Can Digital Public Infrastructure Truly Unlock Inclusivity for All?

The adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) at the UN Summit on September 22, 2024, heralds a new era in global cooperation on digital governance. This initiative, embraced by the 193-member UN General Assembly, aims to ensure that technology serves everyone. Following the launch of the Universal Safeguards for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative in 2023 by the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, the emphasis on equitable digital access has never been more pronounced.

India is at the forefront of the digital public infrastructure (DPI) discourse, showcasing its extensive experience with Aadhaar and a record 14.96 billion real-time digital transactions in August. As India champions DPIs, it highlights their potential to drive economic development, especially in the Global South. The DPI movement is gaining traction, with the World Bank’s ID4D program aiding 60 countries and initiatives like G2Px active in 35. India’s Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) collaborates with 11 nations to enhance digital infrastructure. However, the UN’s safeguard framework emphasizes the need for careful management and regulation to prevent the unchecked proliferation of DPIs.

As DPI initiatives expand in India, conducting impact assessments becomes crucial for tracking success and refining designs to ensure accessibility for all citizens. Without these evaluations, governments risk investing in infrastructures that may not meet their goals or could worsen inequalities. While DPIs have notably improved financial inclusion—raising bank account ownership from 25% in 2008 to over 80% today—deeper questions about their tangible impacts on livelihoods and social agency remain. Establishing a direct link between digital innovations like UPI and real-world outcomes, such as income growth, is challenging due to a lack of reliable data and nuanced analysis of socio-economic effects.

To address challenges in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), a framework of design, data, and dialogue is essential. Integrating impact assessments, ensuring data accessibility, and engaging diverse stakeholders will foster transparency and accountability. Prioritizing these assessments allows the government to implement corrective actions, ensuring DPIs uplift millions and promote inclusivity.