UPSC Mains 2025 GS Paper 2 Question Paper
Q. India-Africa digital partnership is achieving mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional partnerships. Elaborate.
Introduction:
India–Africa digital partnership is evolving as a demand-driven, capacity-building model rooted in mutual respect, co-development and long-term institutional sustainability.
- Mutual Respect (Demand-driven, Non-prescriptive)
- South–South Cooperation ethos → no conditionalities (contrast with Western aid models)
- Based on African priorities such as Agenda 2063
- India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) framework → equal partnership
- Focus on sovereignty of data & tech choices
Example:
- Pan-African e-Network → designed as per African Union needs (tele-education + telemedicine)
- Co-development (Shared growth, local capacity)
- Shift from “aid” → co-creation & co-innovation
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) export:
- Aadhaar-like ID systems
- UPI-like payment models
- Skill transfer > product export
Examples:
- UPI collaboration with Mauritius
- e-VidyaBharti & e-ArogyaBharti (e-VBAB) → capacity building in education & healthcare
- Start-up linkages → India Stack replication
Data point:
- 50,000+ African students trained under Indian digital/IT programs (MEA estimates)
- Long-term Institutional Partnerships
- Focus on institution building, not short-term projects
- IT Centres of Excellence across Africa
- Partnerships between:
- Universities
- Tech institutes
- Governments
Examples:
- India–Africa Institute of Information Technology
- National Knowledge Network (NKN) integration
- Collaboration with African Union digital transformation strategy
- Key Pillars of Digital Engagement
- Connectivity: Pan-African e-Network, BharatNet expertise
- Capacity Building: ITEC training programs
- FinTech: Digital payments, financial inclusion
- E-Governance: India Stack export (Aadhaar, DigiLocker model)
- Health & Education: Telemedicine, online learning platforms
- Strategic Significance
- Helps bridge digital divide in Africa
- Provides alternative to China’s Digital Silk Road through open and trusted systems
- Strengthens Global South cooperation
- Enhances India’s role in digital governance leadership
- Challenges
- Infrastructure gaps and low internet penetration in several regions
- Funding and project scalability issues
- Political instability in some countries
- Weak cybersecurity and data protection frameworks
- Way Forward
- Scale up modular and low-cost DPI solutions
- Promote PPP model involving Indian startups
- Strengthen cybersecurity and legal frameworks
- Expand local capacity building and skill ecosystems
Conclusion:
India–Africa digital partnership reflects an inclusive, sustainable and trust-based model of digital cooperation that advances shared growth and long-term institutional resilience.
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