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The purpose of the paper is to understand the interlinkage with financial inclusion and how it interacts with biometric identification. To investigate this in detail, the authors employ household-level data on India to examine the interlinkage among Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account, Aadhaar card and mobile telephony.

Given the survey data, the authors employ 3 stage least squares (3SLS) methodology to explore the association among these key variables, while controlling for other household, district and economy-wide factors.

The findings provide strong evidence of complementarity among these variables, with each tending to reinforce the other. This complementarity is reflected primarily in respect of PMJDY and Aadhaar, but much less so with regard to mobile telephony. Additionally, this complementarity is manifest more prominently in the long run, although it is much less so in the short run.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies for India to systematically examine the Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity.

While the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) for poverty reduction is widely recognised, limited knowledge exists on its use in the social protection schemes devised for the world’s poor. Drawing on the institutionalist vision of IS development and organisational change put forward by Avgerou (2000), the authors propose that computerisation of these schemes entails two processes, namely, the progressive affirmation of ICT innovation and a shift in the programmes' organisational structure, which moves from a subsidy-based model to one grounded on direct cash transfers. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how the role of ICT in anti-poverty schemes results from concomitance of such processes.

The paper draws on a study of the public distribution system (PDS), the main food security scheme in India, as it is being computerised in the state of Karnataka. Following an interpretive case study methodology, it investigates the ongoing computerisation of the Karnataka PDS through a combination of back-end and front-end technologies, based on biometric recognition of the programme’s users.

The data reveal that transformation of the PDS results from the simultaneous processes of institutionalisation of ICT innovation and deinstitutionalisation of the extant state-led subsidy scheme, in favour of a leaner social protection system centred on cash transfers to beneficiaries. This illustrates the point that ICT innovation is intertwined with the decline of an extant social welfare structure and the rise of a new one, based on the direct transfer of benefits.

The paper offers a new theoretical perspective to illuminate the computerisation of anti-poverty programmes, a phenomenon that affects the entitlements of millions of poor people on a global scale. In parallel, it draws practical implications for countries embarking on the digitalisation of their social protection schemes.

The objective of this paper was twofold-revisiting the in-kind public distribution system (PDS) – India's flagship food security intervention and seeking beneficiary perspectives on its efficacy. The feasibility of cash transfers as an alternative mechanism is also examined, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Primary and secondary data from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu were used. In-depth interviews with beneficiaries using phenomenology were conducted to evaluate their perception and willingness to shift to a cash-based PDS in the pre and post-pandemic periods. Secondary district-level data were also used to ascertain institutional preparedness for this shift.

In-depth interviews of 105 beneficiaries revealed valuable insights, which seem to have significantly changed post-pandemic. Beneficiaries in the post-pandemic period seem much more inclined toward cash transfers, though a combination of cash plus in-kind benefits seems to be strongly preferred. Secondary results pointed out to the lack of institutional preparedness in financial inclusion. The research suggested that while the existing PDS needs to be overhauled, policymakers should look at a model of cash plus in-kind transfers as a probable alternative to pure cash transfers.

There is a dearth of in-depth state-specific studies on beneficiary perception of PDS, and this is important since the economic and sociocultural milieu in each region is unique. Being the only state with universal food security, its experience could yield important insights for other states or even middle or low-income countries similar to India.

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine and evaluate the “E-Readiness” of the citizens of India which is imperative to make such large scale e-government initiatives a success. The researchers tried to compare India with some developed and developing countries where the e-government model have been implemented successfully, looking at the prime factors for the successful implementation.

The methodology adopted for this study is exploratory in nature. A comprehensive questionnaire was adapted and the survey was conducted mostly in online format. The data were found reliable for further analysis. Exploratory factor analysis provides us five factors covering approximately 50 per cent of the variance explained. So, the authors can infer five dimensions to be the major constituents of e-readiness as per this study.

The findings are quite significant as end users and citizens were found to be quite involved in the usage of technology. Thus, user’s proactive participation in technological assimilation also augurs well for the e-readiness of the society. But people are worried about the safety and security of the automated and online services.

The questionnaire was developed by the authors and the data analysis was also done on the basis of responses received. The paper adds value to the existing literature by capturing the issues behind the acceptance of the several technologies backed government initiatives. The authors believe that the findings will help the government to implement digital initiatives with more success.

Significant advances have been made in the field of healthcare service delivery across the world; however, health coverage particular for the poor and disadvantaged still remains a distant dream in developing world. In large developing countries like India, disparities in access to healthcare are pervasive. Despite recent progress in ensuring improved access to health care in past decade or so, disparities across gender, geography and socioeconomic status continue to persist. Fragmented and scattered health records and lack of integration are some of the primary causes leading to uneven healthcare service delivery. The devised framework is intended to address these challenges. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

In view of such challenges, in this research a Big Data and blockchain anchored integrative healthcare framework is proposed focusing upon providing timely and appropriate healthcare services to every citizen of the country. The framework uses unique identification number (UID) system as formalized and implemented by the Government of India for identification of the patients, their specific case histories and so forth.

The key characteristic of our proposed framework is that it provides easy access to secure, immutable and comprehensive medical records of patients across all treatment centers within the country. The model also ensures security and privacy of the medical records based upon the incorporation of biometric authentication by the patients for access of their records to healthcare providers.

A key component of our evolved framework is the Big Data analytics-based framework that seeks to provide structured health data to concerned stakeholders in healthcare services. The model entails all pertinent stakeholders starting from patients to healthcare service providers.

The interview explores the Live Enterprise model at Infosys. The idea is to enable mature companies to transform into a business with digital native agility, with many small teams innovating while leveraging shared digital infrastructure, in an environment of continuous evolution and learning.

Jeff Kavanaugh, Vice President and Global Head of Infosys Knowledge Institute, the research and thought leadership arm of Infosys, explains how the model promotes rapid experimentation through the digital runway, innovation at the edges by distributed micro-teams and extreme automation at scale for repeatable processes and functions. He and co-author Rafee Tarafdar describe the inner workings of this model in their new book “The Live Enterprise: Create a Continuously Evolving and Learning Organization”.

Outcomes are made possible by four capabilities: hybrid talent, a design-to-evolve mindset, a digital runway and a ‘micro is the new mega’ approach to transformational change.

Micro is the new mega because the Live Enterprise model uses frequent micro-change releases at scale in short sprints. The cumulative effect of these many small changes compounds quickly to transformational change

Essential reading for executives at mature companies who need to compete in the new digital environment. Offers such revolutionary ideas as: Employee experience (EX) is as important as customer experience (CX) in the live enterprise

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors responsible for growing popularity of digital wallets in India and sustainibility challenges faced by this innovative product on account of gaps between expectations of the users and their satisfaction level with leading wallet brands like Paytm, Freecharge, Mobikwik and Oxigen.

The descriptive research is based on primary data collected with the help of a structured questionnaire from 313 respondents in National Capital Region of Delhi chosen through non-probability convenience sampling. The collected data were converted into data matrix using SPSS 23.0 software and inferential analysis was done.

Attractive cashback and rewards, ease of use, instant money transfer without using cash, relatively higher transaction security as compared to credit/debit cards and absence of any transaction fee are the factors responsible for growing use of digital wallets. However, there are gaps between customers’ expectations and the satisfaction level which pose a challenge for sustainibility of digital wallets.

The study is limited to National Capital Region of Delhi for a specified set of factors considered important for customers’ satisfaction.

This paper offers fresh insights into the gaps between Indian customers’ expectations their satisfaction level with the leading digital wallet brands operating in India, which can be used to bridge these gaps for ensuring their long-term sustainability in a competitive environment.

The purpose of this paper is to encourage technologists, those who design and manage technology systems, to collectivize and get closely involved in defining the priorities of their organizations, their countries, and the world, so that responsible outcomes can arise from their labour.

The author examines this problem from three viewpoints: From a design perspective about what is missing in most design practices to build information systems that undesirable outcomes still happen; from an ethics perspective about how to incorporate values in building and managing information systems; and from a political economy perspective about why ensuring responsible outcomes from technology is not easy. The author describes several limitations faced by technologists in achieving this, ranging from gaps in the design methods in use currently, a piecemeal approach to following ethical principles in the design and management of technologies, influence of the organizational culture and structure and the wider political economy of technology itself.

The author suggests several measures to address these challenges and conclude with a call to technologists to collectivize and engage politically to influence their organizations and governments to invest in meaningful objectives for a just and equitable world, and design and manage the solutions in ethically consistent ways.

It is argued that a new paradigm of information systems is needed for digital platforms, which is grounded in ethics-based guidelines that should be followed by the designers and managers of these platforms to help ensure responsible outcomes.

Having such a paradigm is especially important in today’s winner-takes-all digital platform era because these platforms are governed by only a few people; therefore, it is imperative to build guardrails to responsibly manage these platforms, and to have technologists who design and manage these platforms to play a role in their governance.

Information systems have the potential to alter power relationships in society, and it is suggested that they should be designed to empower the weak.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is a unique perspective that draws from his personal experience as a researcher and practitioner designing technologies for social good, and examines the problem from many different viewpoints.

The purpose of this study is to identify how the privacy policy can be framed for protection of personal data and how the latest judgement of full bench of Supreme Court of India has dealt with right to privacy in India.

The study uses the latest Supreme Court judgement on right to privacy and historical cases on right to privacy in India. This paper uses Indian Constitution as a source of Information for study along with case laws and judgements of different courts in India.

This paper tries to find if personal data privacy is a fundamental right in India. In addition, the paper provides recommendations to different concerned authorities on protecting personal information in online platform.

This study deals with privacy issues so far as Indian citizens are concerns and does not focus on other countries. Moreover, the study tries to understand the issue of fundamental rights from Indian Constitution perspective. In addition, the recommendations provided to the policymakers and other authorities of India have wide implications for formulation of new policy and management of personal data, so that it should not go to wrong hands and the personal data and privacy is protected of the citizens.

Millions of people put their personal information in online platform. In addition, there are few government initiatives in India such as Aadhaar card where the biometric information is taken from the residents of India, and in many cases, the personal data are compromised under various circumstances. As the personal data of the citizens are in question, thus the study has direct practical implication mainly for all the citizens whose personal data are available in online platform.

This study has social implication as it dealt with the “personal data” of the citizens of India. As the paper discusses the issue of protection of personal data in the context of right to privacy, thus this study has a direct social impact so far as online citizen of India is concerned.

This paper is timely, original and discusses the contemporary issue of online data privacy and fundamental right in India. This paper is a useful resource for the researchers, policymakers and online users who deal with personal data-, right to privacy and data privacy policy-related areas.