The emerging use cases for Web3 and Blockchain can bring about a radical change in governance, writes Karam Grover
Web3 products and services are capable of providing digital solutions to real-world problems across multiple sectors – be it healthcare, public administration, law and order, entertainment, education… the list is endless. Web3 refers to a group of technologies including blockchain, virtual digital assets including NFTs, DeFi etc. It enables decentralisation and increases transparency, allowing users of the internet to retain ownership over their data.
The applications of this transformative technology are growing in popularity in India. According to a report on Web3 by KMPG, India ranks fifth worldwide in terms of consumer interest in blockchain-based products and services, after the United States, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines. Over 5 lakh Indians (as of November 2021), many from the ‘Gen Z’ age group, have indicated an interest in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). More than half of consumers surveyed said that they are interested in both physical and virtual goods, and about 46% said that they would be willing to shop on the Metaverse.
Healthcare
The highly sensitive and personal nature of medical records demands a drastic change in the way the healthcare industry operates. Modern healthcare facilities operating under Web 2.0 have become data centres that control and monetise patient information – a prospect that gives rise to serious ethical concerns. A decentralised patient information system under Web3 redirects the focus towards patients as central to the healthcare system and not merely a source of revenue. A Web3 healthcare metaverse, for instance, could allow patients to interact with doctors without relinquishing control over their personal information. More crucially, Web3 has the potential of providing seamless virtual assistance to patients who may not otherwise be able to access quality healthcare – readers may be able to recall the magnitude of this problem when the Covid19 pandemic was at its peak.
Land records
The Government of India 2016 launched the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), an ambitious project aimed at digitising India’s 800 million parcels of land, whereby each parcel of land is surveyed and assigned a Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN). Poorly kept land records have translated into millions of land disputes before the courts of India, which stretch on for years at a time and could span multiple generations. Web3 solutions could go a long way in tackling this monumental problem.
Digital identity
With individual virtual presences growing at breakneck speed and immense volumes of data being processed every minute of every day, it is of paramount importance that individuals be given sovereignty over their personal data and identity. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in December 2021 published its National Strategy on Blockchain, which noted “Identity management” in its list of potential applications, and also considered the use of technologies such as Self Sovereign Identity and Zero Knowledge Proof, among others, for integration into existing frameworks at the appropriate layers.
This is a prime example of how distributed ledger technology (DLT) can be used to create a digital infrastructure where citizens’ digital personal data and digital identity can be recorded on the blockchain in a democratic manner, with individuals in the driving seat vis-à-vis their own personal data.
IT services
India’s world-famous IT sector is also making inroads into the metaverse, with companies like Tech Mahindra throwing their hat into the ring. Tech Mahindra is exploring use cases such as car dealerships, gaming centres, NFT marketplaces, and virtual banks and intends to provide an immersive metaverse experience for its customers. Hyperlink Infosystem – another multinational corporation headquartered in India – is looking to leverage its expertise in developing applications using blockchain, AI, metaverse, IoT and so on.
Law enforcement
A most interesting new use case that has emerged recently is the use of DLT by crime investigation units in New Delhi. Officials are adopting blockchain in Delhi’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for failsafe recording and storage of evidence obtained from crime scenes. This is part of a larger ongoing exercise by the Delhi Police to foster greater public trust in the criminal investigation system.
Education
Web3 and the metaverse are expected to impact the world of education and learning in a big way, through virtual campuses and ‘gamified’ learning experiences where students can unlock new chapters and earn points. There are many use cases for the Metaverse in learning, such as virtual labs, exam simulations, practical skill set training, and so on.
The process is already underway worldwide, with Hong Kong University has launched its first virtual campus. In India, Mahindra University has collaborated with Tech Mahindra to establish a ‘Makers lab’ to facilitate development in the metaverse.
(The writer is the Director of Public Policy at Aakhya India. The views expressed are personal)
