Karnataka Hosts African Union, Five African Nations for Digital Public Infrastructure Exposure Visit
Bengaluru, September 1: The Karnataka government hosted a high-level delegation of senior officials from the African Union and five African countries — Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia — as part of an exposure visit to India to study the country’s experience and progress in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
The delegation, visiting India with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), comprises senior officials representing the digital and ICT sectors and relevant line ministries of the participating countries.
During the Bengaluru visit, the delegation held discussions with Karnataka Chief Secretary Dr Shalini Rajneesh, DPAR (e-Governance) Principal Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Centre for e-Governance (CeG) Chief Executive Officer T. Bhoobalan and other senior CeG officials.
The Karnataka government presented its experience in using digital technologies and platforms to strengthen governance, improve public service delivery and promote inclusive development. The delegation was briefed on the State’s approach to designing, implementing and scaling digital initiatives.
Discussions focused on the role of Digital Public Infrastructure in enabling efficient, accessible, transparent and citizen-centric delivery of government services.
The delegation was also briefed on the role of the Centre for e-Governance in supporting the State’s digital transformation and strengthening the use of Information and Communication Technology in governance and public service delivery.
According to the government, CeG supports departments in digitising administrative processes and public services, developing integrated digital platforms, promoting interoperability among government systems and enabling service delivery through digital channels.
Its work also includes supporting data-driven decision-making, strengthening the technology ecosystem for citizen-centric services and facilitating the adoption of emerging technologies and innovative digital solutions across government departments.
The State government also informed the delegation that the Computer Literacy Test has been made mandatory for all government officials. A ₹5,000 incentive was provided for those who were in service as on March 22, 2012, and passed the test on or before April 17, 2021. Passing the Computer Literacy Test is also treated as an eligibility requirement for promotion and declaration of the probation period.
The Karnataka government reiterated its commitment to knowledge exchange and collaboration with national and international partners to promote innovative, inclusive and scalable digital solutions.
About the Author
