India reaffirms its commitment to The Global Digital Compact: Introduces Digital Initiatives

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United Nations – India has implemented non-discriminatory, safe, transparent and reliable national digital access through the 2024 Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology (PSCCIT), and through the Right to Information act of 2005. Together these ensure access to information held by public authorities and combat digital fraud, India stated at the General Debate of the Fourth Committee on Global Communications of the United Nations General Assembly on November 5, 2024.

India’s representative, Rajiv Shukla, presenting India’s statement at the meeting, said India has thus proved its commitment to ensuring safe, transparent and reliable digital interactions for its citizens. The PSCCIT has been successfully addressing digital payment frauds, and recommending enhanced security measures, he said.

India was presenting the measures it has taken to fulfill its agreement to The Global Digital Compact adopted by member states at the UN Summit of the Future.

A comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation, the Compact is the first global commitment to digital public goods and digital public infrastructure; to open-source data, models and standards; and to data governance.

The Compact emphasizes the importance of access to accurate, timely and impartial information in maintaining peace, social harmony and informed decision making.

An important agreement in the Compact is to make the digital space safer for all through greater accountability of tech companies and social media platforms and actions to tackle disinformation and online harms.

India’s Right to Information Act : Stressing the necessity for inclusive access to information for fostering trust, accountability and good governance, India reaffirmed its principles of ‘Vasudhaiwa Kutumbakam’ of ‘one world one family’, and pointed to the importance of information being free from barriers of nationality, gender, religion or culture.

“India believes in empowering people through reliable information for the collective progress of humanity,” Shukla said.

India underscored that it is one of the few democracies which upholds an individual’s right to information, and has implemented the 2005 Right to Information (RTI) act which aims to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. The RTI enables India to implement policies and laws for communication, strengthening public trust in the government, Shukla said.

India’s Digital Initiatives: In its statement, India pointed out the threat of digital fraud and cautioned against the serious risk posed by misinformation and disinformation. Deceptive online activities exploit financial, personal or business information, posing a threat to them as well as National Security, India further cautioned.

Listing measures it has taken towards a safe digital and inclusive future through various initiatives, India said it has ensured access to accurate information and participation in digital economy. These efforts collectively bridge the digital divide, the statement further said.

PM Wani – This initiative provides affordable public Wi-Fi networks, enhancing internet access across the country.

Bharat Net – This initiative is a project of rural broadband connectivity which aims to provide high speed internet to all villages in the country. This has resulted in an increase in Broadband subscriptions by 227 percent.

Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan – This initiative of India offers a Digital Literacy Scheme by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, to provide digital education to at least one member of each rural households, reaching approximately 40 percent rural households.

Communication and Language Services for Peacekeeping Missions: Safety of the UN peacekeepers on field missions is an important risk area to be addressed, and the Department of Global Communication (DGC) needs to tailor communication strategies by working with field peacekeeping missions, India urged.

Expressing appreciation of the DGC spearheaded communication campaign to project the service and sacrifice of the UN peacekeepers and the contribution of countries which send uniformed men and women on peacekeeping missions, India suggested introducing language services in peacekeeping missions’ communication.

One of India’s suggestions was to maintain peacekeeping websites in local languages and not limiting it to UN’s six official languages. This would expand information outreach, India said, pointing out the success of UN social media accounts in Hindi.

India also offered collaboration on a consolidated news and multimedia content model in Hindi for news portal and social media, and also global expansion of it.

“Expanding such efforts will enhance global inclusivity and foster greater engagement with communities in their native

languages, reinforcing the UN’s role as a trusted source of information across cultures,” India stated.

Recommending a greater focus on the South South cooperation in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 agenda, India commended DGC for successful and effective information campaigns like ‘Verified’ and ‘Act Now’ on climate action and Covid-19.

India also praised the UN’s efforts in fostering collaboration and enhancement and its academic impact on building a diverse network of students, researchers, think tanks and institutions that generate innovative solutions to global challenges.