ORF T20 Side Event | Empowering Citizens Digitally: Building Affordable, Accessible and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure

Theme of Panel 

The role of digital public infrastructure (DPI) – foundational population-scale technology systems that enable functions essential for public and private service delivery – has become increasingly important in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine. Countries with robust DPIs will be able build back better, withstand geopolitical shocks, and create business opportunities. As President of the G20 in 2023, India is uniquely positioned to mainstream DPIs into the broader global digital agenda. India is a leader in this domain, having successfully implemented and scaled digital identity (Aadhaar) and payment (UPI) systems, for instance. In the process, it has enabled access to government services and private innovation, especially at the last mile, across a wide range of development sectors including health and education. Efforts are being made to institutionalise DPIs in different parts of the world and it is imperative to channel these experiences and learn from them.

Some of the questions the panel will explore are:

1. What are the core qualities of reliable and secure DPIs, and how can they be scaled?

2. What are the big lessons from some of India’s most successful DPI initiatives?

3. How can digital infrastructures and applications built upon them accelerate outcomes in sectors such as health and education?

4. What kinds of funding mechanisms could support the creation of DPIs? And how might these mechanisms impact their governance?

5. How can cross-learning be facilitated and knowledge shared systematically across G20 nations?

Click here to register to attend the event. 

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Programme

03:00-03:05pm | Welcome Address by Nilanjan Ghosh, Director, T20 Secretariat, Centre for New Economic Diplomacy & ORF Kolkata, India

03:05-03:10pm | Moderator’s Introduction by Anirban Sarma, Chair, T20 Task Force 2, ‘Our Common Digital Future’ and Senior Fellow, ORF

03:10-4:10pm | Panel Discussion

Discussants:

Nele Leosk, Ambassador-at-Large, Digital Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia.

Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director, British Council, East and Northeast India

Tirumala Santra Mandal, Associate Vice President, Research and Communication, Ikure Techsoft

Varun Kaul, Program Officer (Digital Health), South Asia Hub, PATH

Anisha Singh Motwani, Founder and CEO, Havas QED and National Council Member, WICCI Arts Leadership Council

Vivek Abraham, Volunteer, iSPIRT

04:10-04:30pm | Interactive Q & A 

04:30-05:00pm | High Tea

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*This schedule is subject to change.