Emergence and convergence of emerging digital technologies has been a driving factor for the governance to transform drastically. These technologies have been accepted as the new norm and have yielded way for fourth industrial revolution, thus, creating opportunities for an intelligent information society. Prudent application of digital technologies, particularly emerging technologies (ET) can serve as a valuable tool to catalyze governance towards Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) while adhering to the principles of good governance. As an instance, Artificial Intelligence (AI) augmented with power of data analytics can ensure that public decision-making processes are more consistent and contextualized. Indeed, these technological advancements are transforming many aspects of society especially governance. The pace at which these technologies are developing, transforming and converging governance landscape, creates an inevitable need to upskill the stakeholders. It means to evoke deliberations on various aspects that stay more relevant for a diverse and developing country like India and its citizenry.
‘Digital transformation’ has already become the new governance paradigm. Digital India had put the nation-state on the path of being ‘paperless’, ‘faceless’ and ‘cashless’ and now this has been coupled with an urgent need of being ‘contact-less’ too. In view of this, the present stream is an attempt to respond to the urgency of appreciating the changing landscape of digital governance with special reference to Indian context and its latest endeavours like India Stack. India being a populous diversified country with resource constraints must constantly strive to ensure that public services are delivered effectively and efficiently using digital technologies as means and not the end itself. The nature and scope of citizen involvement in public service innovation would define the new shape of public service delivery scenario, which must be understood. Indeed, this course has been designed for the all those who would like to fathom various building blocks of this broad multidisciplinary landscape of digital transformation of governance, with special reference to India.
