Open Digital Infrastructure

Open Digital Infrastructure represents the set of open-source code, standards and knowledge assets that digital building blocks like software libraries, compilers, communication or network protocols are composed of.

They are created by individuals, volunteer communities, in research institutions and SMEs or other corporate environments. Together, they form a foundation of free and public code that is designed to solve common challenges – firstly, in programming, but when applied, also to provide a multitude of core functions for society.

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Open Source in Public Service Delivery in India

Research Question
How are open source principles applied in India’s public service systems, and what challenges affect their use?

India is on the path of rapid digitisation of its public service delivery infrastructure, ostensibly building on the country’s history of encouraging OSS use by the government. If built in a sustainable, rights respecting manner, on principles of openness, transparency, and accountability, digital public infrastructure can be immensely useful, and help reduce inequality in access to government services.

This project seeks to analyse the extent to which OSS principles are being incorporated into the development of public digital infrastructure for provision of government services in India, the challenges being faced in implementation, and the potential best practices that can be adopted by the Indian government.

Round 2
Team
Knowledge Partner
Ezme Davis
Senior Research Fellow
Inika Charles
Research Fellow