-whatsapp-video-complaint/ Fri, 03 Jul 2020 04:35:21 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=4124 The Greater Chennai Police on Thursday came out with the initiative of receiving complaints through Whatsapp. With the coronavirus and lockdown limiting the movement of people, the residents of Chennai can now reach out to the Greater Chennai police through a video message to the number 6369 100 100. The number would be active on […]

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The Greater Chennai Police on Thursday came out with the initiative of receiving complaints through Whatsapp.

With the coronavirus and lockdown limiting the movement of people, the residents of Chennai can now reach out to the Greater Chennai police through a video message to the number 6369 100 100.

The number would be active on Monday, Wednesday and, Friday between 12 PM and 1 PM.

The initiative will be launched today (July 3).

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Time to up the game on digital infra https://thecommunemag.com/time-to-up-the-game-on-digital-infra/ Fri, 05 Jun 2020 03:16:43 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=2046 While the Chinese virus has created a pandemic, the Chinese mobile has created a pandemonium. Chinese mobile, a leading mobile service provider of china has installed data network even on the highest peak of earth, the Mount Everest. What Chinese mobile has achieved is enviable inspite of the impact on ecology and strategic interests of […]

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While the Chinese virus has created a pandemic, the Chinese mobile has created a pandemonium. Chinese mobile, a leading mobile service provider of china has installed data network even on the highest peak of earth, the Mount Everest. What Chinese mobile has achieved is enviable inspite of the impact on ecology and strategic interests of India.

China after constructing fast rails, broad highways and big cities for the last couple of decades has been concentrating heavily on digital infrastructure. This vision and execution of China on digital sphere has put itself ahead in the digital curve as well as the global growth curve.

A dire consequence of the Chinese virus has left most part of the world motion-less. The importance of digital infrastructure has been brought to light during this period of global lock down. In fact, it is digital infrastructure which is preserving global economy from melt down.

Today most of the administrators are using video conferencing and other means of online methods to run day to day administration. This usage of digital methods has percolated into all verticals of social life. People are using video conferences, online applications, digital class rooms, virtual meetings etc for their business as well as social life.

Many socio-cultural gatherings, clubs and associations are using application such as zoom, Microsoft Tteam, to organize webinars and meetings. Many government bodies and local administrators have efficiently disbursed emergency passes and permissions on the basis of mobile and online application. We can see this usage even in tier 2 and 3 townships. This is a clear indication of a growing digital world in the near future and the new normal in a post-COVID world. This experience of easy and efficient usage of mobile and online applications can be widened in future for many public utilities.

More and more issuance of certificates and disposal of applications required for the common man useful in his daily affairs can be issued digitally. Revenue records, driving license renewal, income certificate, caste certificate and many more such sundry and day to day matters can be speedily and easily sorted out through mobile and online apps. Definitely the private enterprises will adopt digital modes for their businesses. By now, they would have realized the cost efficiency of virtual meetings, video conferences, working from home and other benefits of running their business digitally.

But now it is time for us as a country and as a community to think, act and adopt digital means and methods for our growth and wellbeing. It is evidently clear that digital methods reduce pollution of air, water and soil. It also reduces the cost and burden on physical infrastructure especially of cities and urban areas. It gives impetus for decentralized growth of the country. De-centralization of growth shall lead to lesser income disparity among people and reduce social tensions. It will also help in solving anxiety and health issues prompted by irregular mobility and traffic jams.

We can list out many more advantages that may benefit every category of individual. Hence undoubtedly moving towards digital world is not only economically beneficial but also ecologically and socially desirable. It is not an option but a compulsion of time.

Therefore, we need to build a strong and secure digital infrastructure. Today India doesn’t have its own safe servers except for defenses and government purpose. As citizens we need to depend on the servers in America or China to store our data.

The multinational companies like Amazon and Google are leading server storage providers. However there is not such an Indian entity of their size located within India providing a safe space to house Indian data.

Though we are one of the largest data consumers and our per capita usage of data is increasing to a quantum jump, thanks to lowest data cost post 2014, we still lack in fast and safe digital cable systems.

Our digital operations are highly dependent on mobile towers and satellite systems. We need to build a strong, safe and capable digital cable network across the country.

National Infrastructure Pipeline Task force has submitted its final report on 29th April 2020 to Hon’ble Finance Minister. The total outlay is a massive 110 lakh crore rupees, this is almost half of India’s net GDP. This outlay is for the period 2022-24. In this report amount earmarked for energy sector, road infrastructure,  urban infrastructure, and railways is 27 lakh crores, 20 lakh crores, 18 lakh crores and 13 lakh crores respectively. The aggregate of above 4 sectors is above 70% of total outlay with the rest of it is distributed among social sector, health, education etc. If a small amount of this is earmarked for digital infrastructure it will definitely bring down the burden on road, railways, urban and energy sectors.

Post the Facebook-Jio deal, the present market valuation of Jio is 4 lakh crores. The capital expenditure of Jio on its digital infrastructure development including data cable, 4G & 5G network development is much less than this. Jio already has around 40 crore subscribers. Hence the cost and time for digital infrastructure development is much less than that of physical infrastructure. A planned and reasonable investment on digital infrastructure will reduce the burden of enormous investment on physical infrastructure. Foreign institutional investors and banks are also more interested in investing in quickly rewarding digital infrastructure than in physical infrastructure which has a very long tenure of investment realization.

These above stated digital infrastructures along with other similar steps are essential to keep ourselves ahead in the digital race. The 19th century was the age of industry, 20th century was the age of physical infrastructure and 21st century will be the age of digital infrastructure and A.I.

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