E-readiness shows the ability and willingness of any government to utilise information and communication technologies (ICT) for the development of its economy and to ensure welfare of its citizens. E-readiness also shows the commitment of any government to fight against corruption and red tappism by bringing transparency and accountability through use of ICT.E-readiness of India has never been good enough to make any mark. On the contrary it has been declining and degrading in India with an ever growing corruption in India. To make the matter worst excessive bureaucratisation and red tappism has also kept at bay citizen’s oriented services in India.
India’s ranking for e-readiness has been declining year after year. For instance, India ranked 53rd in 2006, 54th in 2007, 54th in 2008 and 58th in 2009. As can be seen from these rankings, Indian e-readiness is declining despite spending crores of public money.
Another closely related issue pertains to digital delivery of services in India. Unfortunately, digital delivery of services has no meaning and significance in India as they are purely discretionary and not mandatory.
Even after ten years of enactment of information technology act, 2000, Indian government is not confident that it can deliver electronic services. The embargo on mandatory delivery of services is still present in the Act and none can claims as a matter of right e-governance and electronic delivery of services in India.
This shows why Indian e-readiness and electronic delivery of services is in bad shape. Neither there is a legislative compulsion in this regard nor there is an intention on the part of Indian parliament to enact suitable law in this regard. India claims itself to be a super power in ICT field but when it comes to delivering electronic services to its own citizens, it stands nowhere.
