The Covid-19 pandemic has completely altered every aspect of personal, political and public life. Indeed, administration in 2020 has been defined by the pandemic, and every sector from Health to Transport to e-Governance in 2020 has been impacted by the healthcare crisis.
The SKOCH State of Governance research process studies governances across states and sectors to get a sense of real change being affected and needed at the grassroots level.
The following table maps certain trends and developments in governance over the last five years. While short-term developments, like the impact of Covid-19 on administration, are understood in terms of recent contexts, longer patterns are indicative of shifting governance priorities. For instance, certain sectors, like District Administration at 40.34% and Police & Safety at 12.92% have clearly made up the lion’s share of governance projects for the year.
| Shifting Governance Priorities: State Governments From 2015-2020 | |||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2015-2020 | |
| Projects Ranked Per Year (%) | |||||||
| Agriculture | 1.72 | 0.00 | 1.24 | 1.97 | 3.04 | 7.02 | 1.91 |
| Disaster Management | 0.00 | 1.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| District Administration | 40.34 | 9.16 | 12.37 | 8.55 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 17.37 |
| Ease of Doing Business | 0.74 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Education | 1.35 | 3.48 | 3.51 | 6.91 | 6.42 | 9.21 | 4.04 |
| eGovernance | 5.90 | 13.19 | 16.91 | 26.32 | 29.73 | 40.79 | 17.33 |
| Finance & Revenue | 0.12 | 0.92 | 1.24 | 2.63 | 4.05 | 10.09 | 2.06 |
| Food & Civil Supplies | 0.00 | 1.28 | 1.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.52 |
| Governance (General Administration) | 2.83 | 7.88 | 2.06 | 8.88 | 9.80 | 9.21 | 5.73 |
| Health (Non-COVID) | 4.31 | 11.72 | 4.74 | 6.25 | 6.76 | 5.26 | 6.47 |
| Infrastructure | 0.12 | 0.55 | 0.21 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.19 |
| Irrigation | 0.00 | 0.37 | 2.68 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.56 |
| Labour | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Municipal Governance | 11.32 | 19.05 | 18.76 | 28.29 | 30.41 | 15.79 | 18.68 |
| Municipal Sanitation | 3.81 | 4.40 | 12.58 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.34 |
| Police & Safety | 12.92 | 9.34 | 1.44 | 0.00 | 3.04 | 0.00 | 6.44 |
| Power & Energy | 2.21 | 3.30 | 2.47 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.80 |
| Rural Development | 1.23 | 1.83 | 3.09 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.31 |
| Skill Development | 2.46 | 2.75 | 1.24 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.53 |
| Social Justice & Social Security | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.97 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Tourism & Culture | 0.00 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Transport | 3.32 | 3.30 | 4.54 | 4.61 | 6.76 | 2.63 | 4.00 |
| Urban Development | 0.86 | 3.66 | 6.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.21 |
| Water | 3.08 | 0.92 | 0.82 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.27 |
| Women & Child Development | 1.35 | 1.47 | 1.65 | 2.30 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.27 |
| Total number of projects studied | 813 | 546 | 485 | 304 | 296 | 228 | 2672 |
| Response to covid % | 24.97% | ||||||
| Numberof Projects related to Response to Covid | 203 |
The table above shows that e-Governance in 2020 accounted for 5.90% of the total number of projects studied for the year. As a result of social distancing and lockdowns coming into effect with the pandemic, the importance of digitalised governance and remote administration has really been realised. Even though e-Governance in 2020 seems to suffer a slump when compared to the previous years, the need for e-Governance has never been more pressing than it is now.
The following table ranks states on the basis of their sectoral performance for e-Governance in 2020. The SKOCH State of Governance 2020 review ranks states not only on the basis of overall performance but is also a deep-dive into specific sectors and niches. Telangana leads the charge for e-Governance in 2020, with Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra tying for second place and Karnataka coming in third.
| State Rank By e-Governance | State Name |
| 1 | Telangana |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 2 | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Karnataka |
| 4 | West Bengal |
| 5 | Rajasthan |
| 6 | Odisha |
| 7 | Puducherry |
| 8 | Punjab |
| 9 | Kerala |
| 10 | Gujarat |
| 10 | Tripura |
| 11 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 11 | Uttarakhand |
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of political and administrative function, including e-Governance in 2020. Consequently, of the various e-Governance projects studied for 2020, a significant number were in response to the pandemic.
Two of the most impactful projects for e-Governance in 2020 related to Covid-19 were the Covid Geospatial Portal For Karnataka by the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre and the COVID Odisha project by the Ministry Of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Odisha. The Covid Geospatial Portal used patient geo-tagging across all the districts of Karnataka to map, monitor and assess the spread of Covid-19. Spatial reviews informed testing, quarantining, hospitalisation and policy decisions and zone demarcations and management. The COVID Odisha project used modelling and predictive analysis to generate accurate, real-time infection data and conduct risk-profiling at the district level.
The dashboard helped the administration conduct GIS-mapping of patients, identify hot spots, organise a community kitchen and provide rations to migrant labourers and others in need. The system encouraged citzens to self-report travel history and seek psychosocial support. The dashboard was interfaced with the Health Department and allowed the authorities to map and monitor the spread of the infection.
The project used GPS, Bluetooth and cellular data to track and trace Covid-19 patients. This helped the administration enforce quarantine protocols and establish Covid-19 spread maps. The system was also used to track healthcare assets and infrastructure. It also helped in the issuance and monitoring of e-passes.
The database system is integrated with a service provider information and skill management system. It uses an Employment Management System (EEMS) and the Labour Department Management System (LPMS) to help address the unemployment created by Covid-19. Since June 2020, 52.55 lakh people registered and more than 5000 jobs are available.
The updated software, database and transportation systems have been used by the department in the fight against Covid-19. The inventory management system has enabled the quick, safe and easily-tracked transport of Covid-related equipment to healthcare facilities
SKOCH studied many important projects for e-Governance in 2020 by the Centre.
EPFIGMS by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation is a bilingual online grievance redressal portal serving PF subscribers, employers, pensioners and others.
The SAMADHAN Portal by Ministry of Labour improves the industrial disputes adjudication process simple, transparent, affordable and accessible. It makes registering disputes, filing paperwork and tracking status easy.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has introduced a project for the Empowerment Of Tribals Through IT-enabled Scholarship Schemes. The project uses a DBT portal to track beneficiary data and incorporates 331 universities and 4794 scholars.
The BhoomiRashi Portal by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways digitizes and automates the land acquisition process and addresses delays and funds parking.
The Ministry of External Affairs introduced the Passport Seva Project to digitalise the passport-related services. The system incorporates 36 Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras and 424 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras and also serves the diaspora abroad by way of over 190 Indian missions/ posts.
Audit Online by Ministry of Panchayati Raj makes online auditing of the Panchayats possible, improving financial management and transparency.
Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation Limited introduced the Sand Sale Management and Monitoring System which is an end-to-end ICT system to track the sales, deliveries and funds related to sand sales in the construction sector. This fixes artificial scarcity, revenue leaks, cost variations and poor management.
The Information Technology Electronics & Communication Department launched the Blockchain Based Property Registration Management System (PRMS) to integrate into the existing Property Registration application. This was done to address duplicate sales and fake documents without having to build a new system from scratch.
The T-Chits system by the Information Technology Electronics & Communication Department serves all Chit fund subscribers in the state. The use of emerging technologies like Blockchain allows for inclusive administrative reform.
The Andhra Pradesh State Police Housing Corporation Limited introduced the Project Management System, a cloud-based mobile system to automate official procedures. It is the first public works management app and address problems of duplication, manual errors and delays.
The Online System For Mineral Audit Involving Regulation Of Buying, Storing, Transportation Of Minerals by Department of Mines & Geology is an IT regulatory system enforcing transparency in the mineral trade and transport sector. Digital applications, transit passes, lease records and inventories are improving accountability in the value chain.
The Andhra Pradesh Center for Financial Systems and Services introduced the Comprehensive Financial Management System 2.0 to improve operational efficiency by augmenting existing processes and preparing for new business activities. The goal is to improve public works and financial management and upgrade how treasuries and other departments work.
The National Generic Document Registration System by the National Informatics Centre, Pune, uses ICT to digitalise payment and property registration and empower citizens to safely buy land online.
The Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre introduced the Maharashtra Monitoring & Assessment of Agriculture Drought using Advance Technology (MahaMADAT) dashboard to digitalise the drought declaration process and allow accurate, real-time updates and details using spatial data, maps, stats and analysis tools.
The Framework for e-Governance of Fundamental Resources Electricity, Water by National Informatics Centre, Akola, allows remote resource monitoring and management in the electric and water niches. The system allows for digital record keeping, fault finding and device-wise electricity bills using new IoT and BIoT cognitive technologies.
Some of the other noteworthy projects in e-Governance in 2020 include the Marketing and Sales Application by Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited, the Forest Fire Monitoring and Analysis by Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre, mSewa Punjab by Department of Governance Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of Punjab and the Electronic Delivery Service System and Automated Mutation by Land & Land Reforms and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Department, West Bengal.
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