Digital India: Physical licence & RC no longer a must while driving
8 Sep 2016 11:40 PM GMT
Launching the integration of DigiLocker with the Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration system of the ministry of road transport and highways on Wednesday, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said citizens can use these as valid identification at airports too.
The digital driving licence and vehicle registration documents will be available on citizens’ cellphones via the DigiLocker mobile app and this will ensure authenticated on the spot verification by various law enforcement authorities like the traffic police.
“The system will not only eliminate corruption but is a mega step towards realising Prime Minister’s Digital India drive. The citizens can use this at airports as valid identity document,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari said. According to Gadkari, this move is vital for the transport sector where 19.5 crore vehicles are registered and there are 10 crore driving licences. “If someone is stopped anywhere, he or she can show driving licence on mobile phone. This will benefit common masses and ensure a corruption free, transparent system devoid of red tapism. Crores of people will benefit,” he said.
He said the proposed new motor vehicle legislation will have provisions for online driving licences. The minister said the transport ministry is actively pursuing the digitisation of documents and this will help in enforcement of traffic laws and enhance citizen convenience.
He said DigiLocker integration with the ministry will make available over 19 crore digital vehicle RCs and about 10 crore driving licences in citizens’ DigiLocker accounts and the digitally signed accounts will be at par with the physical certificates as per the IT Act, 2000.
IT and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who launched the system along with Gadkari, said there are 21 lakh registered users of DigiLocker. “Technology is a big enabler. Digital India is designed to empower India and Indians,” Prasad said.
DigiLocker is a key initiative under Digital India and serves as a platform for issuance of documents and certificates in a digital way, thus eliminating the use of physical documents.
India may receive 5G with rest of world
India stands a chance to get 5G technology with the rest of the world as the country enters an era of Internet of Things (IoT), Telecom Secretary J S Deepak said here on Wednesday. “...We got 2G 25 years after the rest of the world, at least after the developed world. We got 3G more than a decade after it became ubiquitous in US, Europe. 4G may be, five years after its global launch. In 5G, we have the chance of being there with the rest of the world,” Deepak said.
He added that the probable simultaneous launch of 5G in India along with the rest of the world could be from bridging the gap that had prevailed and the country might as well take a step forward and acquire a leadership position in certain areas as it enters into an era of Internet of Things with connected devices and machines. Deepak was speaking after inaugurating the first edition of ‘IoT India Congress’ that aims to bring together key stakeholders across the value chain and verticals to collaborate. “The IoT, which is estimated to have...something like 50 billion connected devices in the next 5-6 years, will unleash a business opportunity for India, at least of $15 billion,” he said. In an address to the Congress, Electronics & IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “IoT is important because connected devices are going to become the order of the day.”
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