G20 Mission - India's Vision for Digital Inclusiveness
India recently handed over its G20 leadership baton to Brazil following a successful 12-month presidency. We decided to look back at some of the themes of the G20 and recognise the Indian leadership role in making Digital Public Infrastructure a global inclusion initiative.
The India G20 Presidency was anchored in the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” - with a strong over-arching message of accelerated, resilient, inclusive growth leading to a reduction in global inequality.
What was especially interesting to observers from the technology world, was how heavily India anchored its G20 mission around the use of Digital Public Infrastructure (“DPI”) to unlock development - something no other global superpower has harnessed so well.
[Quick context: Founded in 1999, G20 or ‘Group of 20’ is an intergovernmental forum with 19 countries and the European Union a part of it. It was formed in the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis and has become the leading forum for deliberation on core economic issues. The forum accounts for 80% of the world’s GDP and 60% of the world’s population. This makes it one of the most sought-after geo-political events in the world]
Inclusive growth using technology
One of the strongest themes of this G20 was that G20 endorsed both the voluntary G20 Framework for Digital Public Infrastructure Systems and India’s proposal to establish a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository.
During discussions on human-centric approaches to global challenges, technology played a significant role in promoting inclusive, secure, and ethical practices and growth.
During the summit, the Leaders' Declaration emphasized the importance of creating a strong, dependable, and all-inclusive DPI, that gives top priority to safety, security, trustworthiness, and accountability.
At the same time, it should respect data privacy, intellectual property, and human rights.
The G20 has given its approval to the voluntary G20 Framework for Digital Public Infrastructure Systems, and India's proposal for a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository.
The forum also acknowledged the One Future Alliance initiative, designed to assist low-and middle-income countries with DPI implementation.
India DPI story major draw
India's leadership in this arena stands out, evident in its decade-long commitment to investing in and constructing Digital Public Infrastructure which has acted as a foundational element for inclusive economic growth. Notable initiatives such as BharatNet and Aadhaar, along with newer platforms like UPI and ONDC, have yielded significant impact at scale.
United Payments Interface (“UPI”) has become something of a global benchmark for the successful implementation of real-time (digital) payments or “RTP” and we are seeing countries around the world attempt to replicate this network - with for example UAE and KSA being the fastest growing RTP markets globally post launch of their UPI equivalents.
DPI: Gateway to drive inclusion?
According to some estimates, over 1.4 Billion adults remain financially excluded of which 50% are in 7 developing countries. It is here that cost-efficient open networks like the UPI can play a crucial role in driving access to formal banking and credit.
The large (and growing) financial gap for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) is another gap that DPI can help address. Over 40% of MSMEs in emerging and developing markets do not have access to formal financing options with women-owned businesses the worst impacted.
This will also promote digital equality - another key agenda item of the summit. Women are not just excluded from financial services, they are also much less likely to have access to smartphones making for a strong digital divide. Cheaper devices, better provision of broadband, and urbanization are expected to bridge this gap.
Global Collaboration?
The discussions and decisions at the G20 reflect a shared commitment to harnessing technology and digital infrastructure for societal betterment.
This principle, proven effective in addressing the challenges of a billion-plus population in India, is now gaining global acceptance as countries strive to unlock the power of inclusive growth within their national borders.
With DPI, countries can use Digital Public Goods, building blocks and open APIs to build shared digital systems. This will enable equitable access through cross-country collaboration.
In a rapidly advancing digital age, the free flow of data across borders is essential for innovation, economic growth, social progress and transformative change. Achieving this will require that data is harnessed in interoperable rather than fragmented national infrastructures. Cross-border data flows (CBDFs) offer opportunities for global collaboration, economic growth and scalable solutions to challenges like climate change
Having a strong understanding of “data as infrastructure” will only become more vital as populations grow and economies and societies become increasingly reliant on getting value from data to meet people’s needs and deliver on global ambitions.
The summit has rightly focused on India's growth potential and the role it can play in fostering the adoption of DPI worldwide.
Amid rapid technological progress, investing in DPI is essential for global development. The recent Indian G20 presidency recognized this as a key priority. DPI ensures inclusive digital access, transparency and interoperability, akin to vital public services.
Exciting times ahead as we collectively pave the way for a digitally inclusive world! 💬🚀
Do you agree that the G20 declaration will further drive the adoption of DPI the world over?
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