In a quiet yet resolute voice, India’s former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away Thursday night at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, often spoke of the power of technology to shape a modern India.
While history rightly remembers him as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation in 1991, less is said about his significant contributions to the nation’s digital evolution and e-governance framework. Under his leadership, technology was not just a tool of governance but a transformative force that sought to make government services efficient, transparent, and accessible to all, according to senior officials and industry leaders.
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy described him as a gentleman, a scholar, and a value-based politician who led the economic reforms, under the guidance of Narasimha Rao, which laid a strong and durable foundation for the acceleration of India’s economic growth.
Despite India’s technological journey beginning in the 1970s with initiatives like the establishment of the Department of Electronics under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and gaining momentum under Rajiv Gandhi with NICNET and DISNIC in the 1980s, followed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government focus on information technology, connectivity, and setting the deck for the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), it was Dr. Singh’s vision and institutional approach that truly propelled India into the age of e-governance, laying the foundation for much of the digital transformation we see today.
Foundation for Digital India
In 2006, Dr. Singh’s administration launched the NeGP, an ambitious initiative that sought to integrate technology into public administration across the country. At its core, the NeGP aimed to make government services accessible to citizens through electronic means, thereby reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and increasing transparency.
The plan identified 27 mission mode projects (MMPs), ranging from land records and taxation to health and education, as critical areas for transformation. These projects were later expanded to 31 MMPs, addressing nearly every aspect of public governance.
Notable among these was the Passport Seva Project (PSP), which revolutionised the passport application process. Once a cumbersome, time-consuming ordeal, applying for a passport became efficient and user-friendly, setting a new benchmark for public service delivery and government experience (GX) in the country.
“Initiatives like the PSP under the NeGP set new benchmarks in efficiency and accessibility, making government services more citizen-centric and inclusive,” said Golok Kumar Simli, Chief Technology Officer, Passport Seva Program, Ministry of External Affairs, adding that Dr. Singh’s unwavering focus on leveraging technology for governance laid the foundation for a digitally empowered India.
Agreeing to this, Dr. Jaijit Bhattacharya, President, Centre for Digital Economy Policy Research (C-DEP), said, “Manmohan Singh played a key role in accelerating the adoption of technology in governance, building on the foundation his predecessor had brought into mainstream governance.”
Aadhaar: A Masterpieces of e-Governance
One of the most transformative initiatives during Dr. Singh’s tenure was the establishment of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which led to the creation of Aadhaar. This biometric-based digital identity was envisioned as a tool to streamline the delivery of subsidies, welfare schemes, and other government services.
While Aadhaar faced implementation challenges and legal scrutiny, its role in enabling financial inclusion and reducing leakages in welfare schemes is now widely acknowledged.
Dr. Singh’s government had the foresight to recognise the long-term potential of Aadhaar, even as it was met with scepticism in its initial stages. Today, it forms the backbone of several initiatives under the Digital India framework.
“The foundation of Aadhaar was laid during Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure, with significant initial work in funding, team-building, and infrastructure—critical to its success,” said J. Satyanarayana, former UIDAI chairman.
“Dr. Singh’s foundational support was crucial for Aadhaar’s success. Despite its complexity—spanning technology, operations, and regulations—India executed this massive initiative at scale, a truly remarkable achievement,” Satyanarayana added.
Concurring with this view, Dr. RS Sharma, who currently serves as non-executive chairperson of ONDC, said, “I think one of Dr. Manmohan Singh’s greatest contributions was initiating Aadhaar during his second tenure in 2009. At the time, I was the Director General of UIDAI, and Nandan Nilekani was the Chairman of the authority. Aadhaar is now central to India’s public delivery system and stands as one of the masterpieces of e-governance.”
According to Dr. Bhattacharya, the initiatives rolled out under Dr. Singh’s premiership had a lasting impact. “The NeGP evolved into the Digital India program, and Aadhaar remains integral to numerous government schemes and digital platforms,” he said.
Strengthening Public Service Delivery
Under Dr. Singh’s tenure, several MMPs were designed to improve governance at the grassroots level. The MCA21 project transformed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs into a fully automated, paperless organisation, making it easier for businesses to interact with the government.
Similarly, digital land records projects like the computerisation of land records sought to address one of the most contentious aspects of governance, ensuring greater transparency in property rights.
His government also established National Data Centres and data centres across the country to store and manage the vast amounts of data generated by e-governance projects. While these centres initially faced utilisation challenges, they formed the backbone of India’s growing digital infrastructure.
Programs like the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), later rebranded as BharatNet, aimed to connect rural India with high-speed internet, fostering digital inclusion. While BharatNet’s initial phases faced challenges, the groundwork laid during Dr. Singh’s tenure continues to shape India’s rural connectivity expansion today.
The National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), launched in 2012, promoted data transparency and innovation, encouraging broader use of government data.
Dr. Singh’s approach to technology was guided by a deep commitment to inclusivity. He envisioned technology as a bridge, not a barrier. Programmes under the NeGP aimed to empower rural India by connecting remote areas to essential services. Whether it was through Common Service Centres or rural broadband initiatives, his policies ensured that the benefits of technology reached the underserved.
Dr. Bhattacharya said, “He created institutional structures to enable a more widespread use of e-governance, not just within the central government but also by encouraging its adoption in the states.”
Dr. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, former director general of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), said that efforts were also made on capacity building and skilling youth through the deployment of technology.
“Skilling centres were established in the Northeast on the directions of Late Shri Manmohan Singh Ji, providing greater opportunities for youth in the region,” he said.
According to experts, Dr. Singh’s tenure must be viewed as part of a larger continuum. He recognised the importance of continuity in governance. He did not shy away from carrying forward initiatives from previous administrations, evaluating them on merit rather than political lines. His ability to build on Vajpayee-era projects, such as the early groundwork for NeGP, and turn them into nationwide programmes reflects his pragmatism and long-term vision.
“Each administration has played its part in using digital technology to simplify governance. Some have accelerated the efforts, while others have progressed at a different pace,” said Dr. RS Sharma.
Challenges, Lessons, and Policy
While Dr. Singh’s e-governance initiatives achieved remarkable success, they were not without challenges. Issues like the rapid obsolescence of hardware, underutilisation of data centres, and occasional inefficiencies in implementation offered critical lessons. Some of the hardware bought by NIC was never used and became obsolete. However, these experiences helped refine India’s approach to digital transformation, paving the way for more adaptive and sustainable policies in later years.
Dr. Bhattacharya pointed out, “More importantly, process-related issues, such as the procurement of software, hardware, and IT services—previously unfamiliar to the government outside of NIC—were addressed under his guidance. His contributions in this area are truly enormous.”
The tech community agrees that the former prime minister’s contributions to India’s technological and digital journey are often overshadowed by his economic legacy. Yet, his tenure as prime minister marked a turning point in how technology was integrated into governance.
According to Dr. Omkar Rai, who headed the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as a Director General for over a decade, one of Dr. Singh’s greatest achievements lies in laying the ‘foundational blocks’ for India’s economic and digital progress.
“Aadhaar, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), peer-to-peer payment systems, and UPI stand as hallmarks of Dr. Singh’s efforts to accelerate India’s technological and economic progress,” he said.
In 2007, his administration introduced the Special Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS) to promote electronic manufacturing in the country, which evolved into the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) in 2012. This policy became a cornerstone for establishing India’s electronics manufacturing sector.
Building on this, the National Policy on Electronics (NPE) provided a strong framework to advance electronic manufacturing further. Today’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for electronics manufacturing is a natural extension of the vision set during his tenure.
“In 2012, under his leadership, a series of government notifications laid the groundwork for these policies. Notable among them were the M-SIPS, the Electronic Manufacturing Clusters Scheme (EMC), the capacity building PhD programme, and the Preferential Market Access Programme,” said Satyanarayana.
“While some, like the Preferential Market Access Programme (PMA), faced challenges during implementation, these policies collectively formed the foundation for the subsequent ‘Make in India’ initiative,” he said, adding that “it is worth noting that these schemes received the support of subsequent governments, were strengthened, and have since been expanded.”
According to Satyanarayana, the most futurist notable effort was the piloting of a semiconductor fabrication (fab) initiative. At the time, it was a monumental task requiring massive efforts.
“I personally presented the proposal to the cabinet five times before it was finally approved. Unfortunately, due to various challenges, the initiative could not materialise at that time. However, after a decade, we now see renewed efforts and enthusiasm in this space. Back then, few companies were ready to step forward, but the bold attempt was significant nonetheless. If we had succeeded at that time, India would likely have had a stronger foothold in the semiconductor industry today,” he said.
“The semiconductor market is highly competitive, dominated by players from Taiwan, South Korea, and the US. Even so, the attempt made during that period was remarkable, showcasing India’s vision and ambition in this space,” he said.
According to Dr. Bhattacharya, a good part for India is its leader’s steadfast commitment to digital transformation. There is no single tech-driven policy that has been shed due to political reasons or not carried forward by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi—a good sign for making the country a truly ‘Digital India’.
