India's digital public infrastructure transformed payments, consent, and credit into shared systems. This article explores how AI may become the next layer built upon that foundation, connecting technology, finance, and governance.

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This publication provides a snapshot of UNDP’s blockchain practice and explores how UNDP is engaging with blockchain technologies as part of its broader effort to support inclusive, future-ready public systems.

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Mila Samdub and Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci disentangle two different visions of digital public infrastructure (DPI): DPI as roads, and DPI as radio.

Cyberattack campaigns have increased against critical infrastructure like power grids, healthcare, and energy.  Cyber warfare and global threat The global threat landscape has shifted from data theft to threats against human lives. The convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) has increased the attack surface, exposing sectors like public utilities, aviation, and transport to outsider risks.  According to Gaurav Shukla, cybersecurity expert at Deloitte South Asia, “For the past two years, we observed that cyber threats were not limited only to the IT systems. They were pervading beyond IT systems, and the perpetrators were targeting more of the critical infrastructure.”  Change in digital landscape Digital transformation in recent years has increased the attack surface, providing more opportunities for threat actors to compromise critical infrastructure. “ "If you are driving a connected car on a highway at 120 km/h and suddenly find the steering is no longer in your control, you are not going to be worried about how much money is in your bank account. You are worried about the danger to your life,” Shukla added.  How dangerous can it be? For instance, an attack on a medical device compromising patient information can be dangerous, whereas a cyber attack on power grids and the transmission sector can result in countrywide blackouts. Rise in connected devices The world population of eight billion is currently surrounded by more than 30 billion IoT sensors. This means that, on average, a person is surrounded by more than 3.5 sensors.  India’s Digital Public Infrastructure India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, aka India Stack, has become a global benchmark. According to experts, Deloitte has suggested that 24 countries adopt their own framework for the India Stack. Shukla has warned that as DPI reaches beyond identity and payments to include education and healthcare, the convergence points create new threats. DPI accounts for around 80% of India’s digital transactions in January 2026. Attackers' use of artificial intelligence (AI) increases the speed and scope of their attacks. Thus, ongoing testing against supply chain problems and AI-related risks will be extremely important, he continued. Cyberwarfare is continuous, demanding ongoing cooperation between businesses, academics, and the government, whereas kinetic wars are time-bound. “Much like you need a language to build a foundation, awareness of cybersecurity and privacy is going to be just as important,” Shukla added.