DIGIT: The Cornerstone of NUDM

In April 2018, MoHUA decided to create the National Urban eGovernance Platform, housed at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). This platform aimed to bring multiple digital platforms to states and local bodies across India. Over the next few months, a s

elect group of experts, including eGov, worked together to produce a strategy and approach note. This document presented a vision of multiple platforms working together to create thriving, innovative, citizen-centric urban local bodies, later named the National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS).

In February 2019, the NUIS Strategy and Approach was launched by the Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri. Riding on this momentum, eGov, NIUA, and the Smart Cities Mission designed the anchor institution and scoped out the initial platforms. These efforts culminated in February 2021 when Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Ravi Shankar Prasad announced the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM), anchored out of the Centre for Digital Governance (CDG) at NIUA.

In 2021, eGov Foundation’s open-source platform, DIGIT, was chosen by NUDM as the base for their national platform for citizen-centric service delivery and urban governance, UPYOG (Urban Platform for Delivery of Online Governance). UPYOG is now offered as a reference platform for states to accelerate their digital transformation across all 4,000+ cities and towns of India. NUDM provides state governments with the UPYOG platform and a wealth of capacity-building tools, including technical skills, programmatic skills, change management, and community learning.

Implementation and Scaling Impact

The transformative journey of NUDM, powered by eGov’s DIGIT, gained further momentum with the allocation of 1450 crore funding. This funding encourages the use of platforms like DIGIT, enabling states to leverage its capabilities to transform urban governance systems. The mission targets comprehensive digitization across all civic bodies within four years, enhancing ease of living for citizens and simplifying business processes for traders and commercial establishments.

Connected Cities, Enhanced Services

NUDM’s vision extends beyond convenience. By leveraging platforms like UPYOG built on DIGIT, the future holds:

• Unified Citizen Experience: A consistent digital experience for all civic services.
• Enhanced Public Health Campaigns: Efficient management of health initiatives through seamless data flow and reporting.
• Cross-State Learning and Innovation: Shared digital infrastructure fostering innovation and best practices across states.

Kerala: A Case Study in Success

In 2023, 8 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Kerala went live on UPYOG. This was a significant milestone, a moment of shared victory, showcasing a true multisectoral collaboration to improve urban India for its residents. The seamless integration of UPYOG in Kerala empowered local authorities to deliver citizen services more efficiently, reflecting the mission’s vision of creating thriving, innovative, citizen-centric urban local bodies.

Chhattisgarh and Beyond

Following Kerala, three ULBs in Chhattisgarh went live on UPYOG in 2023. Presently, six states are actively working with UPYOG, while plans are underway for its adoption in an additional five states. This expansion highlights the growing trust and reliance on eGov’s platforms to deliver efficient and effective urban governance.

Empowering Stakeholders through eGov’s Training Initiatives

NUDM knows that technology alone isn’t enough. Over the past year, eGov Foundation delivered over 20,000 hours of training and provided access to a vast repository of resources on digit.org. These efforts are crucial for empowering government officials and partners to effectively use the UPYOG platform. This hands-on training ensures that stakeholders are well-equipped to drive the digital transformation in their regions.

In the two years since its launch, NUDM has grown from strength to strength. With 30 states and union territories already signed on, and five more actively implementing UPYOG, the program’s reach is steadily expanding. eGov’s ongoing support in program design, change management, and technical training empowers states to embrace this digital transformation. Our work on NUDM is a culmination of the journey from working in wards, to cities, to state-wide systems.

The impact of NUDM goes beyond technology; it’s a commitment to a future where every citizen enjoys seamless access to essential services, fostering a more responsive and efficient urban ecosystem for all.