India Stack MoU Between India and Papua New Guinea
Source: PIB
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Overview
- News in Brief
- What is India Stack?
- The potential of India Stack
- What is Application Programming Interface (API)
- About Papua New Guinea
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) of Papua New Guinea signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for sharing India Stack.
News in Brief
- Earlier, MeitY hosted the inaugural Global DPI Summit in Pune on June 12-13.
- The event witnessed a physical presence of over 250 delegates, including approximately 150 foreign delegates from 50 countries, while more than 2,000 individuals participated virtually.
- Digital transformational aspects such as Digital Public Infrastructure, Digital Identity, Digital Payment, Data Exchange, Data Governance and Data Protection Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity, etc were discussed.
- India Stack MoU Between India and Papua New Guinea MoU will help build the capacities and result in sharing and implementation of population-scale digital public infrastructure and transformational platforms.
What is India Stack?
- India Stack is a revolutionary digital infrastructure.
- It aims to provide a secure and unified platform for digital transactions and service delivery in India.
- It is a set of open application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable the interoperability of various digital systems and services.
- It makes it easier for individuals, businesses, and governments to interact and transact online.
Who developed India Stack?
- India Stack was conceptualized and developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the government of India as part of its broader Digital India initiative.
- It leverages the widespread adoption of Aadhaar, India’s biometric-based unique identification number, as a key foundational layer for authentication and identity verification.
Key components of India Stack include:
- Aadhaar: Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued to Indian residents. It serves as the basis for identity verification in various digital transactions and interactions.
- e-KYC (Know Your Customer): e-KYC is a paperless, electronic process that allows individuals to verify their identity and share relevant information with service providers securely using Aadhaar-based authentication.
- Unified Payment Interface (UPI): UPI is a real-time payment system that enables instant money transfers between banks through mobile devices. It allows users to send and receive funds using virtual payment addresses linked to their bank accounts.
- Digital Locker (DigiLocker): DigiLocker is a cloud-based platform that allows individuals to store and access their government-issued documents and certificates digitally. It provides a secure and paperless way to manage essential documents.
- Digital Signatures: India Stack supports digital signatures, enabling individuals and businesses to sign documents electronically with legal validity.
- Consent Architecture: India Stack incorporates a robust consent framework that allows individuals to control and grant permission to access their data for specific purposes.
- Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS): AePS is a system that enables financial transactions using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication at micro-ATMs in remote and rural areas, making banking services accessible to underserved populations.
The potential of India Stack
- The integration of these components through APIs creates a powerful and interoperable digital ecosystem, enabling various services and transactions such as digital payments, e-governance services, and identity verification.
- India Stack has played a significant role in promoting financial inclusion and digital empowerment in India by simplifying and securing digital interactions and transactions.
Challenges
- However, it’s important to note that India Stack has also raised concerns regarding data privacy and security, and its usage has been subject to regulatory and legal scrutiny to ensure the protection of users’ personal data and privacy rights.
What is Application Programming Interface (API)
- Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are sets of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate and interact with each other.
- APIs define the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information seamlessly, enabling them to work together and share functionalities effectively.
Key Points about APIs
- Interoperability: APIs enable different software systems and platforms to communicate with each other, regardless of their underlying technologies or programming languages. This promotes interoperability and integration between applications.
- Abstraction: APIs provide an abstraction layer, allowing developers to interact with complex functionalities or services using simple and standardized commands. This simplifies the process of using functionalities from external services or libraries.
- Standardization: APIs follow specific standards and conventions, making it easier for developers to understand and use them. Standardization also ensures consistency and predictability in how APIs function.
- Functionality Extension: APIs allow developers to extend the capabilities of their applications by integrating external services or data sources. For example, a mobile app can use a weather API to display real-time weather information to users.
- Security: APIs can be designed with security measures in place, allowing developers to control access to certain functionalities and data. Authentication and authorization mechanisms help ensure that only authorized users or applications can access specific APIs.
- Versioning: As software evolves, APIs may be updated or improved. API versioning allows developers to manage changes and ensure backward compatibility for applications that rely on the API.
- Web APIs: Web APIs are a specific type of API that allows web-based applications to communicate with each other over the internet. They use HTTP requests and responses to exchange data.
- RESTful APIs: Representational State Transfer (REST) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. RESTful APIs adhere to REST principles, making them scalable, stateless, and easy to use over the internet.
- Public and Private APIs: APIs can be classified as public or private. Public APIs are made available to external developers for third-party integration, while private APIs are meant for internal use within an organization.
- API Documentation: Developers often provide documentation for their APIs, detailing the endpoints, methods, parameters, and responses to guide other developers on how to use the API effectively.
APIs play a crucial role in modern software development, facilitating seamless integration of services, enabling data sharing, and driving innovation through the collaboration of various applications and platforms. They are the building blocks that allow applications to work together to provide more comprehensive and robust functionalities to end-users.
Papua New Guinea
- Papua New Guinea is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
- It occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous smaller islands.
- It is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
- Over 800 languages spoken among its population.
Key facts about Papua New Guinea
- Geography: Papua New Guinea shares its land borders with Indonesia to the west, and it is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The country’s terrain is rugged and mountainous, with dense rainforests, rivers, and fertile valleys.
- Capital and Major Cities: The capital city of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby, situated in the southeastern part of the country. Other major cities include Lae, Madang, Mount Hagen, and Goroka.
- Population: As of my last update in September 2021, Papua New Guinea had a population of over 9 million people. The population is ethnically diverse, with many indigenous groups living in different regions.
- Languages: Papua New Guinea is known for its linguistic diversity, with more than 800 indigenous languages spoken throughout the country. English is the official language and is used in government, education, and commerce.
- Colonial History: Papua New Guinea was a former colony of Australia and gained its independence on September 16, 1975.
- Economy: The economy of Papua New Guinea is largely dependent on agriculture, mining, and natural resources. Major exports include gold, copper, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, and timber.
- Culture and Traditions: Papua New Guinea is renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Traditional customs, rituals, and art are an essential part of the daily life of many communities.
- Biodiversity: The country is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with a vast array of plant and animal species. It is home to a significant number of endemic species, particularly in its rainforests and marine environments.
- Challenges: Despite its natural wealth, Papua New Guinea faces numerous challenges, including poverty, limited infrastructure, healthcare disparities, and environmental issues such as deforestation and climate change impacts.
- Tourism: Papua New Guinea offers unique opportunities for adventure tourism, ecotourism, and cultural experiences. It attracts visitors interested in exploring its diverse landscapes, traditional customs, and marine life.
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