One of the three key goals identified by the government during the budget 2022 is promoting digital economy & fintech, technology enabled development, energy transition, and climate action. To protect the interests of future generations and prepare them for upcoming global challenges, achieving these tech and sustainability goals is vital. The novel concept of Digital University is to provide world-class quality universal education with personalised learning experience at each Indian’s doorsteps. This collaborative University will be built on a networked hub-spoke model and content will be available in different Indian languages and ICT formats.
On education, training and skilling front, there are plans to develop quality e-content by the teachers as well as content in all spoken languages for delivery via internet, mobile phones, TV and radio through ‘Digital Teachers’. A DESH-Stack e- portal for on-line training and search facilities for jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities is to be launched.
In Agri and Allied domain, the focus is on preparing farmers for digital and hi-tech services, where a scheme in PPP mode as well as NABARD led co-investment model fund is to be launched for engaging all stakeholders meaningfully. For tech enabled operations management like crop assessment, digitization of land records, spraying of insecticides, and nutrients, discussions around ‘Kisan Drones’ is a very important step. With the Beating Retreat 1000 drone show and now with Kisan Drones, the government has shown willingness to put aside apprehensions of this evolving technology and embrace it to leap forward in large scale aerial survey and delivery. Drone-As-A-Service (DrAAS) is being envisaged across multiple sectors.
To build on key learnings of COVID pandemic handling, an open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem, consisting of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, consent framework, and universal access to health facilities is to be rolled out. Further, as the pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages, to better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a ‘National Tele Mental Health Programme’ is to be launched. This will include a network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support.
To reduce damaging effects of red tape by enhancing transparency and to reduce delays in payments, a completely paperless, end-to-end online e-Bill System is to be launched for use by all central ministries for procurements. Digitally signed bills can be submitted and tracked in this system online.
To continue the bolstering of digital payments in the country, financial support for the digital payment ecosystem announced in the previous Budget will continue in 2022-23. Further, 75 districts are going to get Digital Banking Units (DBUs) by Scheduled Commercial Banks for enhancing and promoting digital Banking experience. As talks have been on to introduce Digital Rupee, using blockchain and other technologies, this has now been confirmed to be issued by RBI starting 2022-23. This will lead to a more efficient and cheaper currency management system in the country. The newly proposed flat tax rate of 30% on virtual digital assets is a step towards acknowledging them and bringing the discussions mainstream.
These budgetary provisions are going to fuel the discussion and development of systems, processes and capabilities for combining humans and machines in the workplace. As 5IR is set to put an individual at the front and centre of the production process, it is imperative that India prepares its young to reap demographic dividends.
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