June 24, 2018 : The Chhattisgarh Government has formally notified its Open Standards Policy for e-Governance through a gazette publication dated 23 June 2018. The policy has been issued by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology with the objective of making government digital systems more compatible, transparent and citizen friendly.
The policy focuses on ensuring that all government departments use open standards while developing and operating their e-governance applications. Open standards are technical specifications that allow different software systems and platforms to communicate with each other without restrictions. This step is expected to improve interoperability between departments and make digital services more efficient.
According to the notification, the main objective of the policy is to ensure that all e-governance applications and systems developed by government bodies adopt open standards. This will help different applications work together smoothly, even if they are built on different technologies. It will also allow easy exchange of data across departments, reducing duplication and improving coordination.
The policy clearly defines key terms such as open standards, open source software, e-governance, interoperability, application systems and legacy systems. Open standards are described as publicly available specifications that can be implemented without legal or technical barriers. The aim is to avoid dependence on any single vendor and promote flexibility in government IT systems.
The government has linked this policy with national frameworks and guidelines. It refers to the Policy on Open Standards for e-Governance issued by the Government of India, the Technical Standards for Interoperability Framework for e-Governance (IFEG), the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy 2012, and the National Cyber Security Policy 2013. By aligning with national standards, the state intends to maintain uniformity and security in its digital systems.
Under the policy provisions, all government organizations are required to ensure that new e-governance applications are designed using open standards. Existing or legacy systems must also be gradually aligned with these standards wherever feasible. The policy stresses that data generated through government systems should be sharable in secure and standardized formats.
Security and data protection are given importance. The notification states that all implementations must comply with national security guidelines and data protection norms. This ensures that while systems become open and interoperable, they remain secure and reliable.
The policy also outlines responsibilities for implementation. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology will prepare detailed guidelines for execution. Government departments must publish and use open standards for integration of their applications. A coordination mechanism will be set up at the state level to monitor implementation and provide necessary support.
Importantly, the policy applies to all government departments and agencies in the state. It covers both new projects and upgrades of existing systems. This ensures that digital governance in the state moves in a unified direction rather than in isolated silos.
The notification makes it clear that the policy will remain effective until further orders and that the state government has the authority to review or amend it when required.
Overall, the Open Standards Policy marks a significant step in strengthening digital governance in Chhattisgarh. By promoting interoperability, transparency and security, the state aims to create a more efficient and citizen centric e-governance ecosystem. The move is expected to reduce technical barriers, improve service delivery and support long term digital transformation in the state.
Source: Chhattisgarh Rajpatra (Extra-Ordinary) No. 228, dated 23 June 2018, Notification No. F4-20/2018/56/E.I.T., Naya Raipur, dated 21 June 2018.
Author: Kundan Jha, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
