Digital India For You: MeriPehchaan: National Single Sign on

MeriPehchaan: National Single Sign in

Digital India Mere Pehchaan is a national single sign-on (SSO) service launched by the Government of India in 2022. It is a one-point gateway to access multiple online applications and services, using a single set of credentials.

Meri Pehchaan is built on the three existing government platforms - Jan Parichay, e-Pramaan, and DigiLocker. It authenticates users based on multiple parameters, such as username, mobile number, Aadhaar, and PAN.

Once a user has created a Meri Pehchaan account, they can use it to log in to any application or service that is onboarded with the platform. This eliminates the need to create separate accounts and remember different passwords for each application.

Meri Pehchaan offers several benefits to both users and application administrators. For users, it makes it easier to access government services and other online applications. It also helps to protect users from phishing attacks, as they only need to enter their credentials once to access multiple applications.

For application administrators, Meri Pehchaan reduces the burden of managing user authentication and authorization. It also helps to improve the security of their applications, as they can leverage the government's robust authentication infrastructure.

Meri Pehchaan is currently available for use by government agencies and select private organizations. It is expected to be rolled out to more organizations and citizens in the future.

Here are some examples of how Meri Pehchaan can be used:

• A citizen can use Meri Pehchaan to log in to their DigiLocker account and access their digital documents.
• A taxpayer can use Meri Pehchaan to log in to the Income Tax e-Filing website and file their taxes.
• A student can use Meri Pehchaan to log in to the National Scholarship Portal and apply for scholarships.
• A job seeker can use Meri Pehchaan to log in to the National Career Service portal and search for jobs.

Meri Pehchaan is an important step towards making Digital India a reality. It will make it easier for citizens to access government services and other online applications, while also improving the security of these applications.

#1 India’s Digital Transformation is underway

India’s Digital Transformation is underway 

1

As I was putting the final touches to the draft of this online book  Times of India reported that the Indian Parliament approved the Digital Personal Data Protection bill 2023 . This development among others illustrate the speed with which Digital India is transforming the way the government is serving citizens and how the nation is moving from traditional ways of conducting transactions- cash or paper to DIGITAL . 

Today in India we have available enough infrastructure, knowledge, exposure and experience needed for the successful practice of Digital India. National Government Services Portal (https://services.india.gov.in/) lists nearly 10,000 services most of them offered in fully online mode.  However, the percentage of people who are aware of these resources and applying them in their daily life for professional and personal purposes is very small compared to the rest of the population.

Let me give you an example.  As part of the digital India citizen services suite  the Indian government has made available a world class secure digital storage service called Digilocker. Digilocker is open and available to every Indian resident.  Residents can store and share documents securely. 

Digital India FOR YOU

Digital India FOR YOU

3rd Global Partnership on AI by India

Scaling Responsible AI Solution

The Technology Side of India Stack 

The Technology side of India Stack refers to the digital infrastructure platforms that are used to support the Resident side of India Stack. It includes the following platforms:

• Aadhaar: Aadhaar is a biometric identification system that provides every Indian with a unique digital identity. It is used to verify the identity of users for a variety of purposes, such as opening a bank account, applying for a loan, or voting in an election.
  Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

  Aadhaar biometric identification system logo
• eSign: eSign is a digital signature service that allows users to sign documents electronically. It is a secure and convenient way to sign documents, and it is accepted by many government agencies and businesses.
  Opens in a new windowblog.finahub.com

  eSign digital signature service logo
• DigiLocker: DigiLocker is a cloud-based storage service that allows users to store their personal documents, such as driving licenses, passports, and PAN cards. DigiLocker is a secure and convenient way to store personal documents, and it is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
  Opens in a new windowwww.business-standard.com

  DigiLocker cloud-based storage service logo
• UPI: UPI is a real-time payment system that allows users to send and receive money instantly using their mobile phones. UPI is a secure and convenient way to send and receive money, and it is accepted by most banks in India.
  Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

  UPI real-time payment system logo
• Account Aggregator (AA): Account Aggregator is a framework that allows financial institutions to share customer information with each other with the customer's consent. This makes it easier for customers to switch banks and get better financial products and services.
  Opens in a new windowsahamati.org.in

  Account Aggregator (AA) framework logo
• IndiaStack Open API: IndiaStack Open API is a set of APIs that allow developers to build applications on top of the India Stack platforms. This makes it easier for businesses to innovate and create new products and services.
  Opens in a new windowvajiramandravi.com

  IndiaStack Open API logo

The Technology side of India Stack is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way that Indian residents interact with the government and the private sector. It has the potential to make India a more inclusive and efficient society.

Here are some of the benefits of the Technology side of India Stack:

• Ease of use: The Technology side of India Stack is designed to be easy to use for both residents and businesses. This is important because it will make it more likely that people will adopt these technologies.
• Security: The Technology side of India Stack is designed to be secure. This is important because it will protect the personal information of residents and businesses.
• Scalability: The Technology side of India Stack is designed to be scalable. This is important because it will allow it to meet the growing demand for these technologies.
• Interoperability: The Technology side of India Stack is designed to be interoperable. This is important because it will allow different systems to work together.
• Innovation: The Technology side of India Stack is designed to be innovative. This is important because it will allow businesses to create new products and services that can improve the lives of Indian residents.

The Technology side of India Stack is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way that Indian residents interact with the government and the private sector. It has the potential to make India a more inclusive and efficient society.

The Resident Side of India Stack: Services and Benefits

The Resident side of India Stack is a set of digital infrastructure platforms that are designed to make it easier for Indian residents to access government services, financial services, and other essential services. It is a key component of the Indian government's Digital India initiative, which aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

The Resident side of India Stack includes the following services and applications:

• Aadhaar: Aadhaar is a biometric identification system that provides every Indian with a unique digital identity. It is used to verify the identity of users for a variety of purposes, such as opening a bank account, applying for a loan, or voting in an election.
  Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

  Aadhaar biometric identification system logo
• Aadhaar Pay: Aadhaar Pay is a digital payments system that allows users to make payments using their Aadhaar number and fingerprint. It is a zero-cost service for merchants and users. It is also a secure payment system as it uses biometric authentication to verify the identity of the user. Aadhaar Pay is currently being used by over 1 million merchants across India.
  Opens in a new windowm.indiamart.com

  Aadhaar Pay digital payments system logo
• Aadhaar eKYC: Aadhaar eKYC is a service that allows businesses to verify the identity of their customers using their Aadhaar number and fingerprint. It is a quick and easy way to verify the identity of customers, and it helps to reduce fraud. Aadhaar eKYC is currently being used by banks, telecom companies, and other businesses across India.
  Opens in a new windowgovernment.economictimes.indiatimes.com

  Aadhaar eKYC service logo
• DigiLocker: DigiLocker is a cloud-based storage service that allows users to store their personal documents, such as driving licenses, passports, and PAN cards. DigiLocker is a secure and convenient way to store personal documents, and it is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. DigiLocker is currently being used by over 10 million users across India.
  Opens in a new windowwww.business-standard.com

  DigiLocker cloud-based storage service logo
• eSign: eSign is a digital signature service that allows users to sign documents electronically. It is a secure and convenient way to sign documents, and it is accepted by many government agencies and businesses. eSign is currently being used by over 5 million users across India.
  Opens in a new windowwww.gstsuvidhakendra.org

  eSign digital signature service logo
• UPI: UPI is a real-time payment system that allows users to send and receive money instantly using their mobile phones. UPI is a secure and convenient way to send and receive money, and it is accepted by most banks in India. UPI is currently being used by over 250 million users across India.
  Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

  UPI real-time payment system logo

The Resident side of India Stack has a number of benefits for Indian residents, including:

• Ease of access to government services: The Resident side of India Stack makes it easier for Indian residents to access government services, such as opening a bank account, applying for a loan, or voting in an election. This is because the services and applications on the Resident side of India Stack can be accessed using Aadhaar, which is a unique digital identity that is issued to every Indian resident.
• Reduced fraud: The Resident side of India Stack helps to reduce fraud by using biometric authentication to verify the identity of users. This makes it more difficult for criminals to steal personal information and commit fraud.
• Improved efficiency: The Resident side of India Stack can help to improve the efficiency of government services and businesses. This is because the services and applications on the Resident side of India Stack can be accessed online, which can save time and money.
• Increased financial inclusion: The Resident side of India Stack can help to increase financial inclusion by making it easier for people who do not have a bank account to access financial services. This is because the services and applications on the Resident side of India Stack, such as Aadhaar Pay, can be used to make payments without a bank account.

The Resident side of India Stack is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way that Indian residents interact with the government and the private sector. It has the potential to make India a more inclusive and efficient society.

The Aadhaar Authentication Ecosystem

The Aadhaar Authentication ecosystem is a set of systems and processes that allow Aadhaar holders to authenticate themselves online. It is made up of the following components:

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): UIDAI is the government agency that issues Aadhaar numbers and manages the Aadhaar authentication ecosystem.
• Authentication Service Agencies (ASAs): ASAs are private companies that provide Aadhaar authentication services to businesses and government agencies.
• Authentication User Agencies (AUAs): AUAs are businesses and government agencies that use Aadhaar authentication services to verify the identity of their customers or users.
• Authentication Devices: Authentication devices are used to collect biometric and demographic data from Aadhaar holders and transmit it to the UIDAI for verification.

The Aadhaar authentication ecosystem works as follows:

1. An Aadhaar holder visits an AUA that offers Aadhaar authentication services.
2. The AUA provides the Aadhaar holder with an authentication device.
3. The Aadhaar holder collects their biometric and demographic data using the authentication device.
4. The authentication device transmits the data to the UIDAI for verification.
5. The UIDAI verifies the data and responds to the authentication device with a success or failure message.
6. The AUA informs the Aadhaar holder of the authentication result.

The Aadhaar authentication ecosystem is designed to be secure and reliable. The UIDAI uses a variety of security measures to protect Aadhaar data, including encryption, tokenization, and two-factor authentication. The authentication devices are also designed to be secure and tamper-proof.

The Aadhaar authentication ecosystem is used by a wide variety of businesses and government agencies. It is used for a variety of purposes, including:

• E-KYC: E-KYC is a process that allows businesses to verify the identity of their customers electronically. Aadhaar authentication can be used for e-KYC, which can save businesses time and money.
• Online payments: Aadhaar authentication can be used to verify the identity of online shoppers. This can help to prevent fraud and make online payments more secure.
• Government services: Aadhaar authentication can be used to verify the identity of citizens who are applying for government services. This can help to reduce corruption and make government services more efficient.

The Aadhaar authentication ecosystem is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the security and efficiency of a wide variety of processes. It is playing a significant role in the digital transformation of India.

How to integrate Aadhaar Authentication into a business process?

1. Register with UIDAI as an Authentication User Agency (AUA). An AUA is an organization that is authorized to use the Aadhaar authentication service. To register as an AUA, you will need to provide the UIDAI with your organization's details, including your name, address, and PAN number.
2. Get an Aadhaar authentication service provider. There are a number of Aadhaar authentication service providers (ASPs) that can help you integrate Aadhaar authentication into your business process. An ASP will provide you with the software and hardware that you need to perform Aadhaar authentication, as well as the support that you need to get started.
3. Configure your Aadhaar authentication solution. Once you have chosen an ASP, you will need to configure your Aadhaar authentication solution to meet the specific needs of your business process. This may involve setting up your Aadhaar authentication server, configuring your Aadhaar authentication software, and creating your Aadhaar authentication policies.
4. Implement Aadhaar authentication in your business process. Once your Aadhaar authentication solution is configured, you can start implementing it in your business process. This may involve adding Aadhaar authentication to your website, your mobile app, or your customer service process.
5. Monitor your Aadhaar authentication logs. It is important to monitor your Aadhaar authentication logs to ensure that the authentication process is working properly. This will help you to identify any potential problems and to take corrective action as needed.

Here are some additional tips for integrating Aadhaar authentication into a business process:

• Make sure that your Aadhaar authentication solution is secure. The Aadhaar authentication process involves the transmission of sensitive personal information, so it is important to take steps to protect this information.
• Make sure that your Aadhaar authentication solution is scalable. Aadhaar authentication is a popular service, so it is important to make sure that your solution can handle the volume of traffic that you expect.
• Make sure that your Aadhaar authentication solution is easy to use. The Aadhaar authentication process should be easy for your customers to understand and use.
• Make sure that your Aadhaar authentication solution is cost-effective. The cost of Aadhaar authentication should be reasonable and should not be a barrier to your customers using your service.

Lesson 01: India Stack: Open Developer Systems

India Stack: Open Developer Systems

 Lesson 0.1 :  Open Developer Systems

• The new developer realities- heterogeneity of operating systems, devices 

• Transition from IDE to Open Development Environment (ODE)- hourglass model of API

• Open API, Open Data, Industry practice 

• India Government’s Open Data Policy- implications for developers 

0.1.The new developer realities- heterogeneity of operating systems, devices

The heterogeneity of operating systems and devices is one of the new developer realities that is having a major impact on how software is developed and deployed. In the past, it was possible to develop software for a specific operating system and device and be confident that it would work on that platform. However, with the increasing diversity of devices and operating systems, this is no longer the case. Developers now need to take into account the different capabilities and limitations of each platform when developing software.

This heterogeneity of operating systems and devices is creating a number of challenges for developers. One challenge is that it can be difficult to test software on all of the different platforms that it needs to support. This can be time-consuming and expensive, and it can also lead to bugs that are only found on certain platforms.

Another challenge is that it can be difficult to develop software that is both efficient and portable. Developers need to be careful not to make assumptions about the capabilities of the target platform, as this can lead to performance problems or compatibility issues.

Finally, the heterogeneity of operating systems and devices can make it difficult to deploy software. Developers need to make sure that their software is packaged and distributed in a way that is compatible with the target platform. They also need to make sure that their software is properly installed and configured on the target device.

Despite the challenges, the heterogeneity of operating systems and devices also presents a number of opportunities for developers. By developing software that is compatible with a wide range of platforms, developers can reach a larger audience of users. They can also take advantage of the different capabilities of each platform to create more innovative and user-friendly software.

Here are some tips for developers who are facing the challenges of heterogeneity of operating systems and devices:

• Use cross-platform development tools and frameworks to make it easier to develop software that is compatible with multiple platforms.

• Test your software on a variety of platforms to make sure that it works as expected.

• Use a continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) pipeline to automate the testing and deployment of your software to multiple platforms.

• Document your software carefully so that it is easy for others to understand and use.

• Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in operating systems and devices so that you can adapt your software accordingly.

0.2 Transition from IDE to Open Development Environment (ODE)- hourglass model of API

The transition from IDE to ODE is a natural progression as the software development landscape continues to evolve. IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) have been the standard for software development for decades, but they are starting to show their age. IDEs are monolithic applications that are tightly coupled to specific programming languages and platforms. This makes them difficult to use for developing cross-platform or multi-language applications.

ODEs (Open Development Environments) are a new breed of development tools that are designed to be more flexible and portable than IDEs. ODEs are based on the hourglass model of API, which divides the software development process into three layers:

• The core layer provides the basic functionality for developing software, such as code editing, compilation, and debugging.

• The platform layer provides support for specific programming languages and platforms.

• The application layer provides the user interface and features for specific development tasks.

This layered architecture makes ODEs more flexible and portable than IDEs. ODEs can be used to develop software for any programming language or platform, simply by changing the platform layer. This makes ODEs ideal for developing cross-platform or multi-language applications.

In addition to being more flexible and portable, ODEs are also more modular than IDEs. This means that ODEs can be customized to meet the specific needs of developers. Developers can choose the components that they need and add or remove components as needed. This makes ODEs more efficient and cost-effective than IDEs.

The transition from IDE to ODE is still in its early stages, but it is clear that ODEs are the future of software development. ODEs offer a number of advantages over IDEs, including flexibility, portability, and modularity. As the software development landscape continues to evolve, ODEs will become increasingly popular.

Here are some of the benefits of using an ODE:

• Flexibility: ODEs are more flexible than IDEs because they are based on the hourglass model of API. This means that ODEs can be used to develop software for any programming language or platform, simply by changing the platform layer.

• Portability: ODEs are more portable than IDEs because they are not tied to a specific programming language or platform. This makes ODEs ideal for developing cross-platform or multi-language applications.

• Modularity: ODEs are more modular than IDEs, which means that developers can choose the components that they need and add or remove components as needed. This makes ODEs more efficient and cost-effective than IDEs.

• Community: ODEs have a large and active community of developers who are constantly contributing new features and bug fixes. This means that ODEs are constantly evolving and improving.

0.3 Open API, Open Data, Industry practice

Open API and Open Data are two important concepts in the software development industry. They both involve the sharing of data and functionality, but they do so in different ways.

• Open API is a standard way of describing a RESTful API. It provides a machine-readable description of the API, including the endpoints, parameters, and data formats. This makes it easy for developers to consume Open APIs in their own applications.

• Open Data is a term used to describe data that is made freely available to the public. This data can be used by anyone, for any purpose. Open Data is often used to create new applications and services that benefit society.

Both Open API and Open Data are becoming increasingly popular in the software development industry. They offer a number of benefits, including:

• Increased innovation: Open APIs and Open Data allow developers to build new applications and services that were not possible before. This can lead to new innovations and economic growth.

• Improved collaboration: Open APIs and Open Data make it easier for developers to collaborate on projects. This can lead to better quality applications and services.

• Increased transparency: Open APIs and Open Data make it easier for people to understand how systems work. This can lead to increased trust and accountability.

04. India Government’s Open Data Policy- implications for developers 

In terms of industry practice, Open API and Open Data are becoming increasingly adopted by businesses and organizations. A number of large companies, such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, have released Open APIs that allow developers to access their data and functionality. Governments are also increasingly releasing Open Data, with the goal of making government more transparent and accountable.

The use of Open API and Open Data is still in its early stages, but it is clear that they are here to stay. As these technologies continue to mature, they will play an increasingly important role in the software development industry.

Here are some examples of how Open API and Open Data are being used in industry practice:

• Financial services: Banks and other financial institutions are using Open API to allow developers to create new financial applications, such as budgeting tools and investment platforms.

• Ecommerce: Ecommerce companies are using Open API to allow developers to create new shopping experiences, such as product recommendation engines and checkout widgets.

• Healthcare: Healthcare organizations are using Open Data to create new patient portals and research tools.

• Government: Governments are using Open Data to create new maps, applications, and services.

India's government has been working to make government data more accessible to the public through its Open API and Data Policy. This policy has a number of implications for developers, including:

• Increased access to government data: The Open API and Data Policy will make it easier for developers to access government data. This data can be used to create new applications and services that benefit society. For example, developers can use government data to create maps, applications, and services that help people find government services, track government spending, and stay informed about government activities.

• New opportunities for innovation: The Open API and Data Policy will create new opportunities for innovation. Developers will be able to use government data to create new applications and services that were not possible before. This could lead to new innovations in a variety of sectors, such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

• Improved collaboration: The Open API and Data Policy will make it easier for developers to collaborate on projects. Developers will be able to share government data with each other, which will help them to create better applications and services. This could lead to new and improved applications and services in a variety of sectors.

• Increased transparency: The Open API and Data Policy will increase transparency in government. Developers will be able to see how government data is being used, which will help to increase trust in government. This could lead to a more accountable and responsive government.

Overall, the India government's Open API and Data Policy has a number of positive implications for developers. It will make it easier for developers to access government data, create new applications and services, collaborate with each other, and increase transparency in government. These changes could lead to new innovations and economic growth in India.

Here are some specific examples of how developers can use India's Open API and Data Policy to create new applications and services:

• A developer could create a map of government services in a particular city. This map could show the location of government offices, as well as the services that they offer.

• A developer could create an application that helps people track government spending. This application could show how much money is being spent on different programs and projects.

• A developer could create a service that allows people to stay informed about government activities. This service could send alerts when new laws are passed or when government policies change.