A recent Oxford University report “From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress” considers India’s PRAGATI Platform as an excellent example of accelerating growth through digital governance. The report highlights the success of the PRAGATI Platform as crucial in promoting accountability and efficiency. It believes that PRAGATI can become a role model for overcoming administrative inertia in emerging economies.
Pragati Platform
- Origin: The PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform was launched in 2015 under the Digital India programme.
- Implementation Agency: It is operated by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Objectives
- Speedy implementation of projects: Ensuring real-time monitoring through technology. For example, the use of video conferencing, real-time data and drone feeds.
- Collaborative approach: Eliminating administrative isolation by involving various government agencies.
- E-transparency and e-accountability: Ensuring transparency and accountability with effective grievance redressal mechanisms.
Pragati Platform: Revolutionizing India’s infrastructure
- Accelerating 340 projects: According to an Oxford University study, the Pragati platform helped speed up the implementation of 340 infrastructure projects across the country.
Importance of digital leadership
- Professor Soumitra Dutta said that Pragati demonstrates that top leadership can promote coordination and accountability using technology.
- This model is particularly useful for countries that want to make infrastructure the backbone of economic growth.
Key points in the report
Economic impact
- Enables early implementation of projects by solving problems of land acquisition and inter-ministerial coordination, thereby reducing cost overruns caused by delays
- It shows how targeted investment in infrastructure and effective governance can help overcome the middle-income trap.
- Social impact: Helps reduce regional disparities by prioritizing projects in backward and remote areas.
Environmental impact
- Incorporating sustainability into project planning, faster approval processes, and promoting green technologies help reduce the carbon footprint of projects.
- Example: PRAGATI’s integration with Parivesh portal for environmental clearances.
Positive governance
- PRAGATI has promoted administrative efficiency and ensured good governance.
- Example: Successful implementation of Bogibeel rail and road bridge in Assam, which was previously plagued by several delays.