India’s success in digitally delivered services has inspired hope in the potential for accelerating development using the capabilities and comparative advantages revealed by this success. Digital transformation, which involves significant changes across society, government, and industries through digital technologies, is seen as a major opportunity for India. Many initiatives have been launched to tap this potential. In recent years, an approach that has emerged to give coherence to the strategy for digital transformation in India is around the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

Aadhaar, a digital identity system that is classified as a DPI, was the first one to scale in India. The first purpose for which Aadhaar was used at scale was the opening of bank accounts for financial inclusion. This story was highlighted during India's G-20 presidency in 2023, showcasing the potential of DPIs to address national development challenges effectively. This talk will focus on what this experience of using Aadhaar for financial inclusion can teach us about how the political economy and the institutional setting shape the way technologies are harnessed for the pursuit of development, and how we may think about maximizing public value through digital transformation.

The event is hybrid and free, but you must register to attend.