Digital Public Goods and Inclusive Growth
India’s fintech revolution has been enabled by digital public goods such as UPI, Aadhaar and e‑KYC, which together have democratised access to financial services. This working paper would examine how these digital platforms contribute to inclusive economic growth by analysing adoption patterns across states, sectors and demographic groups. The paper would start with a conceptual framework explaining digital public goods—open, interoperable platforms that provide foundational services to citizens. Using data from national surveys and transaction records, the study would compare adoption rates of UPI and other digital services among rural and urban populations, men and women, and different income groups. It would identify barriers to adoption, such as digital literacy, smartphone ownership and network connectivity.
The paper would then explore the economic impacts of digital inclusion. Case studies might show how small retailers use QR code payments to expand their customer base, or how direct benefit transfers via Aadhaar reduce leakages in welfare schemes. The analysis would also consider gendered impacts, examining whether digital platforms improve financial autonomy for women. The paper would propose policy interventions to enhance digital public goods, including investments in broadband infrastructure, digital literacy programs, open‑source software development and regulatory frameworks that ensure data privacy and competition. The working paper would conclude by outlining next steps for research, such as longitudinal studies to track outcomes over time.
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