From Bengaluru to Africa: Six Nations Partner with UNDP to Replicate Karnataka’s Tech-Governance Framework

Bengaluru, September 01 (Karnataka Information):

The Government of Karnataka today proudly hosted a high-level delegation from the African Union and six African countries – Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia – which is visiting India to study the significant progress and experience gained by India in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

The study visit, undertaken with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), includes representatives from the digital/ICT sectors of the participating countries and senior officials from various relevant departments.

Interaction with Key Officials:

During their visit to Bengaluru, the delegation held extensive discussions with Karnataka Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (e-Governance) Mr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for e-Governance (CeG) Mr. T. Bhoobalan and other senior officials of CeG. The interaction showcased Karnataka’s approach to leveraging digital platforms for transparent governance, seamless service delivery and inclusive development.

Karnataka’s Milestones in E-Governance and the Role of CeG:

The delegation was briefed on the State’s model of designing and implementing digital services efficiently, transparently, and citizen-centrically. The meeting highlighted the key role played by Karnataka’s Centre for e-Governance (CeG), which is at the forefront of e-governance adoption in the country.

·        Digitization of administrative processes across various government departments.

·            Fostering convergence among departments and developing an integrated digital system with interoperability.

·            Facilitating data-driven decision-making and easy access to public services.

·            Adoption of emerging technologies and innovative digital solutions.

Computer Literacy made Mandatory for Government Employees:

The government, expressing its commitment to exchanging technological knowledge at the national and international levels, highlighted that the Computer Literacy Test (CLT) has been made mandatory for all government officials in the State. An incentive of Rs. 5,000 has been provided to those who were in service as of March 22, 2012 and passed the test by April 17, 2021.

It was explained that passing the test has been made a mandatory eligibility criterion for promotion and declaration of the probationary period.

The African delegation highly appreciated Karnataka’s model of technology-enabled governance and expressed keen interest in adopting similar digital systems in their respective countries.