India's Bureaucracy Hinders Digital Progress Despite Tech Growth
India's digital infrastructure has long been a source of frustration for taxpayers and professionals, with government-run portals like income tax, GST, and MCA plagued by glitches. Despite these issues, no one has been held accountable. Meanwhile, a Union minister revealed bureaucratic apathy towards science and tech, with officials treating the science department as an unwanted posting.
The recent 10-minute glitch at Prime Minister Modi's rally cost Rajasthan's infotech secretary Archana Singh her job, highlighting the severe consequences of such issues. India, despite its rapid tech growth, struggles with bureaucratic enthusiasm for driving innovation. The UPSC civil services exam, once a test of judgement and reasoning, has shifted towards measuring memory, further hindering progress.
Experts blame a 'mindset problem' in the bureaucracy, with a lack of risk appetite and transformative vision. Jitendra Singh, a Union minister, identified this issue, noting the lack of senior officers who view science as a key to redefining India's future. Instead, the focus remains on rote learning, disadvantage those who lack coaching resources or think differently.
With India aspiring to be a digital innovation hub, its recruitment gateway must evolve. The current system, which measures success by rote, must shift towards valuing judgement, reasoning, and innovative thinking. Only then can India's tech and innovation ecosystem reach its full potential, and taxpayers and professionals can rely on functional government portals.
