“Digital India on the back of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future of e-governance in India”, quoted former UIDAI chief and non-executive chairman of Infosys, Nandan Nilekani at the fifth anniversary of the Digital India Program.

E-governance has been a buzz ever since the UN called its members to integrate AI applications and enhance their governance procedures. India too has dived into this buzz with the Digital India program holding the torch.

Digital technology-backed programs like Aadhar expansion, Common Services Centres, Direct Benefit Transfer, UMANG services, etc. have occupied a huge proportion of India’s e-governance model. E-government schemes like PM-Kisan, e-NAM, Ayushman Bharat, e-hospital, e-Pathshala, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, etc. have brought better governance to remote areas.

Moreover, the launch of the ‘National AI Portal’ and ‘Responsible AI for Youth’ is expected to take Indian governance to an AI-powered future.

However, according to Nilekani, “We have completed one part of the journey, but we have to continue applying technology to governance”. “In the last few years, our focus has been on transactional efficiency, but the kind of digitization we are doing means that we will create massive amounts of data in the public space. The time has come to apply AI in a big way to drive insights from this, which will enable India to progress further”, he added.

'Applying AI in governance will let India leapfrog many developmental, infrastructural constraints'

• AI systems can be used to monitor developmental projects. For instance, in a toilet construction program, the AI software can detect the location and physical state of the toilets and thus weed out improper construction or usage within seconds.
• AI systems in agriculture can help farmers maximize productivity. The farmers can use available data relating to weather, groundwater, soil conditions, and cropping patterns, and get practical inputs about the whats and whens of sowing, fertilizing, irrigation, and harvesting.
• AI tools can track down criminals. Using the data from the ever-growing number of CCTV cameras, AI tools like face recognition can be used to track down goons and criminals.
• Wide-scale adoption of AI can reduce energy losses. By using AI, renewable energy generators can better predict grid load management and increase their efficiencies. This would ultimately make the adoption of renewables cost-effective.
• The use of AI systems can lead to increased governance. With the use of AI, the Power Ministry can provide enhanced renewable energy forecasting, weather monitoring, and generating electricity requirements in a region.
• AI solutions to emerging trends. Digital transformation via AI can help governments become more responsive to emerging trends and incorporate AI solutions accordingly.

However, to channelize this potential, it is quintessential for the myriad stakeholders including policymakers, innovators, academicians, and industry experts to collaborate and steer AI towards benevolent purposes. To summarize it in the words of Nilekani,

“If we want to make the government inclusive, we should be able to talk to people in their language of choice and we can do that through AI.”

Photo by Hansjörg Keller on Unsplash