Modi’s Odyssey: Digital India, Developed India

Digital India, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “is an enterprise for the transformation of India in a way unmatched in human history.” In it, he sees technology as a means to empower and as a tool that bridges the distance between hope and opportunity.

The intensity in his words, whenever he enunciates his Digital India dream, reflects the deep-rooted conviction that technology can bring governance closer to the people and enhance transparency and efficiency. His belief in technology, when it was applied to practice, had produced results. Technology and e-Governance embedded in it had been the driving forces in Modi’s governance successes in Gujarat much before he became the Prime Minister of India.

Now India has a leader who is hands-on application of technology to improve governance and delivery of citizen services and is clear about nation’s compelling need to have a longterm digital development and empowerment strategy. Digital India is an important initiative to prepare India for a knowledge future and make technology the key enabler of change. Justice, good governance, development, opportunity creation, equal participation in the economy and democracy would be the winners of the Digital India programme when implemented the way.

Modi has envisioned. This edited volume was conceived as much to endorse this grand vision for our country as to analyse and point out ways to make Digital India an enduring reality. The authors of the essays are accomplished experts in their respective fields. Together, they highlight a range of issues relevant to Digital India: where the old assumptions and mindset must be challenged; rules need to be rewritten; and, regulations have to be liberalised.