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.