With massive development and deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) applied to over 700 government programs for delivering public service, India’s DPI success has improved the lives of ordinary citizens who can now avail of services at their convenience. This has helped  save close to $41 billion in leakages during public service delivery, as also accelerate progress in achieving  all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The collaboration between the state and the private sector due to the provision of India Stack with open APIs and digital public goods for anyone to develop upon has encouraged and provided confidence to the private sector has been proactive in utilising DPI for private service delivery for financial and social inclusion and to position the country for the internet age.

Building on ‘Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure’ in July 2024, Primus Partners, in a report titled ‘Beyond Boundaries: India’s DPI Model for Global Progress’, has now come out with recommendations outlining a comprehensive framework focusing on positioning India as the global leader in accelerating the achievement of SDGs through the advancement of DPI.

The recommendations are aimed to balance stakeholder needs and at the same time  help accelerate global progress toward the SDGs for 2030, using India’s DPI model as a framework for shared success and resilience worldwide.

Recommendations:

1. The DPI should prioritise open standards and a citizen-first approach to build trust, enhance accessibility, and meet local needs, particularly in under-served regions.

2. Establish data privacy and cybersecurity as foundational elements, balancing innovation with strict ethical standards to foster public trust.

3. Governments should collaborate with private and philanthropic organizations to build resilient DPI models, encouraging interoperability and economic resilience.

4. A gradual DPI rollout with targeted regulation will help countries build digital maturity cost-effectively, ensuring accessibility and scalability.

5. Make DPI inclusive by focusing on accessibility, language, and local adaptability, while ensuring data sovereignty to build public trust.

6. Government policies should promote DPI use, showcase its crisis response potential, and encourage knowledge exchange across regions.

7.  Enhance public access to well governed data, particularly for climate resilience, public health, and automated public services.

8. Invest in skill development and digital literacy to prepare communities, workforce, and policymakers for effective DPI use.

9. Focus on scalable, low-cost solutions, especially for rural and underserved areas.

10. Support DPI innovation through R&D partnerships, standards for emerging markets, and a Global Digital Academy for knowledge sharing.

11. Leverage DPI as a tool to advance SDGs, including health, education, and economic equality, to foster a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The report says that it takes forward the core message from the Declaration on DPI, AI and Data for Governance—Joint Communiqué by the G20 Troika (India, Brazil, and South Africa), adopted on November 20 and endorsed by the Troika along with Italy, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Mexico, the United Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Declaration seeks fair and equitable principles for data governance, Trust as the cornerstone for technological systems, appropriate safeguards to respect citizens' rights, and training AI on diverse and properly representative data sets to be cognizant of the diversity of language and culture.

“Despite being a significant contributor to the global economy and the only major economy poised for consistent 7% growth this decade, India has yet to leverage its position for unilateral benefit. Instead, its vision, exemplified by 'Viksit Bharat @2047' prioritises inclusive and sustainable development, staying true to its foundational principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).Guided by the principle of providing 'Solutions for Tomorrow,' we engaged with stakeholders across sectors—including private enterprises, policymakers, and philanthropists—to discuss unified strategies for leveraging DPI to improve lives globally,” said Devroop Dhar, co-founder and managing director, Primus Partners.

“A well-designed DPI protects data privacy, upholds citizens’ rights, prevents monopolistic practices, and aligns with ethical regulatory standards. These principles are essential for keeping DPI secure and beneficial to the public, shielding it from privacy breaches, data misuse, and unchecked market power. While progress has been made, challenges like data privacy, digital sovereignty, and regulatory alignment remain pressing,” said  Nilaya Verma, co-founder & CEO, Primus Partners.