New Delhi: The ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has issued a draft National Data Governance Framework to mobilise non-personal data of citizens for use by both public and private entities to improve services. The draft policy proposes the launch of a non-personal data based India datasets program and addresses the methods and rules to ensure that non-personal and anonymised data from both government and private entities are safely accessible by the research and innovation ecosystem.Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the National Data Governance Framework is of interest for artificial intelligence (AI) startups, AI research entities and government departments. 'Its imp piece of policy framework thats being devlopd to catalyze #India's $1 Trillion #DigitalEconomy (sic),' he tweeted.Asking stakeholders to comment on the draft framework, the minister said the National Data Governance Framework will also accelerate digital government and digitisation of government with common standards, rules and guidelines for data storage and management across all departments.The draft said during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital governance played a big part in India's resilient response to the pandemic and its impact on lives, livelihoods and the economy.In the post-COVID era, digitisation of government is accelerating faster and data generation is also increasing exponentially which can be used in turn to improve citizens' experience and engagement with the government and governance as a 'Digital Nagrik'.The digital government data is currently managed, stored and accessed in differing and inconsistent ways across different government entities, thus attenuating the efficacy of data-driven governance, and preventing an innovative ecosystem of data science, analytics and AI from emerging to its full potential, the draft said.'The power of this data must be harnessed for more effective Digital Government, public good and innovation, thus requiring a National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP),' the draft said.The proposed policy will be applicable to all government departments and entities and rules and standards prescribed will cover all data collected and being managed by any government entity.It proposed to cover all non-personal datasets and data and platform, rules, standards governing its access and use by researchers and startups.'State Governments shall be encouraged to adopt the provisions of the Policy and rules, standards, and protocols as applicable,' the draft said.The draft also proposes setting up of an 'India Data Management Office (IDMO)', under the Digital India Corporation, which shall be responsible for framing, managing and periodically reviewing and revising the policy.'The IDMO shall be responsible for developing rules, standards, and guidelines under this policy that shall be published periodically,' the draft said.MeitY has fixed June 11 as the deadline for submission of comments by stakeholders on the draft available on its website.—PTI

The ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) has issued a draft National Data Governance Framework to mobilise non-personal data of citizens for use by both public and private entities to improve services.

Govt issues draft rules for private use of people's non-personal data

New Delhi(The Hawk): The government is very focused on its important objective of building the overall semiconductor ecosystem and ensure that, it in-turn catalyses India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing and innovation ecosystem.As a result of several initiatives taken by the Government and efforts of the industry, the domestic production of electronic goods has increased substantially from Rs. 2,43,263 crore (USD 37 billion) in 2015-16 to Rs. 5,54,461 crore (USD 74.7 billion) in 2020-21 growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.9%. Many policies of the Government including the flagship Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors, Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) Scheme are major steps towards making India “AtmaNirbhar” in electronics manufacturing.As semiconductors form a major part of all electronic products, as a result of growth in electronics manufacturing sector, semiconductor market in India has also witnessed proportionate growth over the last few years. As per the industry estimate, the semiconductor consumption in India was around INR 1.1 lakh crore in year 2020 which is being met through imports due to absence of commercial semiconductor fabs in India.The government is very focused on its important objective of building the overall semiconductor ecosystem and ensure that, it in-turn catalyses India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing and innovation ecosystem. This vision of Atma Nirbharta in electronics &amp; semiconductors was given further momentum by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Hon‟ble Prime Minister approving the Semicon India programme with a total outlay of INR 76,000 crore for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in our country. The programme aims to provide financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing and design ecosystem. This will serve to pave the way for India’s growing presence in the global electronics value chains.Following four schemes are introduced under the aforesaid programme:<ol><li>Scheme for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India&nbsp;provides fiscal support to eligible applicants for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs which is aimed at attracting large investments for setting up semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities in the country. Following fiscal support has been approved under the scheme:</li></ol><ul><li class="ql-indent-2">28nm or Lower - Up to 50% of the Project Cost</li><li class="ql-indent-2">Above 28 nm to 45nm - Up to 40% of the Project Cost</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Above 45 nm to 65nm - Up to 30% of the Project Cost</li></ul><ol><li class="ql-indent-1">Scheme for setting up of Display Fabs in India&nbsp;provides fiscal support to eligible applicants for setting up of Display Fabs which is aimed at attracting large investments for setting up TFT LCD / AMOLED based display fabrication facilities in the country. The Scheme provides fiscal support of up to 50% of Project Cost subject to a ceiling of INR 12,000 crore per Fab.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Scheme for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors Fab and Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) / OSAT facilities in India:&nbsp;The Scheme provides a fiscal support of 30% of the Capital Expenditure to the eligible applicants for setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics (SiPh) / Sensors (including MEMS) Fab and Semiconductor ATMP</li></ol>/ OSAT facilities in India.<ol><li class="ql-indent-1">Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme&nbsp;offers financial incentives, design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems &amp; IP Cores and semiconductor linked design. The scheme provides “Product Design Linked Incentive” of up to 50% of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs. 15 Crore per application and “Deployment Linked Incentive” of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over 5 years subject to a ceiling of Rs. 30 Crore per application.</li></ol>&nbsp;In addition to the above schemes, Government has also approved modernisation of Semi- Conductor Laboratory, Mohali as a brownfield Fab.Applications have been invited under various schemes for setting up of Semiconductor facilities. So far 23 applications have been received which are under evaluation.Setting up of Semiconductor unit requires huge investments and necessitates suitable infrastructure like availability of uninterrupted Power and Clean Water. Further, Semiconductors manufacturing is a very complex and technology-intensive sector with huge capital investments, high risk, long gestation and payback periods, and rapid changes in technology which require significant and sustained investments. However, the Government is committed to make all round efforts to develop semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.

The government is very focused on its important objective of building the overall semiconductor ecosystem and ensure that, it in-turn catalyses India’s rapidly expanding electronics manufacturing and innovation ecosystem.

Govt undertakes several initiatives to promote electronics manufacturing in India

Bengaluru:&nbsp;Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the ruling BJP government at the Centre in connection with the order asking to block nearly 1,100 Twitter accounts by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.The single division bench headed by Justice Krishna S. Dixit gave the order after the arguments by senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Twitter, explained that if the blocking order continues, the whole business of Twitter will close. For the accounts to be blocked, as per rules reasons have to be recorded and given to the microblogging platform which is not being done.The petitioner (Twitter) is answerable to account holders for blocking their accounts, he submitted.The bench posted the matter for hearing on August 25, and assured to consider the plea by the counsel of the central government to make the hearing in-camera.Twitter had submitted in its petition that blocking orders by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) under IT Act are demonstrating excessive use of powers and disproportionate.The microblogging platform contended that, MeiTY has served a notice warning serious consequences of non-compliance of blocking orders. The notice has also warned of criminal proceedings and stated that it would be a lost opportunity if not complied with the orders of blocking accounts. —IANS

Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the ruling BJP government at the Centre in connection with the order asking to block nearly 1,100 Twitter accounts by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

 Twitter says whole business will close due to account blocking orders, K'taka HC issues notice to Centre

New Delhi: Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission in India Do Thanh Hai on Monday said that stronger connectivity has bolstered trade between the two countries, while pointing out towards having higher trade targets with growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products."Trade between India and Vietnam is growing stronger. We should have higher target. We're optimistic about growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products," Do Thanh Hai said during a roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries."Trade has been further enhanced by stronger connectivity between the two countries. We also have direct maritime links," Thanh Hai added.The Roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries was held on Monday in New Delhi, with a special focus on the North East Region. The event was hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, North East Council. Ambassador of Myanmar to India, Moe Kyaw Aung, said that India and Myanmar share good relations and a lot has to be done in the field of trade and investment.Speaking at a roundtable session on Bilateral Trade Opportunities between India and Neighbouring countries, Moe Kyaw Aung said, "India and Myanmar enjoy good relations. We've strong cultural ties and share a long land border. A lot has to be done pertaining to trade and investment." "We are happy to be a part of ASEAN as it's a bridge between India and Southeast Asia," the Myanmar envoy added.India and Vietnam have a broad convergence of interest as emerging economies and important countries with respect to creating alternative supply chains in Asia after global disillusionment with the China-centric supply chain during the Covid pandemic.Besides, the two countries are equally concerned about the aggressive and expansionist policies of China in the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries also share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 and defence cooperation is a key pillar of this partnership. Bilateral defence engagements have expanded over a period of time to include wide-ranging contacts between the two countries, including Defense Policy Dialogue, military-to-military exchange, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes.The two countries have also cooperated in UN peacekeeping, ship visits and bilateral exercises.The Indian Defence Minister, during his visit, had a wide-ranging discussion with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, at Hanoi to jointly pursue effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral engagements. The relations between the two countries were elevated to the level of "Strategic Partnership" in 2007 when Vietnam's then Prime Minister Nguyan Jan Dung visited India.The relations were further upgraded to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in 2016, as Vietnam serves as an important partner in India's "Act East" Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. The two countries signed a cultural agreement in 1976 and since then, it has led to the creation of many channels of cultural cooperation. A recent development in this regard is the establishment of the Swami Vivekananda Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi in 2016. Earlier, the Institute of Indian and South-West Asian Studies under the aegis of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences was inaugurated in Hanoi in 2012.Around 1,69,000 Indians visited Vietnam and 31,000 Vietnamese visited India before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam is the 15th largest trade partner of India and India is its 10th largest partner with bilateral trade standing at USD 11.12 billion in 2020-21. There is an upswing in India-Vietnam relations and it is rising up to new heights. —ANI

Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission in India Do Thanh Hai on Monday said that stronger connectivity has bolstered trade between the two countries, while pointing out towards having higher trade targets with growth in sectors like electronics, automobiles, computers, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products.

India, Vietnam Should Raise Trade Targets: Vietnam's Deputy Chief Of Mission

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Union Minister of State for Electronics &amp; Information Technology and Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the opening of the Pegatron mobile manufacturing facility, in Chengalpattu near Chennai today, is another milestone in Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of making India a global electronics manufacturing hub.
“It is a symbol of partnership between the Centre and the states to help India achieve the target of US$300 Bn in electronics manufacturing, from the current US$75 billion,” Shri Chandrasekhar said, speaking at the inauguration of the facility.
The plant has been set up by the Taiwanese electronics major under Centre’s popular Production Linked Incentive scheme (PLI), in an industrial park in Chengalpattu near Chennai.
The Minister spoke of how the PLI scheme has played a big role in ushering in investments and employment in electronics manufacturing, and that it has catalysed an investment of Rs. 6500 crore in a short span of time, generating employment of over 40,000 in Tamil Nadu alone.&nbsp;
Pointing to the success of Prime Minister’s well calibrated schemes like the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) and the PLI, Shri Chandrasekhar said these schemes have propelled the mobile phone sector into new heights. “Mobile phone exports in India in 2015-16 were near zero. They have reached around Rs.50,000 crores. India used to be heavily dependent on imports of mobile phones. In contrast, today, 97 per cent of mobile phones used in India are products of domestic manufacturing.”
Referring to Covid’s impact on the world economy, the MoS said, “The pandemic brought the same challenge to all countries, but the way India coped with it has drawn global Awe and Respect. We have kept Covid behind and are committed to become a Trillion-dollar digital economy by 2026. Team India - States &amp; the Centre - can partner to accomplish this target -- with vision of "Make in India, Make for the World”.
Also, speaking on the occasion, Mr. Cheng Jian Jong, Chairman, Pegatron Technology India said that it has been an extraordinary journey for Pegatron to be in India. “We are overwhelmed by the support extended by Government of India and Tamil Nadu” he said.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri M. K. Stalin, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Shri T.M. Anbarasan, apart from Mr. Lin Chiu Tan, Managing Director Pegatron Technology India, Ms. Denese Yao, Senior Vice President Pegatron Corporation, Mr. Kuo Shing Jung CEO Pegatron Technology India were also present on the occasion.

The Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the opening of the Pegatron mobile manufacturing facility, in Chengalpattu near Chennai today, is another milestone in Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of making India a global electronics manufacturing hub.

Pegatron Plant Roll Out Another Milestone In PM's  Vision Of Making India A Global Electronics Manufacturing Hub: Chandrasekhar 

New Delhi (The Hawk): According to data released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on Tuesday, the number of e-KYC transactions carried out using Aadhaar increased to 25.25 crore in September, representing a growth of 7.7% compared to August.
By the end of September, according to government data, there had been a total of 1297.93 crore e-KYC transactions made through Aadhaar.
These electronic KYC transactions do away with the need for paper documents and in-person KYC verification and are only carried out with the explicit consent of Aadhaar holders.
Aadhaar was used for 175.41 crore authentication transactions in September.
Following demographic and OTP authentications, the majority of these monthly transactions used fingerprint biometric authentication.
By the end of September, 8250.36 crore Aadhaar authentications had been successfully completed overall, compared to 8074.95 crore by the end of August.
The ministry added that the network of micro-ATMS and Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems (AEPS) have made it possible for 1549.84 crore last mile banking transactions to date, with 21.03 crore of those AEPS transactions taking place in India alone in September. According to the press release, it has made financial inclusion possible at the base of the pyramid.
The adult population of India is now almost entirely Aadhaar-enabled.
By the end of September, Aadhaar saturation was 93.92% across all age groups, according to the ministry.
More than 1.62 crore Aadhaar cards were successfully updated by residents in September, compared to 1.46 crore updates in August, and as of the end of September, 66.63 crore Aadhaar numbers had been successfully updated in response to requests from residents. These requests for updates relate to demographic and biometric updates carried out at Aadhaar centres both physically and online.
(Inputs from Agencies)

According to data released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on Tuesday, the number of e-KYC transactions carried out using Aadhaar increased to 25.25 crore in September, representing a growth of 7.7% compared to August.

Aadhaar usage rises, 25.25 crore e-KYC transactions in Sep

New Delhi (The Hawk): Special Campaign 2.0 is an ongoing endeavour undertaken by the Ministry of Electronics &amp; Information Technology (MeitY) from 02.10.2022 to 31.010.2022 to undertake Swachhta activities within office premises of the Ministry and all its organizations across the country. The cleanliness drive includes not only with respect to the external physical cleanliness but also the cleanliness in the cyber world, to enhance cyber security, cyber safety and cyber hygiene.
The Government of India is committed to bring in an Open, Safe &amp; Trusted and Accountable internet for its users in India. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) celebrated the month of October 2022 as the Cyber Security month. CERT-In along with ISEA had a regular presence on major Social Media platforms such as Twitter to enhance awareness on Cyber Swachhta in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A day-wise action plan has been prepared for implementation by MeitY and its organizations. Pledge was taken on commencement of Special Campaign 2.0 on 2nd October, 2022. OOn the same day, a Fit India Run of 3.0 kms was organized from Electronics Niketan office complex to Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium &amp; back.
On October 11, 2022, a Blood Donation Camp was organized at Electronics Niketan building with the coordination of AIIMS doctors. Around 70 officers from MeitY donated their blood. During this Special Campaign, an e-Waste Pledge ceremony was organized by MyGov on Plastic Waste Management &amp; ban on Single-Use Plastic (SUP) and Solid &amp; Liquid waste management. A major cleanliness drive has been undertaken in the Electronics Niketan building and also across all MeitY organizations in the country. This includes general cleaning activities, in and around office premises.

Special Campaign 2.0 is an ongoing endeavour undertaken by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) from 02.10.2022 to 31.010.2022 to undertake Swachhta activities within office premises of the Ministry and all its organizations across the country. 

Various Offices Under Ministry Of Electronics & IT Participate In Special Campaign 2.0 With Enthusiasm

New Delhi (The Hawk): The nine-month prohibition on downloading VLC, a well-known media player in the South Asian market, was lifted on Monday by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
According to TechCrunch, a well-known software company named VideoLAN filed a legal notification last month asking the nation's IT and telecom ministries to provide an explanation for the block order.
VideoLAN received legal backing from the Delhi-based advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF).
On Twitter, IFF stated: "Victory! @GoI MeitY has chosen to lift its ban on the VLC media player website. Throughout this procedure, @videolan received legal assistance from IFF. #WhatTheBlock."
"This prohibition was implemented without giving VideoLAN prior notice or the chance to be heard, which violated the Supreme Court's ruling in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India as well as the 2009 Blocking Rules. Given that approximately 80 million Indians use the open-source VLC Media Player software, this was strange "It was reported that IFF said.
One of VLC's largest export markets is India, where the bulk of users get the programme through the website.
The majority of significant ISPs (internet service providers) are blocking the site, using a variety of methods, according to VideoLAN president and principal developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf.
According to TechCrunch, the site instantly noticed a decline in traffic from the South Asian market of 80% as a result of the ban.
VLC is a media player that has been downloaded more than 3.5 billion times and doesn't need an internet connection or to be connected to any specific services in order to function.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The nine-month prohibition on downloading VLC, a well-known media player in the South Asian market, was lifted on Monday by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

The government takes away the ban on downloading VLC Media Player

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that IT and electronics industries will be set up in Agra and surrounding areas to provide employment to thousands of youths.
The Chief Minister said that in the last five years, everyone has witnessed the changing picture of Agra, while adding that before 2018, Agra was known as one of the dirtiest cities.
Yogi said this while launching as many as 88 development projects worth Rs 488 crore in Agra and addressing the 'Prabbhudhjan Sammelan' on Monday.
"In Agra, pollution was such that the Supreme Court had to shut down all the industries. No new construction was taking place. All kinds of restrictions had to be imposed on the then government for promoting anarchy and disorder," Yogi added.
"Agra's mythological identity is getting restored now. In the last five years, everyone has witnessed the changing picture of Agra. Agra is now establishing a new paradigm under the Smart City Mission. Agra has modern public transportation facilities, and metro construction is underway. Metro rail facilities will be available by next year in Agra," he remarked.
Attacking the previous governments, the CM said, "Earlier work was done in Agra, but there was a different intention behind it. A Mughal museum was being built in Agra. We said that Agra needs Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, not Mughals. And we dedicated this museum in Agra to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj." He went on to say that when the Supreme Court took forward the process of bringing Agra under TTZ ( Taj Trapezium Zone) keeping in mind the pollution, "we have decided that all the industries related to IT and electronics to set up in Agra and surrounding areas so that thousands of youth can get employment opportunities."
Maintaining that his government has provided a better environment of security in the state, the Chief Minister said that as a result of the strict law and order in Uttar Pradesh, mafias who used to spread fear among people are now begging for mercy.
"The mafia who used to commit organized crime earlier, used to make life miserable for poor and businesspeople, today our police have made their life miserable. The Mafia is wandering the streets with placards hanging around their necks pleading for their lives and stating that they are willing to sell veggies from a cart," the chief minister added.
The Chief Minister further said that politics was rife with distrust before 2014. "There was anarchy inside the country. The sense of mistrust towards the country's politics was giving rise to anarchy in the minds of the people. But now there is an atmosphere of trust inside the country under the double engine government," Adityanath stated.
Yogi said that the 'Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' is an example of how India is moving ahead in the world. India is creating a new identity on the global stage and has become the fifth-largest economy in the world.
Reiterating that the double-engine government is working not only for development but also for the convenience of the common man, the CM informed that Agra is number one in the country in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
"Earlier there was no facility for street vendors in the nation, now through the PM SVANidhi scheme, they are getting benefitted. No one thought of all this," Yogi further stated.
Speaking about the infrastructure development in Agra, the CM said, "Today air connectivity is available from here to all the cities of the country.
Agra is progressing so much under the leadership and guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
Assuring those who do not have housing and are eligible for that, the government will provide housing, the CM also said that to those who want to do business, the double engine government is working to make 'Ease of Doing Business' even easier.
He also informed me about the Global Investors Summit to be organized on 10-12 February 2023 and urged everyone to be a part of it.
During the event, CM Yogi distributed house keys and checks to beneficiaries of various schemes. —ANI

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that IT and electronics industries will be set up in Agra and surrounding areas to provide employment to thousands of youths.

Govt Envisager Promote IT & Electronics Industries In Agra; Youth To Get Employment: Yogi

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Minister for Communications, Electronics &amp; Information Technology and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that 10 million additional jobs can be created in the electronics and Business Processing (BPO) sector in the coming two years, given the strides the start-up sector is making in the country.
While inaugurating the National Level Start-up Initiative organized by the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) and Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), here today, the Minister said that the electronics sector alone could create additional jobs between 2.5 - 3 million and the BPO sector could make available 8 million jobs in the coming two years, which will be a substantial addition to the existing level of employment.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw referred to three megatrends that are unfolding in the country as envisioned by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Foremost among them is determination to emerge as the technology leader powered by the country’s talent pool, ingenuity, high level of computer literacy, and commitment to excel. “We have now an ecosystem that gives importance to merit and talent, that can power innovations and disruptions,” he said, adding that such a dispensation never existed before. There is a visible drive to proliferate frontier technologies in areas like telecom, electronics, railways, and other related areas to help India to emerge as a technology leader.
Next in importance, the Minister said, is the manufacturing segment which is witnessing the mindboggling number of innovations, particularly in the mobile telephone system where India has become a major exporter now as against a net importer a few years ago. “It’s a marvellous achievement which we are trying to emulate in other segments including railways, chemicals, power and semiconductor” he said, adding that a lot of R&amp;D efforts are currently underway to Fasttrack technological excellence in various segments.
Diversity is another trend that is discernible now, the Minister observed. This is achieved by digitally connecting tier 2 and 3 cities so that entrepreneurship can be nurtured from these cities to widen the bandwidth of the development. Of the 64 digital hubs that have been implemented, 54 are in small cities and towns, which will have a remarkable impact on the proliferation of start-ups in the country.
Earlier, welcoming the delegates, the Chairman, ESC, Shri Sandeep Narula explained the rationale of the ESC-STPI start-up initiative. 13+ State Conclaves were organized covering Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, U.P., Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra, New Delhi, and Odisha. After scrutiny by the Knowledge Partner – Grant Thornton (GT), around 300 Start-ups were invited to join these State Conclaves against 700+ nominations received. Now, the Jury at the national level will select 40 start-ups after a rigorous process of filtering to participate at the US exposure meeting for building industry linkages, interface with venture capitalists, etc. to be held on 10-11 January 2023.
Shri Narula underscored the need for developing an Indian model of start-ups sensitive to the country’s needs, which should not give too much focus on valuation but on sustainability leading to inclusive growth.
Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI while explaining various schemes initiated by STPI, said that presently the start-up infrastructure in the country is considerably toned up. There are facilities for funding and mentoring start-ups. The government policies also have been start-up and MSME friendly. For instance, he said, the current government has done spectrum allocation and implementation in a record time, while earlier allocations took considerably longer time.
Ms Padmaja Ruparel, Founding Partner, of IAN Fund mentioned various avenues available for funding start-ups in the country, which never existed before. Shri Vicky Bahl, Partner, Grant Thronton described the global start-up landscape and stressed the need for India to align with it to move in the value chain.

The Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that 10 million additional jobs can be created in the electronics and Business Processing (BPO) sector in the coming two years, given the strides the start-up sector is making in the country.

10 Million Additional Jobs Can Be Created In Electronics And BPO Sector In Two Years' Time: Ashwani Vaishnaw

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is trying his best to make the state a hub of innovation and to achieve this end he is providing investors to young entrepreneurs. On the instructions of the CM, the UP IT and Electronics Department is motivating the youth for new innovations by arranging investors for them, informed the government through a release.
Along with financial assistance, other concessions are also being made available to them by the department.
The department is organizing seminars in various districts of the state to provide investors to the entrepreneurs of the state. For this, Bareilly, Kanpur and Lucknow have been selected for the first phase. Its biggest feature is that entrepreneurs are being made available to investors in their district itself so that they do not have to move to Delhi, Hyderabad or Bangalore for their startup. The department is also getting a lot of success in this, added the release.
Akshay Tripathi, Special Secretary, UP IT and Electronics said that a Citizen Engagement Partner program is being worked out so that the youth of the state do not have to wander in other states to set up their ventures. The youth setting up startups are being encouraged to establish dialogue with private investors through seminars and meetings in various districts.
To fulfil this goal of the department, the department has partnered with Divyanshu Shukla, the founder of "PapSwap - Policies over Politics" startup. This startup is working in tandem with the Yogi Government to take the benefits of the government's policies to the common man at the grassroots level.
Papswap recently signed MoU with IT and Electronics Department of Uttar Pradesh as "Policy Engagement Partner". Its main objective is to open new doors of innovation for startup entrepreneurs. Along with this, they have to provide assistance in making all kinds of resources available at the local level. Papswap is providing a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with potential investors, industrialists, learn about new business opportunities along with latest trends in their industries. These seminars are also helping entrepreneurs build a strong network of peers and mentors, which can be invaluable to their growth and success. After the success of the workshop at Rohilkhand Incubation Foundation (RIF) Bareilly on March 15, a workshop is also being organized at IIT Kanpur on March 23. This will be followed by a workshop to be organized at AKTU Lucknow.&nbsp;&nbsp;
—ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is trying his best to make the state a hub of innovation and to achieve this end he is providing investors to young entrepreneurs.

UP IT And Electronics Dept Providing Investors To Young Entrepreneurs To Promote Innovation

New Delhi News: A Parliamentary panel has held that the delay in the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 - which was withdrawn by the government in August 2022 for further scrutiny amid concerns raised by stakeholders and political parties owing to several loopholes in it - will have an adverse impact on the economy.

It has asked the government to formulate a separate policy for personal and non-personal data.

The Rajya Sabha's Standing Committee on Commerce, in its report on "Promotion and Regulation of E-commerce", which was recently tabled in Parliament during the ongoing budget session, while noting the delay in the Personal Data Protection Bill, said: "The delay in enactment of the bill will have an adverse impact on economy on account of failure to capitalise on the virtual treasure trove that data has provided."

It further noted that any "absence of a clear cut data regulatory framework could also hinder the maximum exploitation of data which is considered as the new oil".

The panel, which is headed by Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, added that the delay in having a dedicated data protection regulation has occurred at a time when there is an urgent requirement for a robust data policy.

It has therefore recommended that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology should make concerted efforts to formulate a data policy on personal and non-personal data.

The government had withdrawn the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 from the Parliament in August last year after a joint parliamentary panel had recommended 81 amendments in it and 12 recommendations were made towards a comprehensive legal framework for a digital ecosystem.

While withdrawing the bill, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said that the bill was being taken back in order to bring a legislation that fits into the comprehensive legal framework, as suggested by the joint parliamentary panel. IANS

Parliamentary panel expresses concern over delay in data protection bill

Haridwar (The Hawk): National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India and S.M.J.N. PG college organised a joint workshop related to 'Covid-19 Global Pandemic Prevention' was organized by Saraswati Vandana and lighting the lamp. Dr. Anurag Kumar, Director, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, while discussing the global pandemic covid-19 and cybercrime, said that prevention is the cure for covid-19. He said that there is a need to make people aware about cybercrime and Covid-19. Giving information about the assistance available to the students under the NIELIT scheme, Dr. Anurag Kumar said that knowledge of skill can be a good means of employment. Calling for the use of new technology, he said that covid-19 has given importance to mutual relations, so keep cordial relations with your relatives and colleagues. National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology's Dr. Akhilesh Kumar said that appealed to be aware about cyber security. Nikhil Ranjan gave information about how technology can be helpful for covid-19. He gave detailed information about Aarogya App, Abha App, Senior Citizen Helpline Number. Principal of the college While welcoming and thanking all the guests, prof Sunil Kumar Batra said that this workshop is one of the programs given under G-20, which has been done in collaboration with NIELIT. Shri Mahant Ravindra Puri Ji Maharaj, President of the College Management Committee, was honored with the name of 'Mother of Uttarakhand' for his true service to humanity, administration and governance during the covid-19 period. Prof Batra said that we want to make all-round development of the students, we are trying to run some new add-on courses for the students through NIELIT. Through this, it will help in establishing harmony in the gap between industry and educational institutions. For this, the computer lab was also renovated in the college. Doctor Dr. Pradeep Tyagi told about Covid awareness that India has its own vaccine. Covid does not affect youth and children. He said that people above the age of 60 have been affected more by Corona. While conducting the program successfully, Dean Student Welfare Dr. Sanjay Kumar Maheshwari thanked all the guests. Earlier, Ananya Bhatnagar presented a self-composed song on covid-19.  Vinay Thapliyal , Dr Mona Sharma, Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, Dr. Rashmi dobhal , Dr. Asha Sharma , Dr. Padmavati Taneja, Dr. Mahima Nagayan , Dr. Lata Sharma, Dr. Renu Singh, Dr. Pallavi, Dr. College students including Dr Rajni Singhal, Vandana Singh, Office Superintendent Mohan Chandra Pandey, Mahima, Mohit, Vishal Bansal, Ravita, Megha, Aarti Aswal, Jyoti, Arshika Ramnik Kaur, Nishu, Shreya Namdev, Nisha Joshi, Sumiran Soni, Adesh Gautam Many teachers and staff were present including Akash, Manish, Shivi, Neha Dhiman, etc.

National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India and S.M.J.N. PG college

Covid-19 Global Pandemic Prevention Organised By National Institute Of Electronics And Information Technology & S M J N (PG) College 

New Delhi: Former Intel Foundry Services president Randhir Thakur was named CEO and Managing Director of Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd on Tuesday.
Thakur has been with Intel for almost five years, and in that time he has become a global leader and hands-on innovation in the semiconductor sector. The corporation released a statement praising his 40 years of experience in R&amp;D and manufacturing around the world.
He has held leadership and technical positions with Applied Materials Inc., SanDisk Corp., and STEAG Electronic Systems and Micron Technology Inc., all within the semiconductor business.—Inputs from Agencies

Former Intel Foundry Services president Randhir Thakur was named CEO and Managing Director of Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd on Tuesday.

Randhir Thakur becomes CEO and MD of Tata Electronics

Chandigarh (The Hawk): Union Minister for Communications, Railways and Electronics &amp; IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw today launched ‘Sanchar Saathi’ Portal Virtually at Punjab LSA, Dept of Telecommunication, Mohali.
“With 117 Cr subscribers, India has emerged as the second largest telecom ecosystem in the world. In addition to communication, mobile phones are being used for banking, entertainment, availing government services, etc. It is, therefore, crucial that the users are protected from various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, theft of mobile devices, banking frauds, etc. To protect users, Deptt of Telecom has developed a citizen centric portal named Sanchar Saathi”, said the Minister.
Divulging more details , a PIB release states that Sanchar Saathi allows citizens to check the connections registered on their names, report fraudulent or unrequired connection, block the mobile phones which are stolen/lost, check IMEI genuineness before buying a mobile phone. Sanchar Saathi portal empowers the citizens to fight against fraudulent activities. The entire system has been designed in-house by Deptt. of Telecom.
In case any mobile device is stolen or lost, a user can submit the IMEI numbers on the portal. Information submitted by user along with a copy of police complaint is then verified. The system is integrated with the Telecom Service Providers and Law Enforcement Agencies. Once the information is verified, the system blocks the stolen mobile phones from being used in Indian networks. In case anyone tries to use the stolen device, the system allows Law Enforcement Agencies to trace the device. When the stolen device is recovered, the IMEI can be unblocked on the portal. The system prevents use of stolen/lost mobiles. It also prevents mobiles with inaccurate or forged IMEIs being used in Indian networks.
It facilitates the citizens to check the genuineness of IMEI of their mobile device. It facilitates a user to check the number of mobile connections taken in her/his name using paper-based documents. User enters his mobile number on the portal and authenticates using OTP. The system shows the total connections taken in her/his name using paper-based documents (such as paper based Aadhar, passport, etc.) The system allows users to report fraudulent connections. It also allows users to block the connections which are not required. Once reported by the users, the system triggers re-verification process, and the connections are terminated.
Mobile connections obtained using fake/ forged documents are then used for cyber-frauds. To curb this menace, Deptt of Telecom has developed AI powered tool – ASTR to identify SIMs issued using fraudulent/forged documents. ASTR used various techniques of facial recognition and data analytics. In first phase, connections with paper-based KYC were analysed.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In first phase, analysis of more than 87 Cr mobile connections was carried out. For such a large data processing, Param-Sidhhi Supercomputer was used. Multiple cases were detected where one photograph was used to obtain hundreds of connections. A total of 40.87 Lakh suspected mobile connections were detected. After due verification 36.61 Lakh connections have already been disconnected. Remaining are under process. 40,123 Point of Sales (PoS) involved in selling such mobile connections, have been blacklisted by the service providers and more than 150 FIRs have been lodged across India. The details of disconnected numbers have been shared with banks, payment wallets and social media platforms for disengaging these numbers with their accounts.&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;—Jag Mohan Thaken

 Union Minister for Communications, Railways and Electronics & IT,  Ashwini Vaishnaw today launched

Union Minister For Communications, Railways And Electronics & It, Ashwini Vaishnaw Virtually Launches Sanchar Saathi Portal

New Delhi: The government is right on the path to achieve the $300 billion electronics manufacturing target which will be a massive 20-25 times growth in almost a decade, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said on Tuesday. India can reach $300 billion worth of electronics manufacturing and exports by 2025-26 if specific product segments with high potential for scale are shortlisted and catered to by way of incentives and policy measures, according to the Vision Document 2.0 prepared by the IT Ministry and the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). "Electronics manufacturing in 2014 was about $12 billion and India's target in just over a decade by 2026 is $300 billion i.e. 20-25x growth in 11 years. Thanks to PM @narendramodi ji's decisive policies and governance," Chandrasekhar said in a tweet. Led by locally-manufactured mobile phones, India's electronics industry saw a record exports of electronic goods at an estimated Rs 1,85,000 crore in FY22-23 -- compared to Rs 1,16,936 crore in FY21-22 -- marking a whopping 58 per cent increase. According to data by ICEA, mobile phone exports made history by crossing the $10 billion threshold for the first time in any fiscal year, reaching an estimated $11.12 billion (over Rs 90,000 crore) in FY23. The electronics manufacturing industry grew from $37.1 billion in 2015-16 to $67.3 billion in 2020-21. However, Covid-19 related disruptions impacted the growth trajectory in 2020-21 and led to a decline in the manufacturing output to $67.3 billion. Furthermore, continuing on the path of import substitution, India's domestic electronics market is estimated to reach at best $150-180 billion from the current $65 billion over the next 4-5 years. "Thus, exports of $120-140 billion are critical to reach the $300 billion mark for electronics manufacturing. This, in turn, is key for the $5 trillion economy, $1 trillion digital economy, and the $1 trillion export target envisaged by MeitY and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, respectively," the Vision Document 2.0 read. "India is one of the leading contenders for alternate solutions for global electronics companies. The electronics sector has the potential to become one of the top exports of India in the next 3-5 years. Electronics exports may account for significant contributions to the Indian economy in terms of foreign exchange earnings and employment generation," said the document. —IANS

The government is right on the path to achieve the $300 billion electronics manufacturing target which will be a massive 20-25 times

India Set To Achieve $300 Bn Electronics Manufacturing Target: MoS IT

New Delhi: Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated on Monday that Twitter's decision to challenge the government's notice to block some accounts in court was "part of the fiction" put out by the company's former CEO Jack Dorsey.
Dorsey, who resigned as Twitter's CEO, claims that the Indian government "pressured" the company by threatening to shut it down and conduct raids on employees if it did not comply with requests to remove content and restrict access to accounts that were critical of the government in the wake of protests by farmers against new agri laws in 2020 and 2021.
When asked about Twitter's appeal being denied by the Karnataka High Court, the minister stated that the order makes it plain that refusing to comply with a government order is not an option and that all platforms, no matter how large or little, must abide by Indian law. —Inputs from Agencies

Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated on Monday that Twitter's decision to challenge the government's notice to block some accounts in court was "part of the fiction" put out by the company's former CEO Jack Dorsey.

Twitter's move to challenge govt notice formed part of fiction that Dorsey had put out: MoS IT

New Delhi: After the United States, Japan is the newest member of the Quad to sign an agreement with India to strengthen the global supply chain for semiconductors.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of electronics and information technology for the Union, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister of economy, trade, and industry for Japan, inked the agreement on Thursday in the nation's capital.
In order to "bring resilience in the semiconductor supply chain," Vaishnaw stated, "Japan and India have signed a memorandum for semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development, and more."—Inputs from Agencies

After the United States, Japan is the newest member of the Quad to sign an agreement with India to strengthen the global supply chain for semiconductors.

Japan becomes second Quad partner to sign semiconductor pact with India

New Delhi (The HAwk): Ministry of Electronics &amp; Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) on 9th August 2023 in Launch Programme organized at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Smt. Sunita Verma, Scientist G &amp; Group Coordinator (R&amp;D in Electronics &amp; Information Technology), Shri Arvind Kumar, Controller of Certifying Authorities, MeitY and Dr. S. D. Sudarshan, Executive Director C-DAC, Bangalore jointly launched the browser development challenge. The challenge brochure was also unfolded by the dignitaries on the dais.  The Indian Web Browser Development Challenge is spearheaded by MeitY, CCA and C-DAC Bangalore.  The IWBDC is an Open Challenge Competition that seeks to inspire and empower technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers from all corners of the country to create an indigenous web browser with its own trust store with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, cutting edge functionalities and enhanced security &amp; data privacy protection features.  Proposed browser would also focus on accessibility and user friendliness, ensuring built-in support for individuals with diverse abilities. Moreover, the browser envisions the ability to digitally sign documents using a crypto token, bolstering secure transactions and digital interactions.  Speaking during the event Smt Sunita Verma, Scientist G &amp; GC (R&amp;D in Electronics &amp; IT) conveyed the message of Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY that this challenge marks a significant stride towards an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, designed to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty through the development of the Indian Web Browser.  Expressing the views of Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary, MeitY, Smt. Verma added that MeitY has been at the forefront of several initiatives that are reshaping the future of our nation. This challenge addresses one of the critical components – Web browser – through which the end users accessing the Internet.  Smt Sunita Verma said that Digital India has revolutionized how our nation functions, empowering citizens, boosting the economy and enhancing overall governance. As we move forward, embracing technology and promoting indigenous innovation will be pivotal in realizing the vision of a self-reliant, digitally empowered India. She invited all the innovative minds of the country, be it academia, industry, start-up or individual to participate in this challenge and come out with an innovative web browser made in India for the world.  Shri Arvind Kumar, CCA, MeitY highlighted the crucial role played by CCA in ensuring the trustworthiness and security of digital certificates issued in India and help create a robust PKI infrastructure, enabling secure electronic transactions across the country. However, for SSL certificates, the country has been dependent for SSL certifies issued by Roots of Foreign entities. Initialising to develop its Own Browser with inbuilt India Root Certificate would help overcoming this challenge. India has moved a step ahead for making the country Internet Resilient which refers to a country’s ability to withstand and recover from various disruptions and threats that may impact its internet infrastructure and connectivity.  Shri S D Sudarshan, ED, C-DAC Bangalore explained the whole challenge competition. He mentioned that anybody can take part in this challenge and submit idea. There will be three rounds in the whole challenge, after first round i.e. ideation round 18 entries would be selected. In the second round 8 participants would be shortlisted to enter into final round. Finally one winner, first runner up and second runner-up would be selected. Throughout the challenge technical mentorship would be provided. Out of the total prize pool of Rs. 3.41 crore, winner would be facilitate with Rs. One crore. The winner would also be supported further to take the developed browser to next levels.  The programme was participated by more than 200 participants from government departments, industry, start-up and academia through on-line and off-line mode. A panel discussion was also organized wherein the queries of the participants were answered by MeitY, CCA and C-DAC officials.  The programme concluded with a call for all innovative minds to participate in the challenge and come out with an Indian Web Browser.

 Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development

Launch of Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC)

New Delhi: The global foldable market is expected to experience substantial growth in 2024, driven by the introduction of entry-level products, thus heralding the era of the mass foldable phones led by Samsung and Huawei, a report showed on Friday.
In the second half of this year, competition in the global foldable product market is set to escalate significantly, driven by the entry of Chinese companies like OPPO and Honor, according to Counterpoint Research.
“Although Samsung’s market share may dip due to increased competition, we believe that it will be a natural result. However, competition among manufacturers usually has the effect of increasing the size of the market for the product,” said senior analyst Jene Park.
“We believe that the era of the mass foldable phone is expected to start in 2024, mainly led by Samsung and Huawei with their entry-level foldables,” park added.&nbsp;
Entry-level foldables are expected to be priced around $600 to $700, making them more accessible to consumers.
Meanwhile, the global foldable smartphone market increased 10 per cent YoY in the second quarter this year to reach 2.1 million units.
This growth is in stark contrast to that of the global smartphone market, which showed a 9 per cent decline in shipments during the quarter to reach 268 million units, the report mentioned.&nbsp;
Due to the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing high global inflation, the smartphone market is expected to grow sideways.&nbsp;
“Nevertheless, the foldable smartphone sector continues to exhibit robust and sustained growth,” the report added.
In Q2, the Chinese foldable smartphone market achieved notable success, surging 64 per cent YoY to reach 1.2 million units.&nbsp;
China now commands the largest share of the global foldable smartphone market, with a 58.6 per cent share.
Chinese manufacturers are expanding their presence internationally during this period, with notable releases including the HONOR Magic V2, OPPO Find N3 Flip, and the yet-to-be-named OnePlus foldable device.&nbsp;
Notably, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, considered to be some of the top-tier foldable offerings, were launched in August and are expected to capture a substantial market share in H2 2023, the report mentioned.
—IANS

The global foldable market is expected to experience substantial growth in 2024, driven by the introduction of entry-level products

The Hawk

Tag : Electronics

Govt issues draft rules for private use of people's non-personal data

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Tag : Electronics

Govt issues draft rules for private use of people's non-personal data

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