Information Technology has emerged as one the most significant sectors contributing to the Nation's Growth in the last decade of this Century. The Prime Minister has given a call to make India an Information Technology superpower by 2008. As a major step in the direction of fulfilling this dynamic vision, the Government has announced the formation of a new Ministry for promoting the IT Sector. Appropriately enough, the Ministry is named as the Ministry of Information Technology (MIT) or Soochna Praudhikiki Mantralaya. The initiative of the Government in setting up MIT stems from the realization that IT is the key area for catalyzing economic activity, improving governance and the over all quality of life in the new millennium.
The Ministry, headed by the Cabinet Minister Sh. Pramod Mahajan, comprises the erstwhile Department of Electronics, National Informatics Centre and the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council. Besides, various Public Sector Undertakings and Autonomous Societies in the field of IT have also come under the purview of MIT.
MIT - The Functions The IT Ministry is expected to play an important role in the days to come, as IT is tipped to be the "key sector" in the new millennium. As an important task, MIT will review the measures by which Indian companies and products can ride the Internet boom with emphasis on more Indian content on the Net. It will also suggest measures to catalyze the growth of exports with the extensive use of E-commerce and Electronic Data Interchange. Besides, the Ministry will outline the extensive use of Information Technology in all sectors of the economy.
A list of the important functions coming under the purview of MIT, as mentioned in the Gazette Notification (Part II-SEC. 3 (ii) S.O 1036 (E)), is mentioned here
- Policy Matters relating to Information Technology
- Promotion of Knowledge based enterprises
- Development of Electronics and Co-ordination amongst its various Users
- All matters relating to the personnel under the control of the Ministry
- Co-ordination of requirements relating to Electronic Processing Equipment (Computers)
- All matters pertaining to Silicon Facility
- All matters concerning computer based information technology and processing including Hardware and Software, standardization of procedures and matters relevant to international bodies such as IFP,IBI,ICC
- Promotion of Internet
- Promotion of Information Technology Education and Information Technology based education
- National Informatics Centre
- Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council.
An Impressive Beginning The Prime Minister's IT Task Force, in its recommendations, had called for some vital steps to be taken regarding the legalization of E-Commerce and for ensuring a regular flow of funds in the IT sector. Immediately following its formation, the Ministry of IT has taken dynamic steps to make sure that these recommendations are fast carried out in their true spirit. A Committee of Ministers, under the Chairmanship of Minister IT, has been constituted by the Govt to co-ordinate issues related to convergence of IT technologies and services. The Ministers of Communication, Commerce and I&B are the members of this committee. Some of the other major steps in this direction include the setting up of Venture Capital Funds and introduction of IT Bill'99.
Venture Capital Funds The software industry is one of the fastest growing industry in India with an annual growth of over 50%. With the sustained and continued growth of software industry, availability of finance has become an important issue facing the industry. Therefore, the IT Task Force set up by the Prime Minister, in its first report had recommended that Banks/ FIs shall set up joint ventures with Indian or foreign companies for setting up of Venture Capital Dedicated Funds to cater to the credit needs of the industry and to encourage small scale enterpreneurs. With this in view, the Ministry of IT is taking concrete steps to set up Venture Capital Funds so as to ensure that the booming software industry does not have to face a financial crunch at any stage. As a initiating step, Prime Minister Sh Atal Behari Vajpayee recently launched the Rs 100-crore National Venture Fund for the software and IT industry.
On this occasion, Information technology Minister Sh. Pramod Mahajan said ``We are here to welcome IT companies keen to start units in the country with a red carpet and certainly not with red tape'', thus sending positive signals to non-resident software professionals.
IT Bill'99 E-Commerce and Internet are the two most important developments not only in IT but in the world of business as a whole. As more and more activities are carried out by electronic means, it becomes important that evidence of these activities be available to demonstrate legal rights. The IT Bill, presented by the Ministry of IT, provides, among other things, for a legal framework so that the information is not denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely on the ground that it is in the form of electronic records. The Bill provides to facilitate electronic transactions in trade and commerce and eliminating barriers to E- commerce resulting from uncertainties over writing and signature requirements.
This is just a beginning. With the technologies of Internet and E-Commerce all set to boom the world market, the Ministry of IT would have a vital role to play in ensuring that the IT sector in India attains new heights of growth in the years to come. To know more and more about the latest regarding the Ministry of Information Technology, please visit the website : http://www.mit.gov.in