Context :

• The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, informed the Lok Sabha that 28 State/UT legislatures have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to adopt the National e Vidhan Application (NeVA).

Basic Introduction and Objective :

• NeVA is an integrated digital platform developed to bring efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the functioning of legislative bodies.
• Its primary objective is to eliminate traditional paper-based procedures and shift the entire legislative workflow to a cloud-based e-governance system.
• Launch : The platform was introduced in 2022 to modernize the functioning of legislative institutions.
• Leadership : The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs acts as the nodal agency responsible for implementing the project.
• The Government has made provisions for all State and Union Territory legislatures to adopt the NeVA platform.
• Funding Pattern :NeVA operates as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with financial sharing structured according to the category of states.

1. North-Eastern and Himalayan States : 90% of the expenditure is borne by the Central Government, while 10% is borne by the state governments.
2. Union Territories : For Union Territories with legislatures, 100% funding is provided by the Central Government.
3. Other States : The cost is shared between the Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio.
4. Estimated Cost : The Public Investment Board (PIB) has approved a total project cost of ₹673.94 crore.

Technical Features and Functionality :

• Universal Access : The platform is available through both a web portal and mobile application, enabling legislators to access proceedings and documents from anywhere.
• Digital Secretariat : Bills can be introduced, questions raised, and official communications exchanged electronically, removing the need for physical files.
• Public Accountability : Citizens can also view legislative debates, passed bills, and the daily List of Business, enhancing transparency in governance.
• E-Learning and Digital Library : The platform includes e-books and digital archives, supporting research and legislative reference work.

Current Status of Implementation :

• Participation : So far, 28 legislatures have signed MoU with the central government to implement the system.
• Operational Status : Currently, 21 State/UT legislatures are already conducting their legislative work digitally through the NeVA platform, while 7 others are at different stages of implementation.
• Leading State : The Punjab Legislative Assembly became the first fully digital legislature in India after adopting the system in September 2023.

Significance of the Initiative :

1. Environment-Friendly Governance : By significantly reducing paper consumption, it promotes sustainable and eco-friendly governance.
2. Administrative Efficiency : Digital processing reduces delays caused by file movement, thereby accelerating decision-making.
3. Strengthening Democracy : When legislative information becomes accessible to citizens with a single click, it makes the democratic process more inclusive and transparent.