The India Stack is a concept, or a moniker, for a collection of government-operated Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems and open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). It is designed to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data, and payments at a population scale. The term was coined by the technology think tank iSPIRT around 2012-2013. The initiative was conceptualized to fight financial exclusion and simplify complex processes for citizens.
The foundation of the Stack began with the unique identity program, Aadhaar, which was first implemented in 2009 with the formation of the Unique ID Authority of India (UIDAI). The system works through distinct layers: the Presence-less Identity Layer (Aadhaar), the Paperless Layer (which includes DigiLocker and e-Sign), the Cashless Layer (featuring the Unified Payments Interface or UPI), and the Data Empowerment Layer. These layers utilize open APIs to allow various entities to interact and conduct transactions digitally.
The Stack is closely connected to the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan Yojana–Aadhaar–Mobile) which significantly increased access to banking and digital payments. The identity component, Aadhaar, operates under its own distinct legal framework, the Aadhaar Act, 2016. The payments layer, UPI, is governed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Recently, the Stack has evolved with the launch of Account Aggregators in 2021 under the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) framework, which aims to ensure secure, consent-driven data sharing. New components like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) have also been integrated, expanding the Stack's reach into healthcare and e-commerce.