The Pivotal Role of Digital Public Infrastructure in Shaping the Global Economy

Abstract

This thesis explores the pivotal role of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in advancing effective governance and sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on its applicability and influence across the Global South. Anchored in platforms such as Aadhaar (digital identity), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, and the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA), India’s DPI ecosystem represents a public-sector-led, scalable, and modular approach to delivering digital services. The central research question investigates whether DPI, as developed and implemented in India, can serve not only as a transformative governance tool domestically but also as a form of soft power and digital diplomacy abroad, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The thesis adopts a multiple case study methodology, combining descriptive and interpretive analysis of India and Brazil as principal cases, supplemented by emerging evidence from Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines—countries currently engaged with India’s DPI model. A secondary data-driven economic model was constructed to examine the correlation between DPI deployment and progress across selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as poverty headcount ratio, financial inclusion metrics, broadband penetration, and digital transaction volumes were tracked over the 2015–2023 period. Findings indicate a plausible association between DPI rollouts and measurable improvements in service delivery, fiscal efficiency, and digital inclusion, particularly among underserved populations. While the study acknowledges that DPI is one among several contributing factors, the evidence supports its role as an enabler of inclusive growth and governance reform. Moreover, India’s strategy of exporting DPI components via open-source frameworks, modular technology, and bilateral cooperation suggests the emergence of a new model of South–South digital cooperation rooted in co-development and digital sovereignty. The thesis concludes by offering policy recommendations for India to integrate AI into DPI, leverage its mineral resources for tech-industrial development, and institutionalize multilateral DPI governance standards. In doing so, India can consolidate its position as both a domestic innovator and a normative leader in shaping a more equitable digital future for the Global South.