Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad also launches Digi-Connect and Pariksha-Connect initiatives during his recent visit. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Union Minister of Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, visited the NIC Centre at Lucknow on 12th November, 2016. During the visit, he inaugurated the new UP Data Centre and launched the Digi-Connect and Pariksha-Connect initiatives of the NIC. Digi-Connect integrates the Digital Locker scheme of Government of India with the certificates being issued in the State under the eDistrict Programme while the Pariksha-Connect programme allow the citizens to apply for exams, download admit cards, check results and pay the examination fee using Net Banking, etc. from the CSCs available in their villages for all online recruitment programmes being carried out through the Pariksha portal. With the launch of Digi-Connect, Uttar Pradesh has become the top State in the country with more than 4.1 crore certificates linked to Digital Lockers of beneficiaries. The important dignitaries present at the occasion present at the event were Ms. Neeta Verma, Director General (NIC), Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Hon’ble Mayor of Lucknow, Shri D.C. Misra, DDG (NIC), Shri Vishnu Chandra, DDG (NIC), Dr. Saurabh Gupta, State Informatics Officer, NIC, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Mukul Singhal, Principal Secretary, (Planning, GoUP), Shri Ajay Deep Singh, Special Secretary IT & MD, UPDESCO (GoUP) and Ms. Reena Hota Singh, DDG (UIDAI). All the officials of NIC, UP were also present at the occasion and 75 district centres of NIC were connected to the event via Video Conferencing. The event was covered by Doordarshan and All India Radio and was streamed live through webcasting by NIC HQ, New Delhi. The inauguration was followed by lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries and a detailed review of the NIC Data Centre, NICNET, UPSWAN, and NKN NoC. The Minister also interacted with the district officials of NIC from Bijnor, Sitapur and Gorakhpur through Video Conferencing. The officials briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the various eGovernance initiatives undertaken in their respective districts. Congratulating the NIC officials on their contributions, the Minister suggested all DIOs display the list of citizen-centric schemes in their offices and create awareness amongst masses through different media. He also encouraged them to keep themselves updated with technology and come up with innovative applications of ICT so that the same can be adopted across the country. The Hon’ble Minister also released the Souvenir of NIC Uttar Pradesh at the function.