The inaugural United Nations Conference on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Citizen Stack, held under India’s leadership, aimed to leverage technology to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote inclusivity, as stated by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj.
The event, organized by the Permanent Mission of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with iSPIRT, brought together global leaders, technology innovators, and policy experts to discuss the global implementation of digital public infrastructure.
A highlight of the conference was India’s Citizen Stack initiative, inspired by India Stack, showcasing the successful integration of technology into citizen services. This initiative signifies a crucial step toward international cooperation for the development of digital infrastructure worldwide.
Key speakers at the conference included Dennis Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. Minister for Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology of India, Ashwini Vaishnav, reiterated India’s commitment to sharing Citizen Stack globally, aligning with the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family.”
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj emphasized India’s dedication to enhancing global discussions on digital transformation in her opening address. G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant delivered a keynote on “Advancing the Digital Frontier using Citizen Stack,” highlighting DPI’s significant impact on governance.
Sharad Sharma, Co-Founder of iSPIRT, provided insights into India’s DPI framework and introduced Citizen Stack as a leading global standard in DPI implementation. International figures such as French Ambassador for Digital Affairs Henri Verdier, Dame Wendy Hall from the Web Science Institute, and Amandeep Gill Singh, the Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology, discussed DPI’s role in enhancing trust and transparency in digital ecosystems.
Case studies showcased during the conference demonstrated how components of Citizen Stack are aiding countries like Ethiopia and the Philippines in tailoring DPI to their specific needs and achieving digital sovereignty.