Lok Sabha Question No. 2542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Startups in IT Sector
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Narayana Swamy Abbaiah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2542

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## STARTUPS IN IT SECTOR

## 2542.    SHRI  A.  NARAYANA  SWAMY:

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

- (a)  whether the start-ups in IT sector are given priority by Government while getting IT enabled services  for  various  Ministries,  Departments,  Central  Public  Sector  Undertaking  and  CentrePromoted Autonomous Bodies; and
- (b)  if so, the detail thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) and (b):  The start-ups in IT sector are given relaxation of condition of prior turnover and prior experience as well as exemption from submission of Earnest Money Deposit / Bid Security in public procurement tenders / bids while doing procurement of IT enabled services by various Ministries, Departments,  Central  Public  Sector  Undertakings  etc.  In  addition,  Ministry  of  Electronics  & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has launched several Grand Challenges in collaboration with various Ministries/ Department to promote development of indigenous IT enabled products / services. Details of such challenges are placed at Annexure-I .

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## Details of Grand Challenges

## 1.       Development of a Video Conferencing (VC) Solution

Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  has  launched  an  Innovation  Challenge  for Development  of  a  Video  Conferencing  Solution.  The  Innovation  Challenge  was  open  for participation from Industry, start-ups and individual experts. The aim of the challenge is to develop an  indigenous  Video  Conferencing  Solution  as  one  of  the  key  product,  having  tremendous capability for scalability, market and domestic value addition.

## 2.       Smart water supply measurement and monitoring system

Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY),  in  partnership  with  National  Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched an ICT Grand Challenge (ICTGC) to develop a 'Smart Water Supply Measurement and Monitoring System'. The aim of this ICT Grand Challenge is to develop innovative, modular, and cost-effective solution to be deployed at the village / semi-rural / semi-urban levels.

## 3.       Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission - Niti Aayog, launched Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovate Challenge to identify the best Indian Apps that are already being used by citizens and have the potential to scale and become world class Apps in their respective categories. This Innovation Challenge seeks to create an ecosystem where Indian entrepreneurs and Start-ups are motivated to ideate, incubate, build, nurture and sustain tech solutions that can serve not only citizens within India but also the world.

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## Annexure-I