Policy Update
Meenu Mohan
Budget
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was allocated a budget of ₹21,936 crore for the financial year 2024-25, which is a 52% increase from the previous year’s budget of ₹16,549 crore. While the allocation is mostly for newly minted schemes, their long-established counterparts lack avenues to avail persistent funding and suffer from chronic underutilization.
Schemes / Programmes / Missions / Applications
- Innovate and Design in India
- National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) & High-Performance Computing (HPC):
The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) aims to develop indigenous high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities in India. Led by C-DAC under MeitY, the mission has deployed supercomputing systems at various academic and research institutions across the country. The mission is crucial for scientific research, engineering simulations, and data analysis in various domains, promoting self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in HPC technology for India. - Initiatives under Electronics Components & Material Development Programme(EMDP) :
Focuses on areas like electronics materials, components, photonics, e-waste recycling, and additive manufacturing. EMDP has been instrumental in nurturing a vibrant electronics ecosystem in India. By supporting industry-led R&D and fostering collaborations between academia and industry, EMDP aims to drive innovation and create a self-reliant electronics manufacturing sector.
- National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) & High-Performance Computing (HPC):
- Digital India: Power to Empower
- National Data Centre in North-East Region (NDC-NER) :
To establish a robust digital infrastructure in the North-East, it aims to improve service delivery, enhance security, and ensure business continuity through a state-of-the-art data center in Guwahati, Assam. This project is in line with “Vision Document for Digital North-East by 2020” and is being implemented by NIC. - GI Cloud (MeghRaj) :
A cloud computing initiative to modernize government IT services. It enables government departments to leverage cloud technology to deliver efficient and scalable services. By consolidating IT resources and promoting cloud adoption, MeghRaj aims to reduce costs and improve service delivery to citizens. - Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N):
A government organization focused on geo-spatial technology and satellite communication. It aims to develop and manage technology, conduct research, and foster international cooperation. BISAG-N also provides capacity building and supports entrepreneurship in the field. Key activities include GIS-based tools, AI services, and satellite communication for educational programs. - PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity:
The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan is a comprehensive platform aimed at multimodal connectivity. It integrates various infrastructure projects and services to optimize logistics and transportation. The platform facilitates collaboration between stakeholders, streamlining the Right of Way (RoW) process. It’s being adopted by other countries like Nepal and Bhutan. - Public Internet Access Programme including Wi-Fi in Universities:
Focuses on providing Wi-Fi connectivity in educational institutions. The Patna University project aims to establish a high-speed Wi-Fi network across the campus, improving access to internet and intranet resources. In Himachal Pradesh University, Wi-Fi connectivity and an On-Screen Evaluation System have been implemented to enhance academic activities and administrative processes. - National e-Gov App Store:
The Gov AppStore is a centralized platform for government applications. It aims to streamline development, reduce costs, and ensure consistency across different departments. By offering a repository of reusable components and services, it accelerates the delivery of e-government services. - Implementation of National Data Highway (NDH)/API Setu:
It promotes data sharing and interoperability and by providing a standardized platform for data exchange, it aims to improve service delivery and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. - PRAGATI 2.0 (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) :
A digital platform that empowers the Prime Minister to monitor government projects and schemes. It facilitates direct interaction between central and state officials, leading to faster decision-making and problem-solving. - myScheme:
A one-stop platform that helps citizens find government schemes they are eligible for. It also provides guidance on how to apply for these schemes. The platform is available on the web and as a mobile app. - Sign Language Accessibility for e-Governance Services :
This project aims to make e-governance services accessible to people with disabilities. It is currently being developed for the UMANG platform, which provides a variety of government services in one place. - eGOVMMCASES – Development of Multimedia Cases with teaching notes e-Governance Initiatives of Government of India:
It develops multimedia case studies on Indian e-governance initiatives. The cases will be used for educational purposes and to promote best practices. - Open Government Data (OGD) 2.0 – Micro Services Based Architecture Leveraging Cloud Technology 2 :
A platform that allows government agencies to share data with the public. This data is freely available and can be accessed through the website or APIs. The platform offers millions of datasets on various topics, some of which are updated in realtime. Several states have created their data portals using OGD, and the initiative is working to encourage more government agencies to share high-value datasets. - Adaptive Assistive System for the Moderate Mentally Disabled Children :
It aims to develop a system that can help children with moderate mental disabilities learn basic life skills and communication skills. The system will provide personalized learning experiences through interactive content. - AI-based Predictive Analytics of visitors to Public Places and its Applications for better People Management :
It focuses on developing an AI-powered system to analyze visitor behaviour in public spaces. By collecting and analyzing data on visitor counts, age, gender, and emotions, the system can help optimize space management and improve visitor experiences. - iMedDesk – AI Assisted Medical Services Framework by C-DAC, Noida :
An AI-powered healthcare platform designed to assist both patients and doctors. It aims to provide easy access to medical information and streamline the healthcare process. By utilizing natural language processing, the system can understand and respond to user queries, providing relevant information and recommendations. - Integrated Citizen Engagement Platform (INCEP) :
A platform that enables citizens to participate in governance processes. It allows users to share their opinions, ideas, and suggestions on various government initiatives. Through polls, surveys, discussions, and other interactive features, INCEP fosters citizen engagement and empowers individuals to contribute to policy-making. - GovDrive – Storage as a Service :
A cloud-based storage platform designed specifically for Indian government officials. It offers 10GB of free storage for users to share and manage documents securely. Currently in beta, the platform allows uploading, downloading, and managing files and folders. - Gov.in Secure Intranet Portal :
This secure platform provides government officials with a single point of access to various applications used in their daily work. It aims to improve efficiency by eliminating the need to log in to separate applications. - PRAYAS – Pursuing Excellence in Governance :
PRAYAS is a powerful data visualization platform that provides a comprehensive overview of key government schemes and projects. By collecting and analyzing data from various government sources, PRAYAS enables better monitoring, decision-making, and implementation of these initiatives. It offers a user-friendly interface with interactive visualizations, helping policymakers and stakeholders track progress and identify areas for improvement. - Collaboration Application Development Platform by opening the Source Code of Government Applications (Open Forge) :
A platform designed to promote collaboration in developing e-governance applications in India, it functions similar to Github, offering features like version control, code repositories, and bug tracking. - Knowledge and Resource Centre for Accessibility in ICT (KAI):
KAI aims to make ICT products and services accessible to people with disabilities. It involves developing accessibility standards, guidelines, and conducting training and capacity-building programs. The project has successfully published accessibility standards with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). - National Knowledge Network (NKN) :
A high-speed network connecting research and educational institutions across India. It provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and research. The network has been instrumental in advancing research and education in India. - MyGov :
A citizen engagement platform launched by the Indian government. It aims to foster interaction between the government and citizens. Through various activities like polls, surveys, discussions, and innovative challenges, MyGov encourages citizen participation in policy making and governance. - Digital India Bhashini :
A government initiative aimed at breaking language barriers. It utilizes AI to develop language technologies like machine translation, speech recognition, and text-to-speech. The platform provides a repository of language models and offers services like speech-to-speech translation and language detection. By making technology accessible in multiple languages, Bhashini aims to empower citizens and promote digital inclusion. - Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) 2.0 :
It streamlines and monitors the delivery of subsidies and benefits directly to beneficiaries. The DBT Bharat portal tracks the progress of various DBT schemes, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process. - Awareness and Communication Plan for Digital India :
A crucial part of the Digital India program, it aims to increase awareness about Digital India and its various schemes and services. A&C activities focus on reaching out to diverse audiences, especially in rural and underserved areas. By leveraging various media channels, the initiative seeks to inform, educate, and empower citizens about the benefits of digital technologies. Additionally, A&C efforts aim to enhance India’s global digital presence. - GOV.IN Appstore :
A government-developed platform for hosting mobile apps that provide citizen services in India. Launched under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat mission, it promotes domestic app development. The Appstore allows government departments, agencies, and even private entities to host their citizen-centric mobile apps. Uploading and downloading apps is free and convenient. Importantly, the platform ensures security by conducting rigorous testing on all hosted apps to safeguard user data and privacy. - Next Generation (NextG) Online Labs (OLabs) for schools:
It aims to modernize school education through digital learning. It involves developing 500 interactive online labs for various subjects, translating content into multiple languages, and training teachers and students on their usage. The goal is to enhance learning experiences and provide students with hands-on, virtual lab experiences.
- National Data Centre in North-East Region (NDC-NER) :
- Make in India: Electronics Manufacturing
- Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) :
It promotes large-scale manufacturing in India by offering capital subsidies for investments in both SEZs and non-SEZs across various sectors. While the scheme has been closed for new applications, it has successfully incentivized investments and generated significant economic benefits. - Electronic Cluster Manufacturing (EMC) Schemes :
Launched to create a conducive environment for electronics manufacturing in India, it aimed to develop world-class infrastructure and common facilities to attract investments in the ESDM sector. The scheme offered financial assistance for the development of Greenfield EMCs and Common Facility Centers. By providing ready infrastructure and support services, the EMC scheme aimed to boost the growth of the electronics manufacturing industry in India. - Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme:
It provides financial incentives for setting up electronics manufacturing clusters and common facilities. The scheme encourages investment from global electronics manufacturers and aims to create a robust electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India. - Scheme for Promotion of manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS):
It offers a 25% capital subsidy for investments in identified electronic goods. The scheme aims to attract investments, create jobs, and deepen the electronic value chain in the country.
- Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) :
References
About the Contributor– Meenu Mohan is a Research Intern at the Impact and Policy Research Institute, and holds a BSMS Degree in Mathematics from IISER, Bhopal.
Acknowledgement– The author extends sincere thanks to Dr Arjun Kumar, Aasthaba Jadeja, Ishita Deb, and Deepa Baghel for their inputs.
Read more at IMPRI:
Mission GatiShakti: A Transformational Blueprint for India’s Infrastructure and Connectivity (2021)
PM Vishwakarma Scheme 2023- Empowering India’s Artisans and Craftspeople
