In a significant leap toward paperless and transparent governance, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan, inaugurated the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) for the Puducherry Legislative Assembly today. This development marks Puducherry as the 19th legislature in India to implement the digital platform, reaffirming the Centre’s push for Digital India.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of Lieutenant Governor Shri K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister Shri N. Rangasamy, and Assembly Speaker Shri R. Selvam, who lauded the initiative as a transformational step in legislative operations.
NeVA is a mission-mode project under the Digital India programme and is fully funded by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. It aims to digitise the entire legislative process, enabling real-time access to proceedings, digitised records, and live streaming, thus improving transparency and public engagement.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Murugan said, “NeVA is a transformative initiative that ensures real-time access to legislative proceedings and strengthens our democracy. It reflects the principle of ‘One Nation, One Application’, just like the reforms of ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ and the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’. The public has the right to know and witness how laws are made.”
He also highlighted India’s rapid strides in digital transformation over the past decade, including becoming the world’s second-largest nation in digital transactions, the effective delivery of welfare through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), and major reductions in defence imports under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Echoing these sentiments, Lieutenant Governor Kailashnathan called NeVA a milestone that will reduce 3–5 tonnes of paper annually, contributing to Go Green, Digital India, and Good Governance missions. He emphasised that digitisation would also improve public accessibility to legislative processes through live streaming and documentation.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Puducherry Assembly will undertake training and capacity-building programmes for legislators and staff, accompanied by awareness campaigns to enhance familiarity with NeVA’s features.
NeVA stands as a landmark initiative in India’s digital governance journey, bringing uniformity and efficiency to legislative functioning across states. With its implementation in Puducherry, the government continues to reaffirm its commitment to a more transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven democracy.