India’s G-20 leadership has given the nation a chance to highlight its technological advances, notably in the areas of data infrastructure and data governance. The G20 has acknowledged the need for international cooperation and collaboration in tackling the challenges, possibilities, and hazards offered by the fast expansion of data and digital technologies as the world becomes more digital.
Both the use of digital technology to provide access to bank accounts and the marketing of digital transactions through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other choices have made significant strides.
Stakeholders are excited and worried about the introduction of India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA), a consent management tool. On the one hand, by providing people more choice over how their personal information is used and shared, DEPA has the potential to enhance data protection and privacy for individuals. DEPA might contribute to the growth of public confidence in digital technologies and data governance by enabling people to simply maintain and regulate their data consents. DEPA does, however, come with concerns, notably those related to privacy and security. Personal information may be exploited or misappropriated if the consent management tool is not properly deployed or managed.
Moreover, there are worries that DEPA may not be implemented consistently across all industries and jurisdictions, which might reduce its efficacy and cause citizen confusion. The instrument must be used in a transparent, consistent, and secure manner in order to realise the potential benefits of DEPA and reduce the hazards. The creation of precise and practical rules and standards, as well as strong cooperation between the government, business community, civil society, and other stakeholders, will be necessary to achieve this.
While the achievements in financial inclusion and the effective deployment of the UPI in India are noteworthy, it remains to be seen if these developments can be duplicated successfully in other sectors such as health and agriculture. Digital technologies may improve access to healthcare, especially in rural and distant places, and they can also help farmers become more self-reliant and earn more money.Yet, there are issues with infrastructure, connection, and the availability of a competent human labour on the one hand, as well as security and privacy on the other. In addition, there are worries about possible information and data misuse in these industries. For instance, there is a chance that private medical data might be misused or exploited in the health sector, while in agriculture there is a chance that market data could be manipulated to favour particular actors.
The ownership and administration of the data created and gathered in the fields of agriculture and medicine is another problem. What are the data suppliers’ rights? And what obligations do we have to them? The state has to play a vital role in addressing and resolving such situations. It goes without saying that data governance must be an active, responsible process that is always evolving. But, it must be based on fundamental rights, values, and conventions as well as on laws that strike a balance between the interests of all parties involved. Strong and comprehensive data protection laws, the establishment of moral and responsible data governance procedures, and efficient and accountable oversight systems are required to solve these issues.
The problem of data sovereignty has grown in significance. The concept of “data sovereignty” refers to both the informational autonomy of people about personal data as well as the right of a nation to regulate the collection, storage, and use of data inside its boundaries.India has made progress in data sharing and data governance with the formation of the India Data Management Office (IDMO). In order to guarantee that these initiatives are in line with the national aims and values, the IDMO is supposed to supervise and coordinate the execution of India’s digital strategy and data governance framework.Additionally, it will work to encourage the creation and application of open-source solutions, which will contribute to ensuring that the underlying data architectures are a social public good, and to encourage the development of digital technologies so that they are available and affordable to everyone. Once more, India has a fantastic potential to provide solutions that may be used and modified in other nations. Alternatives to proprietary solutions controlled by major IT corporations, such as open source and open innovation methods, can be very helpful.
Several observers have urged for the opening of data “silos” in this context in order to realise the potential benefits of data sharing across governmental agencies, businesses, and individuals. While opening up certain data silos may be good in boosting public involvement and improving access to information, others may risk confidence and security.Sharing delicate personal or financial information, for instance, may be detrimental to both people and society as a whole since it might result in prejudice, exclusion, and other unintended negative effects. India must thus find a medium ground between limiting data sovereignty and unrestricted data flow, and define which data, for what uses, may be shared and utilised by whom.
In order to achieve sustainable development, India must balance the interests of all stakeholders, including governments, corporations, and individuals, and respect and safeguard the basic right to privacy.
To achieve a resilient data governance regime, it is necessary to develop clear, transparent, and accountable data governance policies and regulations as well as to invest in the necessary digital infrastructure and skills. This will ensure that data is collected, stored, and used in a responsible, secure, and accountable manner.
Conclusion: While improvements in financial inclusion and UPI show promise for the transmission of data, among other things, to other components of the India Stack (such as in health and agriculture), there are also legitimate skepticical points that must be taken into consideration. A unified software platform called India Stack offers digital public goods, application interfaces, and promotes digital inclusion. Before these developments can be fully realised in other industries, the issues of digital infrastructure, privacy protection, data security, and responsible data governance must be resolved.
The India Stack must also be developed and put into use in a manner that is compatible with India’s larger development plans. The creation of a safe, more equitable, and trustworthy digital future for all will be supported rather than hampered by this, helping to guarantee that data governance is in line with the nation’s values and goals. India has a rare chance to create and put into practise a data governance framework that might serve as a template for other nations in this regard.