Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a foundational concept that refers to a set of shared digital systems built on open standards to facilitate the delivery of public and private services at a societal scale. India's DPI, often called the India Stack, is an integrated suite of technologies and frameworks.
The origin of India's DPI journey began with the launch of Aadhaar in 2010, which aimed to solve the problem of a lack of formal identification for a majority of the population. This foundational identity layer was later combined with other platforms to create a cohesive system.
The mechanism of DPI works through three core, interoperable layers: the Digital Identity layer, the Digital Payments layer, and the Data Exchange layer. The Identity layer is anchored by Aadhaar, which provides a unique 12-digit number for biometric authentication. The Payments layer is exemplified by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which enables instant, low-cost financial transactions. The Data Exchange layer includes platforms like DigiLocker for secure document storage and the Account Aggregator framework for consent-based data sharing. These systems are governed by open standards and protocols, allowing diverse applications to be built on top of them.
DPI connects to several key legal and institutional frameworks, including the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and the recently enacted Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which establishes rights and duties for data fiduciaries and principals. The framework is constantly evolving; while a dedicated Digital India Act is still under discussion, NITI Aayog has recommended a roadmap for DPI 2.0 (2025-2035) and DPI 3.0 (2035-2047) to further scale the infrastructure.