Lok Sabha Question No. 2713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Creation of a Separate Directorate of Information Technology
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2713

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.12.2024

## CREATION OF A SEPARATE DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## 2713.   SHRI BISHNU PADA RAY:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  received  a  communication  from  the  Public  Representative (Member of Parliament) from Andaman & Nicobar Islands vide letter No. MP/ANI/2024/162 dated  9th  October,  2024  regarding  the  creation  of  a  separate  Directorate  of  Information Technology and strengthening of IT cadres within  the  Andaman  &  Nicobar  (A&N) Administration;
- (b)   if so, the details of the measures suggested in the proposal;
- (c)   the  action  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  in  this  regard  including consultations or approvals sought from relevant stakeholders;
- (d)   whether any financial or technical support is planned to be extended to the A&N Administration for the establishment and operationalization of the Directorate of Information Technology; and
- (e)   if so, the timeline for implementation of this proposal in case it is approved?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (e):  Creation of Directorate of Information Technology catering to a State or Union Territory comes under the purview of concerned State/UT administration.

In  line  with  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister's  vision  to  democratise  use  of  technology,  Ministry  of Electronics and Information Technology has taken various initiatives for Andaman & Nicobar.

Common Services  Centres  (CSCs)  have  been  set  up  to  deliver  e-services  including  government services,  financial  services  and  services  related  to  Aadhaar,  various  social  welfare  schemes, education, telemedicine, travel bookings, utility payments, etc.95 CSCs are functional in Andaman & Nicobar, out of which, 71 CSCs are functional at GP level.

DigiLocker has provided a platform to the citizens for issuance and verification of digital documents and  certificates.  Department  of  Civil  Supplies  &  Consumer  Affairs;  Registrar  General  of  India, Andaman & Nicobar; Revenue Department; Transport Department and 2 educational institutions in Andaman & Nicobar have been onboarded as issuers on DigiLocker.

FutureSkills PRIME is a joint initiative by MeitY and NASSCOM which aims to provide re-skilling/ up-skilling  opportunities  in  emerging  technologies.  The  programme  envisages  re-skilling/  upskilling  of  more  than  13  lakh  beneficiaries  in  these  technologies.  Enrollments  from  Andaman  & Nicobar have also begun.

National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology ('NIELIT') is an autonomous scientific society under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Government of India has given NIELIT the  status  of  Deemed  University.  NIELIT  accredited  centre  in  Andaman  &  Nicobar  has enrolled students for skill development  for Electronics System  Design and Manufacturing ('ESDM').

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