India, July 3 -- As India marks 11 years of the Digital India programme (launched on July 1, 2015), the national narrative is unmistakably triumphant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the initiative as the cornerstone of a "developed and self-reliant India" (Viksit Bharat 2047), noting that over a billion people embracing technology has completely redefined governance.

For policy analysts and public sector technology leaders, this milestone calls for more than celebration. It has been seen in the light of what Digital India has achieved and what comes next.

Undoubtedly, India has successfully built the world's most envied foundational layer of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). However, as India transitions from basic digital inclu...