What is Digital Shakti 4.0? | Key Details for UPSC

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Significance of Digital Shakti 4.0 for UPSC CSE?

Digital Shakti 4.0 is an important and proactive initiative by the National Commission for Women to spread digital awareness and education among the women of the country. Cybercrime(especially against women) is one of the biggest challenges our societies are facing today and securing cyberspace is a must, so, this Digital Shakti 4.0 is important for both UPSC Prelims and Mains Perspective.
Digital Shakti 4.0 is related to GS2: Gender, Issues Related to Women

Why Digital Shakti 4.0 in News?

Recently, the National Commission for Women (NCW) launched the fourth phase of the Digital Shakti Campaign i.e. Digital Shakti 4.0.
NCW launched Digital Shakti 4.0 in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation and Meta.

What is Digital Shakti?

Digital Shakti is a pan-India project on digitally empowering and skilling women and girls in cyberspace.
Digital Shakti is the initiative to make women stand up against any inappropriate event they may witness in the online space.
It provides training to understand various ways in which privacy can be compromised.

Why Digital Shakti 4.0 is launched?

In light of increasing cases, data suggests India has the 3rd highest number of bullying cases, that’s why the 4th phase of digital Shakti(Digital Shakti 4.0) is now rolled out.
Digital Shakti 4.0 is launched to take the mission from upskilling to capacity building and skill development.

What is the focus of digital Shakti 4.0?

In line with its commitment to create safe spaces for women and girls online, Digital Shakti 4.0 is focused on making women digitally skilled and aware to stand up against any illegal/inappropriate activity online.
Digital Shakti has been an enabler for more than 3 lakh women and with the launch of phase 4, the aim is to sensitize more than 1 million women. To maintain inclusivity, the campaign is launched not just in English but 5 other Indian languages.

Earlier Phases of Digital Shakti campaign

First Phase of Digital Shakti(Digital Shakti 1.0)

Digital Shakti was launched in 2018 from Chandigarh. Then, it focused on upskilling 60,000 women from 8 states in India.

Second Phase of Digital Shakti(Digital Shakti 2.0)

The second phase was launched in February 2020, and completed more than 167 workshops.
This phase created history by completing in just 12 months, covering all the states in India.
By the time the second phase was rolling out, covid-19 started to spread and hence many workshops were conducted virtually.

Third Phase of Digital Shakti(Digital Shakti 3.0)

In light of changing times, the third phase of the program was started in March 2021 with the Launch at Leh by NCW Chairperson in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Shri Radha Krishna Mathur & Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, MP, Ladakh.
In the third phase, a Resource Center was also developed under the project to provide information on all the avenues of reporting in case a woman faces any cybercrime.

How meta helping Digital Shakti?

Meta is the wind beneath the wings of Digital Shakti
Meta is not just a platform for interaction and entertainment but taking various initiatives to educate and empower individuals.
A curriculum for students from 6th to 8th was also developed by Meta.