A team of officials from NITI Aayog are studying the topic, “explore uses of Blockchain Technology in governance”. This study will act as a new framework for the ministries in central government as well as state governments to adopt this technology. This group has worked out many areas in which existing government system can use Blockchain Technology. This can lead to the remarkable uplift in the performance of government organization against private players in the field.
This team has done smaller Proof of Concept studies and suggested possible use of this technology in many areas like Land records management, public distribution system and pharmaceutical supplies, electronic health records and healthcare.
NITI Aayog official, Aalekh Sharan shared with the Press, “this study was started in December, last year and it will be concluded by the end of this month. This report is going to be counted as the framework for ministries. Moreover, this will be an evaluative process.”
Aalekh Sharan is also part of this group which is conducting this study over possible usage of Blockchain Technology in governance. He further shared that Blockchain is a form of digital database that uses shared a network of computers and exists in a de-centralised manner. This technology is capable enough for preventing data theft, hacking and any sort of manipulation. All the users in this shared network can go through the transaction history. But, none of them can manipulate a single bit as everything is in an encrypted format and under the peer-to-peer oversight. It has nothing like manual processing and this technology has the great potential for making the faster transaction in a more reliable way.
Aalekh also added that if applied to land titling then this sort of verification system can eradicate intermediaries in a land or property transaction. Right now, the land registry and the record of rights are not linked. In case of land titling, Blockchain can be a remarkable change and it will easily offer the historical ownership details to the buyer.
Another official from this same group told that this technology can also be used to have a verifiable database of all educational qualification certificates issued in the country. Hence, it will be really easy to cross check the case of fake degrees. Yes, it can be cross verified by a click of a button using Blockchain Technology.
NITI Aayog is also in talks with Indian and foreign firms working with blockchain technology. A number of states have already roped in such firms and signed them up to work in certain areas.
NITI Aayog has also discussed with many IT firms in India and abroad to understand benefits of Blockchain. Few Indian states have already initiated with such firms to work in this direction. Andhra Pradesh had signed up with ConsenSys; New York-based IT company to provide technical advice in the area of land titling and the state’s identity platform. As reported, the first land titling system in the state will be ready by the end of July.