How Digital Public Goods Are Creating a GovTech Revolution

The importance of using technology to deliver solutions to millions of people during a crisis has never been more evident. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the power of collaboration, technological evolution, and interconnectedness between countries in addressing large-scale challenges.

In May 2020, the United Nations Secretary-General called for COVID-19 vaccination platforms to be considered a global public good. CoWIN, India's vaccination platform, was built using a Digital Public Good named DIVOC, with CoWIN becoming one of DIVOC's largest implementations.

The emergence of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) has gained significant momentum in recent years, with governments and organizations investing in open technologies to develop solutions for urgent and large-scale challenges. These developments have contributed to the evolution of Digital Public Infrastructure, enabling governments to build accessible, interoperable, and scalable Government Digital Solutions.

What Are Digital Public Goods?

Established in 2019, the Digital Public Goods Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative with a mission to accelerate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in low- and middle-income countries by facilitating the discovery, development, usage, and investment in digital public goods.

Digital Public Goods include open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy laws, applicable regulations, and best practices to avoid harm.

Digital Public Goods are best known for three fundamental characteristics:

• Inclusive.

• Collaborative.

• Globally available.

These characteristics give DPGs the potential to eliminate barriers to accessing information and technology across the globe.

While proprietary solutions have traditionally dominated digital infrastructure, concerns about contractual lock-ins and limited interoperability have encouraged countries to explore open-source alternatives. These technologies support essential functions of Digital Governance, including identification, data exchange, digital payments, resource management, and public service delivery.

By enabling these capabilities, DPGs help governments develop Public Service Delivery Platforms that are accessible, interoperable, and citizen-centric. They also provide a foundation for building population-scale digital systems that can support government programmes and public services across different sectors.

The Concept of Open Source Technology

Through open access to information and technology, Digital Public Goods create opportunities to accelerate innovation and make technological solutions more accessible.

Open-source technologies allow people to access, modify, and share software because their source code is publicly available. They enable digital sovereignty and build trust through transparency, collaboration, direct participation, and the preservation of organizational autonomy.

Innovations can be distributed through DPGs while reducing the possibility of economic monopolies over digital solutions and knowledge. For both economic and social reasons, Digital Public Goods offer significant advantages to governments, development organizations, and communities.

DPGs are anchored in the principles of openness and collaboration, with the objective of making solutions available to anyone who wishes to use, modify, or build upon them.

When combined with community engagement and accountable governance, DPGs democratize access to government systems. They enable communities, technology providers, and public institutions to collaborate in developing Civic Tech Solutions and Open Digital Ecosystems for E-Governance.

This collaborative approach also supports Civic Tech Platform Engineering, where technology is designed around citizens' needs, accessibility, and the long-term sustainability of public services.

Digital Public Goods That Have Made a Mark in the Global Open-Source Ecosystem

A developing country like India is pioneering the concept of Digital Public Goods that facilitate the ease, transparency, and speed with which individuals, markets, and governments interact.

Modular applications, whether large or small, are transforming how people interact with the digital world. From making payments and withdrawing provident funds to applying for passports and driving licences and accessing land records, several everyday activities are now supported by digital platforms.

These developments demonstrate how GovTech Solutions and Government Software Development can transform public service delivery through interoperable and scalable infrastructure.

India's experience also highlights the importance of building Population-Scale Public Platforms and Product-First Government Portals that can evolve with changing citizen requirements.

Let's look at some examples of Digital Public Goods implemented at scale that have contributed to the GovTech revolution.

1. MOSIP – Modular Open Source Identity Platform

MOSIP is an open-source platform designed to help governments and international organizations build foundational identification systems in a cost-effective manner.

It is already being implemented by several countries to develop foundational digital identity systems similar to Aadhaar in India.

MOSIP demonstrates how open-source Government Digital Solutions can support secure identity infrastructure while giving governments greater flexibility and control over their digital ecosystems.

2. DIVOC – Digital Infrastructure for Vaccination and Public Health

DIVOC was built with a "Make in India, but for the world" approach, making it an open-source solution that other countries can adopt.

DIVOC is a Digital Public Good that helps countries roll out national vaccination and other public health programmes. It is a free-to-use software solution that has been integrated with India's vaccination platform, CoWIN.

Its implementation demonstrates how reusable digital platforms can support Population-Scale Public Service Delivery while enabling governments to respond quickly to public health requirements.

3. Sunbird – Enabling Digital Education Through Open Technology

Sunbird is an open-source platform that empowers school education in India through projects such as DIKSHA.

DIKSHA offers the flexibility to create large volumes of digital learning content, which is made available to students through QR codes printed in their textbooks.

This open-source solution has also attracted interest from non-profits and government organizations planning to implement similar initiatives in countries such as Peru and Costa Rica.

Sunbird demonstrates how Programme Platforms built on open-source technologies can support education delivery across diverse populations and geographies.

Digital Public Goods: Building Trust and Enabling Scalability

Digital Public Goods allow countries to adapt their digital infrastructure to future requirements while reducing long-term development and maintenance costs.

In India, the adoption of open-source digital solutions in primary and secondary education through platforms such as DIKSHA has helped reduce resource requirements and improve the accessibility of educational content.

DPGs have also helped build user trust in technology, particularly in applications involving sensitive information and critical public services.

Their collaborative nature allows developers and organizations to extend existing solutions, integrate new capabilities, and contribute improvements. This reduces the time and financial resources required to scale digital platforms.

The growing recognition of open-source technology is evident across almost every major software-driven industry. Open-source components are now widely used across sectors such as FinTech, HealthTech, and EdTech.

For governments, these technologies offer an opportunity to build Sustainable and Scalable Infrastructure while strengthening interoperability and reducing dependency on proprietary systems.

They also create a foundation for developing Mission-Critical Systems that support essential public services, government operations, and citizen-facing applications.

Leveraging Open-Source Technologies to Deliver Citizen-Centric Solutions

India's digital diplomacy can benefit other emerging economies as they seek to establish their own digital foundations. India's positioning as a leading technology player in the digital age can be further strengthened by sharing and exporting Made-in-India Digital Public Goods across the world.

However, building effective digital infrastructure requires more than adopting technology. Governments need the right engineering capabilities, implementation strategies, and long-term technology partnerships to develop reliable and scalable systems.

This is where an experienced Government Engineering Partner can make a difference by helping public institutions translate complex requirements into practical digital solutions.

Tekdi has been a strong catalyst for societal transformation by empowering organizations and individuals through technology. By leveraging open-source technologies, Tekdi focuses on developing citizen-centric solutions that address real-world challenges.

As a Digital Governance Company in India, Tekdi brings together technology expertise, thoughtful strategies, passionate teamwork, and a culture rooted in innovation and automation to support the development of digital platforms for public and social impact initiatives.

Tekdi's experience in the Digital Public Goods ecosystem benefits government platforms and solutions through cost-effective, secure, and up-to-date technology. Its collaborative approach to Government Software Development and Civic Tech Platform Engineering supports the development of digital systems that can adapt to evolving requirements.

From building Public Service Delivery Platforms to supporting large-scale government initiatives, the focus remains on developing sustainable solutions that put citizens first.

Team Tekdi looks forward to further maximizing the potential of open-source technologies through new mindsets, collaborations, and approaches. By working as an Engineering Partner for Government Programmes, Tekdi aims to contribute to the development of scalable digital ecosystems and Digital Systems for Social Impact.

Frequently Asked Questions 


1. How do Digital Public Goods support Digital Public Infrastructure?

Digital Public Goods provide open-source technologies that help governments build scalable, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital platforms for identity, payments, and public service delivery.

2. How are GovTech solutions improving government service delivery?

GovTech solutions simplify public services through digital platforms, Government Software Development, and Civic Tech Engineering, improving accessibility, transparency, and operational efficiency.

3. Why do governments need an engineering partner for Digital Public Infrastructure?

An experienced Government Engineering Partner helps develop secure, scalable, and sustainable digital platforms using open-source technologies to support evolving public-sector requirements.