The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, August 5, 2026; The Government on Wednesday highlighted the progress made under the Digital India programme, outlining a wide range of initiatives aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, enhancing cyber security, safeguarding personal data and accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence across the country.
Responding in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said the Digital India programme, launched in 2015, is built around three core objectives—strengthening digital infrastructure, delivering government services digitally and empowering citizens through digital literacy and employment opportunities.
The government said internet connectivity has expanded significantly over the past decade through flagship programmes such as BharatNet. As of June 2026, 2.21 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service-ready under BharatNet, while 24,784 mobile towers have been commissioned under the Digital Bharat Nidhi-funded mobile scheme. Telephone connections have increased from 93.3 crore in 2014 to more than 133 crore in March 2026, while internet subscribers have risen from 25.15 crore to 109.27 crore during the same period.
Highlighting India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, the government said affordable internet and interoperable digital platforms have transformed service delivery. Aadhaar has generated more than 1.44 billion digital identities, while Direct Benefit Transfer has enabled over ₹52 lakh crore to be transferred directly to beneficiaries under 318 welfare schemes administered by 56 ministries.
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) continues to dominate India’s digital payments ecosystem, serving over 55.49 crore users, 6.5 crore merchants and 731 banks. According to the government, UPI now accounts for nearly 85 per cent of India’s digital payments and almost half of global real-time digital payment transactions.
Digital governance platforms have also expanded their reach. DigiLocker has over 71.66 crore registered users with more than 936 crore digital documents issued. The UMANG platform offers 2,575 citizen services, while e-Sanjeevani has facilitated healthcare consultations for more than 48 crore patients. More than five lakh Common Services Centres are currently operational across the country, with nearly four lakh functioning at the Gram Panchayat level.
The government also emphasised its focus on digital skills and employment. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan, over 6.39 crore people have been trained in digital literacy. FutureSkills Prime, implemented in collaboration with NASSCOM, has registered more than 34 lakh candidates, while over 23 lakh have enrolled in emerging technology courses.
On the economic front, the IT and ITeS sector generated an estimated USD 283 billion in revenue during FY25, with more than 2,100 Global Capability Centres employing around 26 lakh professionals in areas including engineering, analytics, cyber security and artificial intelligence.
The government said it continues to encourage innovation through 73 Software Technology Parks of India centres, most of them located in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and through the GENESIS scheme, which aims to support around 1,600 technology startups via 65 incubation centres.
Detailing cyber security initiatives, the government highlighted the roles of the National Cyber Security Coordinator, CERT-In, the National Cyber Coordination Centre, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre. Awareness campaigns on cyber hygiene, online safety and deepfake prevention are also being carried out through multiple digital platforms.
On data privacy, the government said the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, along with the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the lawful processing of digital personal data. The framework provides for consent-based data processing, phased implementation over an 18-month period and the establishment of the Data Protection Board.
The government also reiterated its commitment to advancing artificial intelligence through the IndiaAI Mission, approved with an outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore over five years. The mission focuses on AI computing infrastructure, indigenous foundation models, AI applications, AI skills development, datasets through AIKosh, responsible AI governance and startup financing to build a secure, inclusive and globally competitive AI ecosystem.
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