Have you ever visited an e-governance portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) or any government agency? If so, you’ve likely encountered web portals and interfaces that are outdated, sluggish, and visually unappealing. It’s not uncommon to joke about the poor quality of these websites and systems, which often look like they were designed by a 5th grader. However, in reality, the outdated design and user experience of e-governance systems can have serious consequences, making it difficult for citizens to access important services and hindering the effectiveness of government initiatives. That’s why it’s crucial to modernize India’s e-governance systems with new brand and user experience design systems that enhance the usability and accessibility of these vital services.
As India’s e-governance initiatives continue to expand, it’s becoming increasingly important to consider the design and user experience of these systems. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is the primary agency responsible for developing e-governance applications and information technology services in India, but many of their web portals and interfaces are still outdated as stated above.
To address these issues, the NIC should consider adopting new brand and user experience (UX/UI) design systems that can enhance the usability and accessibility of their systems. This includes adopting global and battle-tested protocols such as OAuth2 and OpenID for single sign-on (SSO), as well as ensuring that all e-governance systems are translated into all Indian languages and made accessible to the disabled through screen readers and other assistive technologies.
In addition, the NIC should also invest in hiring better graphics designers to create more visually appealing interfaces. It’s important to recognize that we live in 2023, and users expect modern and engaging interfaces that are easy to use and navigate. By investing in better design, the NIC can create more user-friendly systems that are more likely to be adopted and used by citizens.
Furthermore, the NIC should move away from outdated technologies like WSDL/SOAP and XML, which have been superseded by more modern alternatives. For example, the Aadhaar Project APIs could benefit from adopting more modern technologies like REST and JSON, which are faster, more flexible, and easier to use. This would help to modernize India’s e-governance systems and make them more compatible with global standards and best practices.
In summary, modernizing the design and user experience of e-governance systems in India is crucial to improving their usability, accessibility, and overall effectiveness. By adopting new design systems, protocols, and technologies, the NIC can create more engaging, user-friendly, and efficient systems that are better suited to meet the needs of Indian citizens in the 21st century.
NIC Website: https://www.nic.in P.S. Please don’t laugh at my tax money.