The State government’s nodal software development agency, Centre for Smart Governance (CSG), and eGov Foundation have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen governance delivery and improve citizen experience in Karnataka, across India, and in the global south.
Through the partnership, the two organisations will collaborate on key e-Governance initiatives in Karnataka and globally, provide each other with access to technical expertise, training and marketing support, and share niche expertise for the development of products that are relevant and easily adoptable for governments across the world, especially in the global south, said a communique from CSG.
Build for Karnataka, replicate globally
According to officials from CSG, the partnership will initially be looking at developing tech solutions for projects under the Urban Development Department and solid waste management solutions for the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
The idea is to create digital public infrastructure-led solutions that can be successfully implemented in Karnataka, replicated across India, and adapted for other countries in the global south.
CSG has delivered more than 50 technology solutions for Karnataka’s departments and agencies covering sectors such as education, land reforms, and property and marriage registrations. So far, most were developed using proprietary tools by foreign technology companies.
According to the officials, the partnership with eGov is a step in a different direction, where solutions can be developed using open-source software and digital public goods. This not only helps to bring down the costs significantly, but also removes the dependency on foreign companies and their hold over intellectual property, they note.
It also eliminates the need to build solutions from the ground up as eGov Foundation’s open-source platform, DIGIT, has been built to launch and scale citizen services quickly while allowing the government to keep the ownership of the systems they use.
Faster, customisable
The collaboration brings together CSG’s operational understanding of government systems with eGov’s expertise in open digital infrastructure, process innovation, and institutional enablement, noted a statement from CSG.
“Over the last five years, Centre for Smart Governance has strived to provide scalable and citizen-centric solutions to enable government organisations to realise their digital transformation goals. This defining partnership with eGov Foundation will enable government organisations in Karnataka to have access to proven digital public infrastructure, customisable to their needs,” said Rahul Ratnam Pandey, CEO, Centre for Smart Governance.
DIGIT is deployed in multiple States in India and eight countries across the global south.
“When governments and their partners, like CSG, can build on proven digital infrastructure like DIGIT, they can respond faster, customise solutions to local needs, and sustain them over time,” said Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation.
Published – August 13, 2025 12:09 am IST
