Is Indias Digital Revolution the Highlight of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi?

The grand event set to convene from September 9 to 10, 2023, New Delhi will host the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit. This significant gathering will serve as the culmination of a year's worth of G20 processes and meetings involving ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. The summit's highlight will be the adoption of a G20 Leaders' Declaration, signifying leaders' commitment to the priorities discussed throughout the year. The venue for this prestigious event will be Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

G20 Digital Economy Working Group Success

Leading up to the summit, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, successfully conducted a series of meetings for the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG). These meetings occurred in various Indian cities, including Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru. The culmination of these discussions occurred at the G20 Digital Economy Minister's meeting in Bengaluru, producing several key outcomes and deliverables.

Among the notable achievements was the G20's consensus on the deliverables presented by the Indian Presidency. These encompassed essential aspects such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), One Future Alliance for financing DPIs in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), Global DPI Repository, High-Level Principles for Supporting Businesses, Roadmap for Facilitating Cross-Country Comparison of Digital Skills, Toolkit for Designing and Introducing Digital Up-skilling and Re-skilling Programs, and a Virtual Centre of Excellence Fostering Digitally-Skilled Talent, among others.

Two knowledge products were unveiled, namely 'Accelerating the SDGs through DPI' and 'The DPI Playbook,' developed by the G20 Indian Presidency in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). These knowledge products aim to assist countries on their digital transformation journey.

To promote collaboration, India signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with six countries to share INDIA STACK, a portfolio of successful digital solutions implemented at a significant population scale.

Digital India Experience Zone: Showcasing Innovation

A highlight of the 18th G20 Summit is the Digital India Experience Zone. This interactive zone, set up in Hall 4 and Hall 14 at Pragati Maidan, has been designed to provide a hands-on experience to G20 delegates, showcasing India's success in implementing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) at a significant population scale.

Underpinning the ethos of the expo are three key pillars: Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business, and Ease of Governance. The Digital India Experience Zone is a treasure trove of cutting-edge technology, brimming with knowledge and insights into the crucial initiatives of Digital India.

Key Initiatives on Display

Seven key initiatives have been carefully selected to be showcased at the Digital India Experience Zone. These include Aadhaar, DigiLocker, UPI (Unified Payments Interface), eSanjeevani, DIKSHA, Bhashini, and ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce). Each initiative offers unique insights into how technology transforms various aspects of India and beyond.

Visitors to the exhibition can witness live demonstrations of Aadhaar Face Authentication Software, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology. The UPI exhibit will showcase the versatility of UPI applications worldwide, allowing visitors to initiate seamless transactions using QR codes.

DigiLocker, on display, illustrates its role in streamlining processes across sectors like education, finance, banking, travel, transport, real estate, legal, and judiciary. For those seeking healthcare insights, the eSanjeevani exhibit will provide online consultation with doctors specializing in various fields, delivering real-time health analysis and advice, complete with e-prescriptions.

DIKSHA offers an immersive and intuitive experience for educational exploration, while Bhashini allows visitors to experience real-time speech-to-speech translation in multiple languages, including all Indian and six UN languages.

A Journey Through Digital India

In addition to the interactive displays, visitors can embark on a journey through the major milestones of Digital India since 2014, brought to life through simulated virtual reality. The exhibit, the Digital Tree, delves into DPI's core principles and the evolution of Digital India initiatives.

ONDC and G.I.T.A. Application

The Digital India Experience Zone also highlights the significance of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), showcasing how it collaborates with sellers, customers, and network providers on a large scale. Additionally, a kiosk introducing the G.I.T.A. application provides a platform where visitors can seek answers to questions related to life in alignment with the revered holy book Shrimad Bhagwad Gita.

The Digital India Experience Zone leverages cutting-edge technologies, including interactive displays and Virtual Reality, ensuring meaningful engagement with age-appropriate content. It is a testament to India's commitment to digital transformation and its eagerness to share its successful initiatives with the global community.