Lok Sabha Question No. 338 (STARRED), answered on 2017-08-09
Subject: Text Messages in Indian Languages
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *338

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 09.08.2017

## TEXT MESSAGES  IN  INDIAN LANGUAGES

## *338. SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government has directed all the mobile manufacturers to enable their mobile users to text in all Indian languages, if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said direction is likely to be made operational;
- (b) whether  these  manufacturers  are  unable  to  comply  with  the  aforementioned direction  and  have  sought  extension  in  the  given  deadline,  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (c) whether the dearth of BIS certified laboratories for language software testing is the reason for the said non-compliance with the Government's direction, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (c):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*338 FOR  09.08.2017 REGARDING TEXT MESSAGES IN INDIAN LANGUAGES

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- (a):  The Government has mandated vide its Gazette notification No. S.O. 3509(E)  dated 24 th October 2016 that all the mobile handsets sold in the country shall have facility for inputting of  text  in  English,  Hindi  and  at  least  one  additional  Indian  official  language.  The  third language that is to be supported by mobile handsets shall be decided by phone manufacturer/supplier.  Further,  message  readability  in  the  mobile  phones  handset  shall  be provided for all 22 Indian official languages. The Order is presently scheduled to come into effect from 01.10.2017.
- (b):    For  the  Indian  language  support  for  mobile  phone  handsets  as  per  IS  16333  (Part  3): 2016,  the  Order  was  scheduled  to  come  into  effect  from  01.07.2017.  However,  mobile handset manufacturers sought extension in date of implementation of said order on account of non-availability of BIS recognised labs for testing the mobile phone handsets as per IS 16333 (Part 3): 2016, absence of BIS guidelines for implementation of the aforesaid standard and Notification  of  Mark  etc.  Accordingly,  the  date  of  coming  into  effect  of  the  Order  was extended till 01.10.2017.
- (c): The Order was scheduled to come into effect from 01.07.2017 for mobile phone handsets as per IS 16333 (Part 3): 2016. However, due to various reasons mentioned above including non-availability/paucity of adequate number of BIS recognized labs for the testing as per IS 16333 (Part 3) 2016, the date of coming into effect of the aforesaid Order has been extended to 1st October, 2017. According to available information, the details of labs recognized by BIS and pending applications are as follows:
- (i) Five  laboratories  have  been  recognised  by  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards having testing facility as per IS 16333(Part 3):2016.
- (ii) In addition, fifteen laboratories have applied to BIS for seeking recognition /inclusion as per IS 16333(Part 3):2016.

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