Working of FASTag:
- Installation: The FASTag, a passive RFID tag, is affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen. It contains a chip and a unique 13-digit Electronic Product Code (EPC).
- Scanning: As the vehicle approaches the toll plaza, the RFID scanner reads the FASTag.
- Data Transmission: The chip transmits data such as vehicle class, weight, and FASTag ID to the scanner.
- Fee Calculation: Based on this data, the toll fee is automatically calculated.
- Payment: The toll amount is deducted from the linked account without requiring the vehicle to stop.
- Interoperability: The system is part of the NETC initiative, ensuring it works at all toll plazas across India.
BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity project, aiming to connect over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats via optical fiber.
Role of the BharatNet Project in Promoting Digital Inclusion in Rural India
- It aims to bridge the digital divide by ensuring internet access in rural and remote areas. Rural internet subscriptions grew by 200% (2015-2021) vs 158% in urban areas.
- It enables access to e-governance services, online education platforms (like DIKSHA), and telemedicine (e-Sanjeevani) in remote villages.
- Helps farmers access real-time weather updates, market prices, and apply for schemes like PM-KISAN online.
- Supports rural entrepreneurship by offering digital tools to small businesses and farmers (BharatNet Udyamis).
- Supports digital banking and UPI payments, reducing dependence on cash even in rural shops.
- In states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, BharatNet has already connected thousands of villages, boosting rural startups and digital service centers.
- Forms the backbone of Digital India, ensuring inclusive and equitable digital growth.
- The Digital India program was launched on July 1, 2015, by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) with the aim of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge-based economy, by ensuring digital access, digital inclusion, digital empowerment and bridging the digital divide.
- The programme is centred on three key vision areas, namely digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens.
Achievements :
- Deepening Digital Penetration :
- The 200 per cent increase in rural internet subscriptions between 2015 and 2021 vis-a-vis 158 per cent in urban areas through ambitious government schemes, like the flagship BharatNet Project Scheme, Telecom Development Plan, Aspirational District Scheme etc
- March towards India’s ‘Techade’ : Government Schemes like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for telecom and networking products will promote domestic mobile manufacturing as well as network installation.
- Technology led startup-innovation ecosystem : through schemes like TIDE 2.0 , SAMRIDH Scheme, 42 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in diverse areas, a ‘MeitY Start-up Hub’ (MSH), and an umbrella program ‘Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS)’ to discover, support, grow and make successful startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
- Employment : Under the Schemes viz. North East BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) and India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) → providing direct employment to over 52,000 persons.
- R&D projects in the areas of 5G and 6G : 5G deployment
- project “Next Generation Wireless Research and Standardization on 5G and Beyond” in July 2021
- Indian Open Source Software Platform for an end-to-end 5G Networks (IOS-5GN) in August 2023
- Ease of Living: Public Digital Platforms like Aadhaar, UPI, Digilocker, UMANG, Jeevan Praman,Bhashini, Meri Pehchaan, MyScheme etc has facilitated “Ease of Living” and truly actualized the spirits of “Maximum Governance and Minimum Government”
- Growth Story of Digital Public Infrastructure: UPI, CoWIN, e-RUPI, TReDS, Account Aggregators, ONDC, Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) etc. → Shown
After its successful implementation, the Digital India program received approval for expansion by the Union Cabinet in August 2023, with a total outlay of ₹15,000 crores. This expansion aims to achieve several objectives:
- Reskilling and Upskilling IT Professionals: The FutureSkills Prime Programme
- Establishment of AI Centers of Excellence: Three Centers of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence will focus on health, agriculture, and sustainable cities.
- Initiatives in Cybersecurity: New initiatives in cybersecurity, including tool development and integration with the National Cyber Coordination Centre, will be undertaken.
