Understanding India's National Blockchain Framework and Its Impact on Digital Governance

Thursday, 5 September 2024, 03:32

Blockchain technology takes center stage with India's National Blockchain Framework (NBF) spearheaded by MeitY. This initiative aims to enhance digital governance, ensuring security and transparency in government services. NBF utilizes permissioned blockchains to foster trusted citizen-centric applications, revolutionizing public service delivery.
Moneycontrol
Understanding India's National Blockchain Framework and Its Impact on Digital Governance

What is the National Blockchain Framework?

The National Blockchain Framework is a government initiative aimed at building a trusted digital ecosystem leveraging blockchain technology. Unlike public blockchains such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, the NBF employs permissioned blockchains where only authorized participants can access and validate transactions. The primary goal is to implement this technology across various government services with a focus on security, privacy, and transparency.

Implementation of the Framework

The NBF is established on a distributed infrastructure across three National Informatics Centre (NIC) data centers in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad. By diversifying its location, the government aims to mitigate system failure risks while ensuring continuous service availability.

Developer and Researcher Tools

The NBF includes NBFLite, a sandbox platform designed for startups and academia, allowing users to develop and prototype blockchain-based applications without substantial infrastructure investments. This platform serves as a training ground for future developers.

The Role of Praamaanik

Praamaanik is a blockchain solution within the NBF ensuring mobile application authenticity, addressing counterfeit app security risks. It enables verification of app origins on a blockchain, delivering secure authentication for users and developers.

Transforming Governance with Blockchain

The government anticipates that blockchain will enhance public service delivery, promoting transparency and accountability. S. Krishnan, MeitY's secretary, regards the NBF as vital for establishing digital trust in government services.

Development Collaboration

The NBF is developed in collaboration with public entities like the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), alongside academic institutions such as IIT Hyderabad and IIIT Hyderabad, leading to patents and research contributions.

Future of the Framework

The NBF is in its early stages, with expectations of broader adoption among government departments prompting MeitY to advocate for additional platform integrations and innovations. The overarching vision is to place India as a global leader in blockchain technology, contributing homegrown solutions to the global digital economy.


This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.


Related posts


Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter for the most reliable and up-to-date tech news. Stay informed and elevate your tech expertise effortlessly.

Subscribe