e-Governance
e-Governance · Digital India · UMANG · DBT · Aadhaar · DigiLocker · e-Courts Mission Mode · MyGov · BharatNet · CSC
What is e-Governance?
e-Governance is the use of information and communication technology by government to deliver services, share information and automate transactions across four relationships — G2C, G2B, G2G and G2E. Digital India, launched on 1 July 2015, is India's umbrella programme with nine pillars, resting on the JAM trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile and on the 31 Mission Mode Projects of NeGP (2006).
Story hook
It is 1 July 2015 at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. The Prime Minister unveils Digital India before a crowd of CEOs, ministers, and bureaucrats. Mukesh Ambani announces a ₹2.5 lakh crore investment by Reliance Jio. Sundar Pichai (Google), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Cyrus Mistry (Tata) line up to endorse. The promise: turn India into a "digitally empowered society and knowledge economy".
Behind the spectacle sits a quieter inheritance. 2006 — National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) approved by the Cabinet on 18 May, with 31 Mission Mode Projects spanning Aadhaar, e-Courts, MCA21, Income Tax. 2009 — Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under Nandan Nilekani issues the first Aadhaar number on 29 September 2010 to Ranjana Sonawane of Tembhli village, Maharashtra. 2013 — Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) launched in 43 districts.
Digital India repackaged these into nine pillars: BharatNet, universal mobile access, e-governance, eKranti, information for all, electronics manufacturing, IT for jobs, early harvest, public internet access. By 2024, DBT cumulative savings cross ₹3.48 lakh crore, UMANG hosts 2,000+ services, DigiLocker has 35 crore users, and e-Courts delivers 27 crore case records online.
For UPSC, this unit is the most operationally heavy in GS-II Governance — facts, figures, and policy critique all in play.
Why this matters for UPSC
- Prelims: 2-3 factual questions per year — NeGP year, DBT savings, Aadhaar Act sections, BharatNet phases.
- Mains GS-II: Recurring question on "e-Governance for citizen-centric service delivery" (2018, 2020).
- Interview: Aadhaar privacy, DBT leakage, digital divide.
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