A recent study commissioned by the Karnataka government has suggested that the government set up a digital platform for processing and releasing incentives offered under different policies to startups, small & medium units and large industries.

Individual departments such as industries, IT/BT and labour have announced their own programmes and concessions in their respective sectors to promote investments and generate jobs. These sops are released subject to the investor showing results on ground. Companies have to tap individual departments to claim the benefits.

A single digital platform for application, processing and disbursement of benefits will promote ease of doing business and reduce duplication of efforts for companies, said the report, Karnataka Innovation Vision 2030, commissioned by the state's IT/BT department.

A switch to this sort of a platform will also help the state's leadership get a holistic view and promote data-driven decision making and policy updates. It will act as a one-stop shop for all incentives if developed in a user-centric way, the report noted.

The platform must include extensive chat-bot-based search functions, regular social media engagements and information that investors look for, it suggested.

The report highlighted the union budget's emphasis on minimum government, maximum governance to call for fast-tracking of digitisation efforts in the state in partnership with industry and startups.

In line with this, the study seeks a bigger push from the government towards complete digital and e-governance initiatives. It is not enough if the government promotes innovation in the private sector, but should also focus within itself. Only innovative governance practices can provide better public services.

The study mentions the latest ICT policy of the neighbouring Telangana government, which says: “No government service that citizens would intend to avail would mandate in-person presence unless it’s a physical test or inspection.” The union budget has also placed a huge emphasis on increasing governance through digitisation.

In line with that, the Government of Karnataka can also aggressively push for completely digitised public service delivery to its citizens, the report said.