Best of Tech Quarterly, Issue 5, JAS 2024

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A RESEARCH PERIODICAL BY Issue 5 JAS 2024

www.coeusage.com

10 Tech Trends for 2024-25

GOVERNMENT, PSU & CO-OPERATIVE SECTORS

Gems of

DIGITAL INDIA

2024

TM

DIGITAL STATES of INDIA 2022

PSU

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in this issue

06-07 

FOREWORD

BY DR KAPIL DEV SINGH

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10 TECH TRENDS 2024-25

29 

GEMS OF DIGITAL INDIA 33 

ABOUT COEUS AGE

FOREWORD 6

I am extremely delighted to present this special edition of the ‘Best of Tech Quarterly’, which has been launched during the 5th Gems of Digital India Knowledge and Awards Event 2024.

Gems of Digital India is an established brand now. The awards are presented to path breaking digital initiatives from the Government, PSU, and Co-operative Sectors. In the first four seasons, a total of 154 projects were felicitated. This year 32 new projects are added to that prestigious list taking the total to 186.

Gems of Digital India Awards are conferred upon projects that are discovered through rigorous research by our analysts. This year 126 projects were identified by our research team as a starting point.

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A round of evaluation of these projects was carried out by us internally and 32 best among those projects were shortlisted. These are the Gems of Digital India.

These 32 projects were presented to a Jury comprising of three members, who made individual choices in terms of the best out of the best. 12 out of these 32 projects were chosen by all the three Jury members and have been presented with Gems of Digital India – Jury’s Choice award. The 20 others have been presented with Gems of Digital India – Analyst’s Choice award.

While we celebrate the success of these 32 Gems of Digital India in 2024, we also ensured that we learn from them. A thorough analysis of these projects and our perspectives from other research programs such as Digital States of India were put together to finalize the 10 tech trends for 2024-25. These tech trends are presented in this report.

I congratulate the leadership and the teams behind the 32 Gems of Digital India and hope they will inspire many others to follow their footprints.

Wishing you the best.

DR KAPIL DEV SINGH CEO, Coeus Age kds@coeusage.com, 9811771187

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10

TECH TRENDS for 2024-25 GOVERNMENT, PSU & CO-OPERATIVE SECTORS

Improving Performance/ Efficiency/ Productivity

88%

Taking Government to the Citizens' Doorsteps

36%

Ensuring Sustainability

31%

Protecting and Assuring

29%

Eradicating Micro Corruption

26%

Unleashing Human Potential

Core Objectives

14%

Data

Platform

AI Three Imperatives with AI at the Core

10 Tech Trends for 2024-25 10

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Continuity

Coeus Age, 2024

Coeus Age presents ‘Best of Tech – Government’

This base level is now gradually evolving into a

every year that unveils annual tech trends. The 10

smarter platform with better data flow and sharing

tech trends for 2024-25 were identified through an

- both within and across domains, dashboard

interesting analysis process.

publishing, and leverage of AI/ ML technologies to drive autonomy and smartness. This is enhancing

We started with one question – what were the

the efficiency and productivity aspects further to

core objectives of the project? 83 eGov project

what was achieved by base level platforms.

responses were collected. A very interesting perspective emerged (see the page on left).

The evolution of the base level platforms is also happening on account of modernization of the

A vast majority (88%) chose performance, efficiency

underlying

or productivity as the core objective, followed

applications development technologies with the

by 36% who chose the objective to be taking

core objective of becoming agile, secured, and cost

government to the citizens’ doorsteps. We call them

effective.

infrastructure,

applications,

and

baseline objectives.

The second imperative is the drive to ensure Other

ensuring

‘continuity’ (in terms of securing digital assets,

sustainability (31%), protecting and assuring (29%),

options

chosen

included

ensuring sustainability, eradicating micro corruption

eradicating micro corruption (26%) and unleashing

and unleashing human potential). These aspects are

human potential (14%). We call them higher level

relevant and being talked about in general life but

objectives.

finding relevance of digital and putting that to use towards achieving them is relatively new. Even if

Three broad imperatives for Digital India emerge

present, they are subtle in terms of their presence.

from the data of 83 eGov projects. These three imperatives serve as the drivers for IT and Digital in

And the third imperative is ‘data’ that has emerged

Government, PSUs, and Cooperative Sectors.

as a very critical resource, in terms of gaining insights for the systemic ability to act - at policy,

The first imperative is the base level ‘platform’ and

people, and process levels.

its evolution. The base level platforms have been aimed at efficiency and productivity enhancement.

Hence, we have three overlapping imperatives

The base level is defined by software driven

now - platform, data, and continuity that underlie

operations, process level integration, and basic level

the 10 tech trends identified for 2024-25 by our

of process data publishing.

analysts. These three imperatives are being driven by the emergence of AI/ ML as the power that’s at the core.

The 10 tech trends are presented on the subsequent pages.

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1. Platforms are Becoming Unified, Smarter and Efficient Platforms bring together ‘all services for all stakeholders’ involved. As stated earlier, platforms are becoming more enabled by Analytics/ AI/ ML and cloud native infrastructure and applications foundations, which makes them capable of providing better services. While the earlier version of platform involved static services delivery, the newer versions can handle complex logics on its own to deliver dynamic services. For example, contextualization can be handled in a better way, segmentation is possible, and personalization can be easily operationalized.

Similarly, isolated channels of service delivery (web, mobile, call centre, Kiosks, physical outlets, and social media) can be integrated with a common underlying layer for a seamless play to emerge. Banks are leading the platform play, e.g. YONO by SBI is a great example of multi service, omni channel platform.

As cross domain applications integrate, creating a greater platform for unified service delivery, the old enterprise architecture becomes inadequate. A new and modern enterprise architecture is emerging fast as new platforms take shape.

Some government initiatives are planning the transformation into a more modern avatar, while many others will realise the need and tread this path.

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Envisioning

of IT in Governme

2. Infrastructure and Applications are Becoming Modern To support complex business and process logic at the top, a modular, cloud native, micro services, DevOps, and DevSecOps driven environment is a must. In the government and PSU domain, many platforms are evolving not only in terms of the process logic at the top, but also in terms of the foundation platform on which the complex process logic runs.

If infrastructure and applications cannot be provisioned faster and better, load balancing cannot be dynamically done, development environment does not keep pace with the business demand, the essentials of modern platforms i.e. elasticity, agility, cost efficiency, and security cannot be

A future model of IT des evolve for enabling gover both efficiently and effectiv increased accountability, op enhanced transparency, the enough. The traditional mod and its rigidity does not leav The contemporary model b is certainly better but can b on data driven services. Bo be restricted in the longer Elements

Traditi

Design focus

IT as bas computing,

Design framework

Closed arc perio

ensured.

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Supply source

Mos

Outcome metric

Cost

Leadership focus

Co

Operating Structures

Few

Policy thrust

Te

g the Future model

ment

design, deployment and use shall ernments to serve their citizens, ctively. As we usher into an era of optimum utilization of resources and he earlier models of IT will not be model of IT has outlived its relevance ave much room for manoeuvrability. l built to provide discrete services n be limiting as the focus increases Both innovation and dynamism will er term with the current approach.

ditional Model

A more platform centric, open architected, collaborative, seamless, secured and cloud and data centric model must evolve in order to serve the citizens.

The journey has just begun, the contemporary model elements are clearly visible today especially in terms of speed, quality and reach being the thrust. There are also traces of future model evolving, e.g. discrete domain platforms emerging. Yet in terms of core infrastructure, there are still traditional model elements present. A new and modern cloud centric, seamless, secured and managed infrastructure must evolve faster.

Contemporary Model

Future Model

ase componentsng, storage, network

IT as discrete services-infra, development, and applications

IT as platforms with a functional data layer and autonomy built in

architecture-needs riodic upgrade

Semi closed yet complex architecture, needs periodic overhauling

Open architecture, needs continuous evolution

ostly Inhouse

Mostly inhouse but roles bifurcated

Government - private enmeshed

ost/Efficiency

Speed/ quality/ reach

Citizens experience/trust

Controlling

Enabling

Collaborative

ew and rigid

Many and rigid

Many and fluid

Technology

Process

Data

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The Trinity 3. ‘AI Everywhere’ is Growing as a Theme Across the Value Chain In the earlier years, we predicted green shoots of AI/ ML emerging albeit as point solutions or use cases. But AI is now evolving beyond simple applications like chatbots and voice-bots becoming multi-lingual. It is also evolving into much more complex logics that when applied to processes can add autonomy and enhance performance.

As vast amounts of data are generated in transactional systems and are also available from outside the domain, AI/ ML is showing promise of solving much complex problems. For example, identifying the right medicine for the local population, segmenting and ensuring personalization in service

Automation – An Autonomous Gov

The three pillars of Aut Intelligence are poised autonomous system. An a one having the freedom t affairs. It can manifest at m level (e.g. issuance of dr the transport department) development).

In the initial cycles of th automation, analytics and A

delivery, adopting differentiated policy based on availability of deeper insights into micro segments as against a single version of the policy, preparing for identifying threats and becoming proactive in defining the right security posture, profiling beneficiaries more minutely, detecting and catching fraudulent activities proactively etc.

The trio of automation, analytics and artificial intelligence is evolving in cycles. In each cycle, the relationship between the three will also evolve.

In the initial cycles, the trio were mostly isolated with a clear distinction between them. But as they evolve into the future cycles, the distinction is giving way to a more cohesive and converged play.

Ap Islands of A

Government and PSU organizations are also building enterprise class platforms to create AI/ ML capabilities for identifying and designing complex use cases across the value chain.

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AuTOmAT

y of

nalytics – Artificial Intelligence: Towards vernance

tomation, Analytics and Artificial to evolve towards building an autonomous system is defined as to govern itself or control its own multiple levels – at a specific process river’s license), domain level (e.g. ) or a higher system level (e.g. city

he interplay, the three aspects of AI shall evolve in silos, separated by

time and space. But as they evolve and attain maturity, they shall converge together. E.g. machine learning triggering an auto decision that provisions a service to a citizen, an example of AI driven automated rendering of service.

The road ahead will involve enabling and supporting the three As and eventually their interplay for an autonomous system. Currently we are in the initial stages of the game, but as automation spreads from ‘big rocks to pebbles to grains to water’, the role of analytics and AI shall become more pronounced.

AuTOnOmOus sysTEms

Broad and Deep Systemic Application Narrow and Shallow Point Application

Micro-Process Automation

pplication Integration Automation

TiOn

Predictive Modelling

What if?

Simulation Simple Querying

ARTiFiCiAl inTElliGEnCE

Dashboards

MIS Reports

AnAlyTiCs

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The Data Fir 4. Data Driven Governance is Gaining Traction Almost every government digital initiative has a data strategy, although for vast majority it is often a simple compilation of cumulative data with some level of slicing and dicing possible. Though few in numbers, initiatives are emerging that take data play to the next level – that of building capabilities to collect, collate, store, and handle large volumes of data in their own as well across adjoining domains. Platforms for sharing data (e.g. API Setu) are also emerging that helps data flow smoothly and securely across domains.

They are also defining structures or organizations that specialize in data and bring on table required data management and data sciences skills.

There are great examples in the domains of smart city mission, water management, crop management, oil and gas, banking etc. It is clearly a wave that many would ride as data becomes available and a clear case of using the data for better governance emerges.

Such initiatives shall help in defining policies, taking a more granular approach, feeding back the ground results and a speedier course correction - all put together a stronger governance mechanism to manage national resources for achieving greater benefits for whom it is intended.

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Shifting from Edge

As the trio of automation, an wide variety of data – transa transactions. This paradigm r and is yet available in suitabl

irst Paradigm

ge to the Center

analytics and artificial intelligence plays out over time, a data first paradigm shall evolve. With a sactional, operational and social is openly available and tamed, data will trigger processes and m requires a functional data layer, that uses standard definitions, maintains security and privacy ble form for broader set of stakeholders to put it to good use.

Coeus CoeusAge, Age, 2020 2024

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5. Proactive Security is Gaining over Reactive Cyber security and threats are constantly competing. As newer threats emerge and are ready to disrupt the systems for their gains, organizations are also gearing up to plug the gaps at the network, compute, applications, end points and data domains. They are also achieving integration in security products across these domains.

Both IT and OT have a similar story. The problem does not end there, one also needs to consider the dark web, which is where a lot of stolen information is commercially available.

The threat encompasses multiple levels - personal, organizations, industry, and the country. The relevance of management of transactional data repositories and data leverage by analytics, AI/ ML to build capabilities that can help organizations become proactive i.e. be able to predict before a threat becomes real, is increasing. Cyber Security shall continue to expand in terms of its scope, as well as become more proactive.

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6. Citizen Experience is Evolving Beyond Green Shoots Citizen experience has been a neglected aspect till recently. But it is changing now. The citizen experience is defined by many dimensions e.g., aesthetics and ease of use (of the website or the app), speed and availability (of the web site or the app), being multi-channel (and even omni channel), speed of service delivery etc.

Many steps are being taken to enhance the experience – e.g., adoption of standard web or app templates which have been optimized by putting in great efforts and adhering to the best international standards, adoption of modern infrastructure and applications management to identify and remove glitches faster, use of technology to automate the mundane tasks and use of AI/ ML for leveraging data to the hilt for building predictability at the systemic level.

Citizen Experience is emerging as a key element of digital projects and shall receive the required attention.

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7. Value Chain Integration is Becoming a Critical Focus The adage that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. The same is true for the business or governance value chain. The positive results of the digitalization in one part of the value chain may go completely underleveraged if another area is still following old ways of working. Hence, each part of the value chain must become equally stronger with digital.

Examples of value chain integration are available in oil and gas, energy and power, metals and mining, manufacturing sectors where value chain issues are becoming very critical. Similar examples can also be seen in governance domains like PDS, fertilizers etc.

That’s the reason why most of them are looking at strengthening their entire value chain - ideally from suppliers’ suppliers to customers’ customers.

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8. Digital Factory is Gradually Evolving Digital Factory is a concept where machines, operating processes, and equipments embrace digital by embedding sensors for collecting vital operational data, add it with the process data, deploy analytics, AI and ML, and develop people skills to build capabilities to enhance operational performance in terms of efficiency, productivity, and optimization.

Sectors such as oil and gas, energy and power, metals and mining, manufacturing PSUs are working on conceptualizing and designing digital factories. The concept of Digital Factory is steadily and gradually evolving on the ground across these sectors.

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9. Digital is Becoming an Engine of Employment but will Demand New Skills Many digital initiatives involve innovative ways to solve a problem. E.g. Kisan Drone by IFFCO is an initiative where drones will be used by thousands of rural individuals to spray nano urea in the agricultural fields. It involves many individuals to gain the skills of flying a drone for nano urea spraying and hence has the potential to generate employment.

Similar example can be taken from ‘data led governance’ perspective where many data scientists shall be required who have the know-how of data analytics, AI, ML etc. Many skilled individuals in the cyber security domain data shall be required to make sense of the results thrown by AI/ ML use on security and network. There can be many examples that support this point of growth in employment and need for newer skills.

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10. Higher Level Objectives Shall Increasingly Drive Digital Basic level objectives include performance, efficiency, productivity and reach, while higher level objectives include sustainability, corruption eradication, transparency, safety, inclusion, innovation, unleashing of human potential etc.

While majority of digital initiatives work towards base level objectives, there will be increasing use of digital for the higher-level objectives. There are examples today that are addressing the new imperatives, either along with baseline imperatives or in a standalone manner.

In many cases the higher level objectives are subtle in terms of their presence. With time, these will become more pronounced.

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presents

5

th

Gems of Digital India Knowledge and Awards Event Gold partner

Organized by

32 GEMS OF DIGITAL INDIA 2024

Gems of Digital India 2024 JURY’S CHOICE Winners List API Setu

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

DataSmart Cities

Ministry of Housing and Uban Affairs, Government of India

e-Counselling

NIC, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

GST Prime

NIC, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

iRAD/ e-DAR

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India

Judgement Search Portal

Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India

Kisan Drone

IFFCO

Meri Panchayat

Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India

PARIVESH

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India

PM- Surya Ghar - Muft Bijli Yojana

Ministry of New and Renewal Energy, Government of India

The Academic {BlockChain} Documents (ABCD)

CBSE, Ministry of Education, Government of India

YONO

State Bank of India

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Gems of Digital India 2024 ANALYST’S CHOICE Winners List ABDM FHIR Connector

CDAC, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

Advanced Process Control

Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Control Tower Project

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

Court Case Monitoring System

Chandigarh Administration

Digital Transformation of Healthcare Services

Ministry of Railways, Government of India

Disha Dashboard

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

e-Chhawani Project

Ministry of Defence, Government of India

Grievance Appellate Committee

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

India Handmade

Ministry of Textiles, Government of India

Krishi Tatkal Rinn

Punjab National Bank

MeriPehchaan

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

National Digital Library of India 3.0

Ministry of Education, Government of India

PM CARES for Children Portal

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

Poshan Tracker

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

Samaghri e-Pravaah

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

Schools Safety MIS

Government of Himachal Pradesh

State Public Procurement Portal - Assam

NIC & Government of Assam

Tank Truck Blacklisting with Blockchain

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

Ufill

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

UPAg

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India

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GEMS OF DIGITAL INDIA 2024 - THE JURY Shri Vishnu Chandra Former Deputy Director General, National Informatics Centre A professional with rich experience in Geospatial Technology Services & Operations and is one of the prominent innovators and scientists in India. Managed large number of Digital Platform Projects of the Government.

Shri Sharat Sahai Mathur Former Group General Manager at Centre for Railway Information Systems IT specialist with extensive experience of working in the Railway, Logistics and Manufacturing sector. Skilled in Enterprise Architecture, IT Strategy, Business Process Improvement, and IT in Supply Chain Management.

Dr Kapil Dev Singh CEO, Coeus Age Research scholar with rich experience of leading research organizations and managing research studies– both academic and industry. Authored several academic papers and books on Research Methods, Digital Enterprise and Leadership.

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We are a fast growing research and consulting organization that is continuously developing actionable insights for the business and government leaders to help them build value amid digital disruption. Coeus Age has completed 10 years in 2021, a decade marked by collaboration,hard work and innovation.

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TM

DXL Digital Transformation Leader

15th Floor, Ocus Quantum Building, Sector - 51, Gurgaon, Haryana, India - 122003 Contact - +91 9811771187 I Email - kds@coeusage.com I Visit - www.coeusage.com