India's trajectory toward digital eminence is intricately woven into the fabric of its burgeoning digital library ecosystem. Through the lens of artificial intelligence (AI) insights, this chapter delineates the pivotal role of digital libraries in India's ascent within the global digital milieu. At the heart of this exploration lies the profound impact of digital libraries as reservoirs of knowledge, catalyzing innovation, and fostering inclusive growth. By employing a multifaceted analysis, the authors uncover the transformative potential inherent in these repositories, elucidating their capacity to democratize access to information, propel research and education, and underpin socioeconomic advancement.
TopIntroduction
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and digital transformation, India stands poised at the forefront of a digital revolution. At the heart of this transformation lies the proliferation of digital libraries, emerging as indispensable repositories of knowledge and catalysts for societal progress. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) insights, this paper endeavors to unravel the intricate tapestry of India's ascendancy through its digital library ecosystem (K. Senthilkumar & Maniiarsan, 2020).
India's journey towards digital eminence is underpinned by a relentless pursuit of knowledge democratization and technological innovation. As a nation endowed with a rich cultural heritage and a burgeoning knowledge economy, India recognizes the pivotal role of digital libraries in driving inclusive growth, fostering innovation, and nurturing a knowledge-driven society. At the intersection of technology, policy, and collaboration, India's digital libraries represent the fulcrum of its digital aspirations, serving as enablers of empowerment, progress, and global leadership (K. R. Senthilkumar, 2019).
In this introductory section, we embark on a journey to decipher the multifaceted dimensions of India's digital library landscape. We delve into the significance of digital libraries as agents of change, illuminating their transformative potential in reshaping the socioeconomic fabric of India. Through a comprehensive analysis, we navigate the evolution of India's digital library ecosystem, tracing its roots from the early endeavors to the contemporary initiatives driving the nation towards information equity and technological eminence (Marty et al., 2023).
Furthermore, we underscore the pivotal role of AI in unraveling insights and unlocking the latent potential of digital libraries. By harnessing AI algorithms for data curation, knowledge discovery, and personalized learning, India's digital libraries are poised to transcend traditional boundaries, democratizing access to information and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Against this backdrop, we set the stage for a deeper exploration of India's digital library landscape, illuminating the path forward for leveraging digital repositories as instruments of empowerment, progress, and global leadership in the digital age (Guo et al., 2023).
Global Setting
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipates one-third of the world to be in recession in 2023. The World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects (GEP), released on January 10, 2023, projects a prolonged slowdown in the global economy, with growth estimated at 2.2% – the third-lowest in three decades. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index declined for the ninth consecutive month in December 2022, primarily due to decreases in vegetable oil prices and cereals. Crude oil prices averaged US$ 80.9 per barrel in December, down from US$ 91.1 in November. In the Euro area, inflation decreased to 9.2% in December 2022 from 10.1% in November 2022. The global economic outlook remains uncertain (D. K. Senthilkumar, 2024).