Top priority of DeitY is successful execution of ‘Digital India’
The Department of Electronics & IT (DeitY) has been playing a vital role towards implementation of the Digital India programme. DeitY is the nodal department for entire execution of the programme though implementation is being done by the Indian Government.
“The benefits of the ‘Digital India’ programme can reach to the common citizens only when software tools and human machine interface systems are available in people’s own languages,” says Dr Aruna Sharma, Secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY). In conversation with Ankush Kumar, Dr Sharma talks about the department’s role in promoting electronic manufacturing and implementing the Digital India initiative.
You have recently taken over the charge as the Secretary, DeitY. Please share your vision for the Department?
The vision of DeitY coincides with the overarching vision outlined under the ambitious Digital India Programme of making Digital Infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, Governance & Services on demand and Digital Empowerment of citizens. However the overall mission is to promote e-Governance for empowering citizens, promoting the inclusive and sustainable growth of the Electronics, IT & ITeS industries, enhancing India’s role in Internet Governance and adopting a multipronged approach that includes development of human resources, promoting R&D and innovation, enhancing efficiency through digital services and ensuring a secure cyber space.
What are the key focus areas on your priority list for the next few years?
Successful execution of the Digital India programme would remain the top priority of DeitY. Key focus areas include ICT for inclusive growth, electronic delivery of Government services, e-infrastructure, electronics manufacturing, innovation in emerging areas of ICT&E, R&D, knowledge network and cyber security .
The department’s key focus would include:
(1) Delivering key e-government services to citizens across the country, (2) To encourage electronic manufacturing in the country under the ‘Make in India’ campaign to achieve Net-Zero import by 2020 in the electronics sector, (3) Increase employment through strengthening the IT and the ITeS services including development and export of software, (4) To build a secure and resilient cyberspace for citizens and the government, and (5) Strengthening the nation’s competitiveness by expanding the R&D base in electronics and IT
According to the Task Force Report, the demand for electronics products will increase to $ 400 billion by the year 2020. What are the steps that are being taken to meet this rising demand and encourage electronic manufacturing in India?
The Government of India has taken several steps to promote manufacturing and investment in this sector. There are many initiatives taken by the Government of India to promote Electronics Manufacturing in the country. Our flagship scheme Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) which provides upto 25% capital subsidy for investment in the sector. Production subsidy at 10 % of the production turnover (ex-factory) for high investment projects has been included. The target is to have net zero imports by 2020, which is a striking demonstration of intent.
The digital India programme endeavors to create a globally competitive electronics design and manufacturing industry to meet the country’s needs and serve the international market. The government has allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Electronics Manufacturing sector (excluding Strategic Sector i.e. only 49%). To build the best in class manufacturing Infrastructure, Electronic Manufacturing Clusters Scheme was introduced which provides 50% of the cost for development of infrastructure and common facilities in Greenfield clusters and 75% of the cost for Brownfield clusters.
DeitY has notified the policy for providing preference to domestically manufactured electronic products in Government procurement. Nine generic electronic products and also 23 Telecom Products have been notified by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in furtherance of the policy. DeitY has also set up an Electronics Development Fund (EDF) to promote innovation and Start ups in this field in a very big way.
The Indian Conditional Access System (iCAS) has been developed successfully and is ready for implementation. More than 25,000 STBs with iCAS have already been deployed across the country in last 2 months. We produce over 200,000 engineers every year. DeitY is also providing support for scholarship of students and infrastructure for institutions.
In addition, DeitY is providing 75%-100% financial assistance in the training cost for around one million people over a period of four years with industry specific skills for skilled and semi-skilled workers as per the Industry requirements.
To create a vibrant and dynamic fabless design industry in the country, a policy for Fabless Chip Design industry is in the process of finalization. India is one of the fastest growing markets for medical electronic devices. We would like to explore ways by which we could work together and create greater collaboration in the areas of trade, investments, human resource development and R&D.
As a result, we are getting investments from both India and foreign companies. Several Indian companies like Tata(s), Hero Group, Adani Group, Sterlite Group, Vikram Solar, among others are entering electronics manufacturing in a big way.
Please tell us about the progress in setting up of Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication Manufacturing Facilities in India? What are the key benefits?
The Government had already cleared two proposals for setting up two state-of-art semiconductor wafer FABs one near Prantij, Gujarat and another Yamuna Expressway, UP. Setting up of FAB will be a critical pillar required to promote Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) in the country. The FAB will stimulate the flow of capital and technology, result in achieving higher value addition in the electronic products manufactured in the country, promote chip design activities in the country, create employment opportunities by promoting setting up of electronics manufacturing ecosystem, reduce dependence on imports and promote innovation.
Digital India initiative of the Government is considered to be a huge business opportunity for IT & IT enabled services. What role is DeitY playing in the expansion of the Digital India Project?
The Department of Electronics & IT (DeitY) has been playing vital roles towards implementation of the Digital India programme. DeitY is the nodal department for entire execution of the programme though implementation is being done by the whole Government. DeitY has been playing an instrumental role in assisting and guiding central Ministries/Departments & States/UTs through policy frameworks, guidelines, digital platforms, technical and advisory support.
DeitY has also taken several new initiatives to facilitate electronic delivery of services. This includes Digital Locker, eSign, GIS for decision support system and a Unified platform to access government services through mobile and Standards for feature phones to support all 22 official Indian languages.
DeitY has built several common ICT platforms including National Cloud-‘Meghraj’, Mobile Seva, PayGov India and National Services Delivery Gateway for expeditious and cost effective implementation of e-Governance projects. In addition, several policies and guidelines have been developed to ensure that software applications developed by various Government Departments are interoperable and integrated services are provided to citizens.
How important do you think is the role of IT in making the Government process more effective across various domains?
We live in an era where Information Technology can be leveraged to shape our economy, transform our business and serve our citizens. We can improve the quality of education, health services, agri-businesses, entrepreneurship, etc. even in the remotest parts of the country. This would contribute to growth in agriculture by providing real time information to farmers, growth in healthcare through online consultation, growth in education through virtual learning, etc. Adapting cutting edge technologies and building digital enterprise is crucial to remain competitive and meet the expectations of the citizens.
Information Technology enables citizens to avail time bound hassle free e-governance services. Currently 44 Mission Mode Projects under the Digital India programme have delivered over 58 crore monthly eServices transactions across various domains including Public Distribution System, Agriculture, Health, Education, Trade, Police, Post offices, Passport, Financial Inclusion, etc.
The ambitious Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile numbers, which we also call JAM now constitutes the trinity of reforms in India. The JAM trinity holds the key to one of the biggest pieces of reforms in India, i.e. Direct Benefit Transfer.
What is your view on the adoption of Information Technology in various sectors?
With the innovative use of technology in areas like education, governance, agriculture, banking, crisis management & resource planning, we can create a more inclusive society, wherein, the fruits of development reach to every citizen, irrespective of their social and economic status. In the days to come, we will bring more and more technology based, innovative and inter connected services for improving the quality of life of people on the margins.
The benefits of the ‘Digital India’ programme can reach to the common citizens only when software tools and human machine interface systems are available in people’s own languages. Information Technology is being leveraged to provide digital resources / services in all officially recognized Indian languages.
Information Technology is being leveraged to provide hassle free anytime, anywhere electronic services to citizens. The Government of India has also provided the facility of a ‘Digital Locker’ to each citizen. With this provision, citizens would not be asked to provide government documents or certificates, which are already available with some department/institution of the government, in physical form.
