Puducherry Joins NeVA: A Digital Milestone for Lawmaking
In a strong push toward paperless and transparent governance, Puducherry Legislative Assembly officially adopted the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) on June 9, 2025. The platform was launched by Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, and Assembly Speaker R. Selvam.
With this, Puducherry becomes the 19th legislature in India to embrace NeVA, joining the growing list of assemblies going digital under the Digital India initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
NeVA: Driving Digital Democracy
NeVA is designed to bring transparency, efficiency, and eco-friendliness to lawmaking by digitizing the legislative process. It’s a 100% centrally funded initiative by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, and a key pillar of the government’s “One Nation, One Application” vision.
Dr. L. Murugan called NeVA a “transformative step in India’s democratic evolution.” He said it empowers citizens to access real-time legislative updates and promotes transparency, similar to ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ and the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’.
Sustainable and Transparent Governance
According to Lt. Governor Kailashnathan, NeVA will help save 3 to 5 tonnes of paper annually, aligning with Go Green and Good Governance goals.
The move supports Digital India and promotes environmental sustainability.
Training & Capacity Building: The Next Step
Implementing NeVA successfully requires capacity building. Officials confirmed training programs and awareness campaigns for legislators, assembly staff, and the public. These sessions will ensure smooth onboarding and active participation.
The focus is on equipping lawmakers with the digital tools they need, without hampering the legislative workflow.
Aligning with a Digital, Developed India
Dr. Murugan used the occasion to highlight a decade of digital progress under the current government:
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India ranks 2nd globally in digital transactions
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DBT platforms streamline welfare delivery
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Atmanirbhar Bharat boosts defense self-reliance
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50% reduction in defense imports over the past few years
He said digital public infrastructure and social capital are the twin engines powering India’s rise towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
NeVA’s Broader Mission
NeVA is a mission-mode project under the Digital India programme, not just an app. The goal is to create a unified digital ecosystem for all Indian legislatures. This enables:
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Paperless working of Assemblies
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Seamless inter-legislature collaboration
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Digital recordkeeping of bills, acts, and proceedings
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Enhanced public participation
By joining this initiative, Puducherry takes a step toward citizen-centric lawmaking and sets an example for other smaller legislative assemblies.