Cabinet Approves Three Major Initiatives to Boost Digital Services and Innovation in India

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has announced three major initiatives to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem. The approved projects include: the continuation of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0), the launch of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, and the implementation of the PAN 2.0 Project by the Income Tax Department.

These initiatives aim to propel India’s position as a global leader in digital innovation, research, and e-governance while fostering inclusivity and sustainability.

Atal Innovation Mission 2.0

The Atal Innovation Mission, a flagship initiative of the government under NITI Aayog, has been approved for continuation until March 31, 2028, with an allocated budget of Rs 2,750 crore. AIM 2.0 marks a shift from creating foundational infrastructure to scaling and deepening India’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Focus Areas of AIM 2.0

Building an Inclusive Ecosystem:

Language Inclusive Program of Innovation (LIPI): Encourages innovation in vernacular languages by establishing 30 Vernacular Innovation Centers to lower barriers for non-English speakers.
Frontier Program: Targets regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and the North East by creating 2,500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) to enhance local innovation.

Scaling Success and Strengthening Capabilities:

Deeptech Reactor: Aims to nurture startups in high-tech, research-intensive areas requiring longer gestation periods and deeper investments.
Human Capital Development Program: Plans to train 5,500 professionals, including managers and educators, to support the ecosystem.

Fostering Industry and Global Collaboration:

Industrial Accelerator Program: Will establish 10 industry accelerators in key sectors through Public-Private Partnerships to scale startups.
International Innovation Collaborations: Envisions India as a global innovation hub by hosting a Global Tinkering Olympiad and partnering with advanced nations and international organizations such as WIPO.

Impact of AIM 2.0

Building on AIM 1.0, which established over 10,000 ATLs and 60 Atal Incubation Centers, AIM 2.0 is expected to:

Propel India’s ranking on the Global Innovation Index beyond its current position of 39.
Enhance job creation and the development of innovative products and services.
Strengthen India’s startup ecosystem, which is the world’s third-largest.

The Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during the Cabinet briefing: “Atal Innovation Mission began in India to bring the youth forward in innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“Today, the union cabinet has approved Atal Innovation Mision 2.0 with an estimated cost of Rs 2,750 crores. We have received the input that students face issues as there was no vernacular language concept in its earlier version, 30 such innovation centres will be opened which will operate in vernacular language,” he further added.

One Nation One Subscription: Revolutionizing Access to Knowledge

The Cabinet’s approval of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a groundbreaking step to democratize access to global research. With a budget of Rs 6,000 crore allocated for three years starting in 2025, this initiative will provide seamless access to international scholarly articles and journals for students, researchers, and faculty across more than 6,300 higher education and research institutions.

Key Features of ONOS

Comprehensive Coverage:

Includes nearly 13,000 e-journals from 30 major international publishers.
Beneficiaries include approximately 1.8 crore students, researchers, and faculty, including those in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Centralized Access Through Digital Infrastructure:

Managed by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Institutions will access resources via a unified portal, simplifying the process for users.

Promoting Research Across Disciplines:

Encourages both core and interdisciplinary research in diverse fields.
Aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the government’s vision for “Viksitbharat@2047.”

Impact of ONOS

ONOS is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global research ecosystem by:

Making high-impact research resources accessible to all, regardless of geographical location.
Promoting innovation and collaboration among researchers, particularly in underserved regions.
Supporting the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in fostering a culture of research excellence in India.

During the Cabinet briefing, the Union Minister stated: “For youths and students, one of the biggest decisions that has been taken today is – One Nation One Subscription. We all know that for research – high-quality publications are needed which are very costly and hence the PM has transformed it into a new form.”

“All the Universities will make their resources common – all the world-famous journals are brought, their subscriptions are to be taken and then made available to all the educational institutions of the country. It has been estimated to cost around Rs 6,000 crores,” Vaishnaw added.

PAN 2.0 Project: A Digital Leap in Taxpayer Services

The PAN 2.0 Project, approved with an allocation of Rs 1,435 crore, aims to modernize the taxpayer registration ecosystem by leveraging advanced technologies. It builds upon the existing PAN/TAN framework to deliver faster, more reliable, and eco-friendly services.

Key Features of PAN 2.0

Technology-Driven Transformation:

Introduces a consolidated platform for PAN/TAN services, ensuring consistency and reliability in taxpayer data.
Enhances the digital experience for taxpayers by reducing processing times and improving accuracy.

Eco-Friendly and Cost-Efficient Processes:

Promotes paperless operations in line with the government’s sustainability goals.
Optimizes infrastructure for better resource utilization.

PAN as a Universal Identifier:

Establishes PAN as a common identifier for digital systems used by government agencies, aligning with the vision of Digital India.

Impact of PAN 2.0

The project is expected to:

Simplify taxpayer interactions with the Income Tax Department.
Enhance transparency and accountability in tax-related services.
Contribute to the government’s broader objective of creating a seamless and efficient e-governance framework.

Minister Vaishnaw said: “PAN card is part of our life which is important for the middle class and small business – it has been highly upgraded and PAN 2.0 was approved today.”

“The existing system will be upgraded and the digital backbone will be brought in a new way… It will be tried if it can become a common business identifier. There will be a unified portal, it will be completely paperless and online. The emphasis will be on the grievance redressal system,” he noted.

Catalysing Digital and Innovation Journey

The approval of these three initiatives demonstrates the government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovation-driven, and knowledge-centric ecosystem.

AIM 2.0 will energize grassroots innovation, ONOS will democratize access to world-class research, and PAN 2.0 will revolutionize taxpayer services. Together, these projects will significantly advance the goals of the Digital India mission, positioning India as a global leader in technology, research, and innovation.