GS2 · 10 marks · 150 words

Despite the government encouraging open source instead of proprietary technology for government applications, the true potential of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and digital platforms remains unrealized. Discuss.

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2025

E-GovernanceTransparency and AccountabilityPolicy Design and Implementation

Syllabus: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

How toppers approached it

From all 4 answers · about 150 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition2 of 4
  • No separate opening2 of 4

Body

  • Points3 of 4
  • Points and prose1 of 4

Close

  • A way forward3 of 4
  • A summary1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Ishita KishoreAIR 1 · 121 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Free and Open Source software is imperative to ensure democratic access in the Digital Age. Yet the potential remains unrealized as

Body · points

Free and Open Source software is imperative to ensure democratic access in the Digital Age.

Diagram
FOSS in government applications -> COWIN App -> Aarogya Setu -> UMANG App -> ONDC -> Digi locker

Yet the potential remains unrealized as

  • i- Presence of large commercial players Eg Amazon buying out smaller apps

  • ii- Reluctance of private sector for FOSS Eg Apple's iOS

  • iii- e-commerce has spread far & wide but entry of MSMEs a hurdle Eg As per PwC, 80% startups fail to scale up due to lack of deep pockets

  • iv- Digital Apartheid is becoming a reality due to digital divide

  • v- Real time updates and inter agency coordination is limited due to monopoly of few players Eg SAP

Diagram
Need of the hour -> Promote ONDC to end oligopoly -> Fast track Digital Indie -> Bharat Net -> Common Service Centre

This can help achieve our dream of '$5 trillion knowledge economy' with a digital democracy.

Close · a vision

coordination is limited due to monopoly of few players Eg SAP This can help achieve our dream of '$5 trillion knowledge economy' with a digital democracy.

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