New Delhi [India], April 12 (ANI): Sujith Nair , Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Foundation for Interoperability in the Digital Economy ( FIDE ) stated on Friday that UPI is no longer just a technology but has turned into a widespread behavioral pattern.

"NIP has transcended being merely a technological solution; it has become an integral part of daily routines for millions. With 500 million individuals utilizing NIP and UPI as seamless components of their lives, this concept represents a shift towards integrating larger segments of the populace—particularly those without conventional economic access—into mainstream activities. It aims to unite governments, public entities, and private sectors in serving citizens and small enterprises better," explained Nair during an interview with ANI at the fringe events. Carnegie Global Technology Summit .

He stated that digital public infrastructure (DPI) has the potential to place individuals and enterprises at the forefront, providing them with accessibility, opportunities, and options to engage in the formal sector. This could lead to an expansion of economic benefits for everyone as well as the broader marketplace.

Regarding ONDC, a DPI mentioned that ONDC is enabling shopkeepers and drivers to have greater input, increased involvement, and enhanced self-governance.

He elaborated that this approach eliminates the need for a central hub, allowing individuals to make independent decisions. Participants can engage under their own conditions and contribute without relying on external intermediaries. The concept of a decentralized e-commerce network, distinct from an ONDC platform, empowers store owners and delivery personnel with greater influence, involvement, and self-determination.

"In how they want to access the digital economy to grow themselves and also build resilience around what they do. For example, it's not just about for a driver to get more rights but also get loans and insurance and ONDC can facilitate all of that."

Digitized Public Infrastructure is transforming public services and generating economic prospects worldwide, with a notable impact in nations of the Global South.

Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have established integrated digital environments for India—highlighting DPI’s role effectively during India’s G20 presidency.

Nigeria has utilized digital identification and payment systems with plans to develop data exchange platforms next. In Malawi, DPI as a packaged solution (DaaS) is being tested in a pilot Government-to-People (G2P) initiative aimed at providing social assistance after disasters. Despite facing cybersecurity challenges, Papua New Guinea continues to broaden its digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, Morocco showcases significant progress in digitizing both governmental operations and education services. Additionally, nations such as the Dominican Republic have pledged their commitment to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) 50-in-5 campaign.

Nevertheless, several obstacles to DPI implementation persist—ranging from worries about data privacy and international data transfers to inconsistent uptake and technical compatibility problems that could exacerbate current disparities.

So far, India has entered into Memorandums of Understanding with various nations to collaborate on the sharing of digital public infrastructure.

One of the primary focuses of the Indian government has been to ensure that the advantages of Indian DPIs extend beyond just India itself, with other nations also benefiting from them. (ANI)