DPI@2047 Roadmap: Digital Public Infrastructure Strategy for Viksit Bharat

29 Apr 2026

Recently, the NITI Aayog launched the DPI@2047 roadmap to guide India’s next phase of digital transformation.

The roadmap aims to leverage Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for inclusive, productivity-led growth and to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

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DPI@2047 Roadmap

What is Digital Public Infrastructure?

Definition: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a set of foundational digital systems that forms the backbone of modern societies.
- Functions as a digital public good because it is designed to be widely accessible, non-exclusionary by design, and capable of supporting multiple services across sectors
Purpose: DPI enables secure and seamless interactions between people, businesses and governments.

Core Pillars of DPI

Digital Identity Layer: The digital identity layer enables accurate verification of individuals so that services and benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.
Digital Document Infrastructure: The digital document layer allows storage, access, and verification of official documents, reducing dependence on physical paperwork.
Data Exchange and Consent Layer: The data exchange layer enables secure and consent-based sharing of data, which improves service efficiency while protecting user autonomy.
Digital Payments Layer: The digital payments layer enables fast, low-cost, and secure financial transactions that support financial inclusion and formalization.
Interoperable Platforms: Interoperability ensures that multiple service providers can build applications on common digital rails without creating silos.

About DPI@2047 Roadmap

It is a strategic roadmap that charts the next phase of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure journey as a driver of inclusive, non-linear, and productivity-led growth.
Institutional Collaboration: The roadmap, developed in partnership with EkStep Foundation and Deloitte,
Two Phased Strategy: It sets out a two-phase path for India’s digital transformation:
- DPI 2.0 (2025–2035) to drive livelihood-led growth at scale
- DPI 3.0 (2035–2047) to enable broad-based prosperity.

DPI 2.0

DPI 2.0 (Digital Public Infrastructure 2.0) refers to the next phase of India’s digital transformation, which builds upon the foundational systems of DPI 1.0 and focuses on sector-specific applications and inclusive growth.
Under DPI 2.0, the roadmap identifies eight sectoral transformations to address structural bottlenecks across sectors such as :
- MSMEs
- Agriculture
- Education
- health
  while strengthening systemic enablers such as credit, decentralised energy, and benefit delivery.
To translate intent into outcomes, it outlines four execution imperatives:
- district-led demand aggregation
- scaling technology entrepreneurship
- leveraging AI, and deploying cross-sector unlocks through better data use, digital transactions, stronger human capacity, and the democratisation of AI

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Challenges in DPI@2047 Roadmap

Raises Data Privacy and Security Concerns: The large-scale use of data in DPI creates risks related to data breaches, surveillance, and misuse of personal information.Weak enforcement of data protection norms can undermine public trust.
Persists Digital Divide: Unequal access to internet connectivity, digital devices, and digital literacy limits the reach of DPI.Marginalized groups, rural populations, and elderly citizens may be left behind.
- Limited internet penetration in remote areas restricts effective use of platforms like Unified Payments Interface.
Faces Capacity Constraints at District Level: Successful implementation depends on local administrative capacity, which remains uneven across districts. Lack of trained personnel and institutional readiness can slow adoption.
- District-level officials may struggle to implement data-driven governance tools without adequate training.
Encounters Regulatory Challenges in AI Deployment: Rapid integration of AI raises issues of ethical governance, accountability, and algorithmic bias.
- Absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework may lead to misuse or unintended consequences.
Risks Exclusion due to Tech-Dependence: Over-reliance on digital systems may exclude those without access or skills, leading to digital exclusion and inequality. System failures or authentication issues can disrupt essential services.
- For Example: Biometric authentication failures in Aadhaar have occasionally led to denial of welfare benefits.

Significance of DPI@2047 Roadmap

Promotes Productivity-Led Growth: The roadmap shifts focus from mere GDP expansion to enhancing productivity, quality employment, and income levels.
- By leveraging DPI in sectors like MSMEs and agriculture, it aims to improve efficiency and market access.
- Digital platforms built on Unified Payments Interface enable faster transactions, reducing costs and increasing business productivity.
Enables Population-Scale Innovation: DPI acts as digital rails, allowing innovations to scale rapidly across geographies and sectors.
- It reduces entry barriers for startups and innovators by providing open and interoperable infrastructure.
Strengthens AI–DPI Synergy: The integration of AI with DPI creates a data-rich ecosystem that enhances decision-making and service delivery. India gains an edge in the global AI race through:
- Availability of large-scale public datasets
- Strong digital infrastructure
- Vernacular and inclusive access
Advances Inclusive Development: DPI reduces structural inequalities by ensuring equitable access to services and opportunities.
- It helps bridge:
  - Rural–urban divide
  - Digital divide
  - Income inequality
Strengthens Cooperative Federalism: The roadmap empowers states by providing flexible, adaptable digital frameworks.
- It encourages state-led innovation and localized implementation strategies.
- States can customize DPI-based platforms for sectors like health and education, improving governance outcomes at the grassroots level.

Way Forward

Recommended Action Plan for DPI 2.0

Decentralised State-Led Execution: DPI 2.0 should be driven by states as primary implementers, ensuring contextual solutions.
- Ownership and accountability to remain with states for better last-mile delivery.
- Government of India and NITI Aayog to act as catalysts and enablers.
- Support to include:
  - Financial assistance and incentives
  - Policy guidance and standard-setting
  - Inter-state coordination and knowledge sharing
  - Ecosystem collaboration (startups, private sector, civil society)
Adopt Collaborative 2-year Iterative cycles of Transformations: 2-year iterative cycles, with each cycle focusing on a specific set of sectoral transformations.
- Year 1 of each cycle will focus on working with few champion States/UTs on lighthouse pilot implementations for selected transformations to figure out exemplar pathways and demonstrate impact.
- Year 2 can focus on building ecosystem capacity and scaling the adoption of exemplar pathways figured out in year 1 across states.
Neutral Ecosystem Body for Global Engagement: Establish a globally focused initiative by 2027 under a neutral, multi-stakeholder framework.
- Develop in collaboration with international partners, multilateral institutions, and industry stakeholders.
Strengthening Data Governance and Privacy: India must ensure effective implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 by adopting a privacy-by-design approach, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and establishing independent oversight to enhance trust and prevent misuse of personal data.
Bridging the Digital Divide: The government should accelerate connectivity through initiatives like BharatNet while promoting affordable devices, digital literacy, and inclusive design (vernacular and voice-based interfaces) to ensure equitable access for rural and marginalized populations.
Enhancing Local Capacity and Institutional Readiness: There is a need to build district-level administrative and technical capacity by training officials in digital governance, data analytics, and AI tools, along with fostering public-private partnerships to support implementation and innovation at the grassroots level.

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Aspect	DPI 1.0	DPI 2.0 (2025–2035)	DPI 3.0 (2035–2047)
Core Focus	Digital inclusion	Productivity & livelihood-led growth	Broad-based prosperity & advanced economy
Objective	Ensure access to basic digital services	Enhance efficiency, incomes, and employment	Achieve high-income, innovation-driven economy
Key Approach	Build foundational digital rails	Expand DPI into economic sectors	Integrate advanced technologies at scale
Major Components	Identity, payments, basic data sharing	Sector-specific DPIs (agriculture, MSMEs, health, education)	Advanced digital ecosystems across all sectors
Key Platforms	Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface	Sectoral platforms + AI-enabled systems	AI-driven, interoperable, intelligent systems
Role of Technology	Enable access and inclusion	Improve productivity using AI & data	Drive innovation, automation, and global leadership
Scale of Impact	Financial inclusion, DBT delivery	Livelihoods, MSME growth, service efficiency	Economy-wide transformation and prosperity
Governance Model	Centralised rollout	District-led, decentralised implementation	Highly adaptive, ecosystem-driven governance
Key Drivers	Identity + Payments + Connectivity	AI + Data + Entrepreneurship	Frontier tech (AI, Web3, advanced analytics)
Outcome	Inclusion (banking, welfare access)	Productivity, jobs, income growth	Viksit Bharat – high living standards and innovation economy