Google and DIT join hands over Digital India Initiatives

With focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a Digital India, Google has come up with some initiatives that will help realize this dream. Google will run a number of campaigns as part of the Government of India’s Digital India programme. The highlights are:

●     MyGov, the citizen engagement platform of the Government and Google are collaborating to launch a nationwide contest to develop a mobile app for the PM's Office. The mobile app will bring the PMO to every citizen and the contest will showcase how Indians can build a world- class app.
●     Google India will continue to build a vibrant language ecosystem online and help the Government transition into the increasingly “mobile” India.
●     Programmes such as Helping Women get Online, getting Indian SMEs Online and showcasing India’s rich heritage and culture online will further promote the digital empowerment of citizens.
●     Additionally, to encourage digital literacy and Internet safety curriculums for schools, officials and elected representatives will be introduced.

R. S. Sharma, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, said, “It can truly transform India and bring it on par with other developed countries. I am happy Google is coming forward to roll out initiatives that will contribute to the Digital India vision. I am sure others will come forward and join this moment.”

Rajan Anandan, Vice-President & Managing Director, Google India, said, “India is already home to the third-largest number of Internet users globally with 245 million users, as of June 2014.  We are on track to become the second-largest user market by 2015 and a 500 million-user market by 2016. Yet, there are more than a billion people who will need to be brought online for India to realize the vision of a digitally connected, knowledge economy. Prime Minister Modi's Digital India programme will play a transformational role in achieving this, and we are excited to be making a meaningful contribution by rolling out several initiatives in collaboration with the Government of India.”

Google is working with the Department of Information Technology and other State Governments to develop these initiatives. The company also welcomes the Prime Minister’s vision of enhancing information highways, as part of the Digital India programme. The Prime Minister’s idea of M-Governance for mobile governance has the potential to revolutionize service delivery and provide good governance to people across the length and breadth of India.