In a significant move aimed at enhancing accessibility and usability of its digital platforms, the Indian government is reportedly gearing up to revamp all its websites, applications, and digital services. According to a senior government official cited by ET, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will spearhead this initiative, focusing on improving page loading times, enhancing user interfaces, and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities.
The official highlighted that the current structure of government websites often results in slow loading times due to information overload on landing pages. “We plan to not only streamline and clean up the user interface but also make the content more accessible, particularly for users with disabilities,” the official stated.
As part of the initial phase, all websites and applications under the purview of the IT ministry will undergo upgrades to comply with accessibility standards. This effort is also part of a broader strategy to bolster the global presence of Indian government apps and services.
The official emphasized the importance of inclusivity in digital services, suggesting features like text-to-speech options for visually impaired users and simplified navigation to enhance user experience across different demographics. “If there is a need to integrate technologies like Bhashini for local language support, we are open to exploring that as well,” the official added.
Earlier this year, the government announced plans to consolidate its digital public goods (DPGs) into a unified portal, aiming to streamline access to essential services such as Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface. MeitY is expected to collaborate closely with all ministries and departments to detail the digital public infrastructure (DPI) they have developed.
In related efforts, MeitY recently formed five working groups to address critical issues like data anonymisation, IoT and mobile device security, and digital education. These groups are tasked with developing guidelines and frameworks to enhance the implementation of e-governance projects across various government entities.
The overhaul of digital services is seen as a step towards modernizing government operations and enhancing citizen engagement through improved accessibility and efficiency in digital interactions.
The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive growth and ensuring that digital services are accessible to all segments of society. As these plans unfold, stakeholders await further details on timelines and specific measures to be implemented across government digital platforms.
