India Web 3.0 Summit: 'RTI would not be needed if digitalisation had been adopted aggressively', says Rahul Narwekar

Rahul Narwekar, r Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, speaking at India Web 3.0 Summit

At the India Web 3.0 Summit hosted by Moneycontrol, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar emphasised that “digitalisation is no more a choice but a compulsion for every state and country to lead the world.” Speaking during a session moderated by Nalin Mehta, Managing Editor and Chief AI Officer of Editorial Operations at Network18, Narwekar reflected on how technology, governance, and transparency are deeply interconnected in shaping India’s democratic and economic future.

Highlighting the state’s ambitions, he said, “Maharashtra today aspires to become a $1 trillion economy in the next few years. It has one of the finest network of industries in the country.” He added that the state’s growth story depends heavily on how well it embraces the digital transformation journey.

Narwekar noted that while accessibility of data is important, “it is more than the availability of data, it is vital to secure data,” pointing to the need for a stronger framework for data protection in the country. He stressed that transparency in governance must go hand in hand with the protection of citizen data, observing that “the infrastructure for data protection is not adequate in the country.”

Discussing India’s governance model, Narwekar remarked, “India has a federal structure of governance. Every level has its own legislative body.” He further elaborated on the vision of the Prime Minister, saying, “PM Modi is clear that if federalism has to be protected, then all the key decisions of policies should be available to everyone easily. Sitting in Maharashtra, I should be able to access policy decisions of other states as well. More transparency will result in the progress of democratic values.”

He linked the idea of openness to the very foundation of trust in a democracy. “Transparency brings in trust. It needs data and the data has to be protected,” he said, adding a thought-provoking perspective that “when the Right To Information Act was passed, perhaps if the then government had aggressively adopted digitalisation, then maybe there may not have been any need for the RTI Act itself.”

Reflecting on his tenure as Speaker, Narwekar shared how technology has already begun empowering citizens. “When I took over as the speaker of the Maharashtra assembly, common man had difficulty in accessing debates and other key things,” he said. He added, “Now, all the debates and key decisions are available with just a click, which can be used anywhere such as courts or somewhere else. This will enhance the spirit of democracy and good governance and result in the overall progress of the nation.”

He also cited how digital tools are transforming everyday governance. “Earlier, you had to run to the local tehsil office for real estate information. Now you can access it from your office,” he said, illustrating the reach of digital reforms.

Narwekar said that “India is an aspirational society, we are the fourth largest economy now and will be the third largest by 2027.” Yet, he cautioned that achieving these milestones would be impossible without embracing the digital revolution that builds transparency, strengthens trust, and protects data integrity at every level of governance.