New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- One of the defining development models of the decade has been the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). In the past, infrastructure was limited to roads, ports, and electrical networks; today it increasingly encompasses digital identification systems, interoperable payment platforms, data sharing frameworks, and digital public services.

India has emerged as the poster child for this transition with Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, and the Account Aggregator framework. In its 2023 G20 presidency, New Delhi skillfully shifted DPI from a domestic governance framework to an international development agenda.

Similar digital ecosystems are also emerging as major investments for South Asian natio...