Lok Sabha Question No. 854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Promotion of IT Industry
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ranjeeta Koli, Manoj Rajoria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS  AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  854

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.02.2024

## PROMOTION OF IT INDUSTRY

## 854. SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI: DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

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

- (a) the details of the key initiatives under taken by Government to promote the growth of the IT industry in the country;
- (b)  whether  India  is  the  major  exporter  of  IT  Services  in  the  world  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the details of the key achievements of the Government during the last decade in the field of expanding digital infrastructure including broad band connectivity, mobile networks and data centres;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  National  Optical  Fibre  Network  (NOFN)  project  undertaken  by  the Government; and
- (e) the manner in which it will benefit the connectivity in the country, particularly in the rural areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a): With the aim to promote growth of Indian IT industry the Government has taken various steps which include setting up of 63 centres of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) across  the  country  of  which  54  centres  are  in  Tier-II/III  cities.  These  STPI  centres  are offering  state-of-the-art  infrastructure  facilities  including  plug-n-play  facility,  centralized computing and High-Speed data communication to the IT/ ITeS industry/start-ups/ entrepreneurs.  Government  is  implementing  Software  Technology  Parks  (STP)  Scheme through STPI, which is a 100% export-oriented Scheme for the development and export of computer  software,  including  export  of  professional  services.  Further  the  Government  has come up with a National Policy on Software Products (NPSP) to create a vibrant software product  ecosystem  to  complement  the  robust  IT  Industry  for  continued  growth,  new employment and enhance competitiveness. To interconnect with IT startup infrastructure pan India  'MeitY  Start-up  Hub'  (MSH),  a  nodal  entity  has  been  set  up.  MSH  is  assisting incubators  and  startups  improving  their  scalability,  market  outreach,  etc.  and  has  also established partnerships with various stakeholders paving the way for an economy built on innovation and technological advancement. It has been the endeavour of the Government to put in place a liberal and transparent policy for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), wherein most of the sectors are open to FDI under the automatic route. As per extant Foreign Direct  Investment  (FDI)  policy,  100%  FDI  is  allowed  in  IT  sector  under  automatic  route (except from countries sharing land border with India) subject to applicable laws/ regulations; security and other conditions. In order to promote start-ups in emerging technologies, various Centre of Entrepreneurship has been established.

(b):   Yes, as per National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), the estimated export revenue of Indian IT industry is USD 194 billion in FY 2022-23. India has  emerged  as  one  of  the  significant  and  trusted  player  in  IT/ITES  and  other  technology

(c):  The  Government  had  launched  the  Digital  India  Programme  with  the  vision  of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge-based economy, by ensuring  digital  access,  digital  inclusion,  digital  empowerment  and  bridging  the  digital divide.  Under  this  programme,  significant  milestones  in  expanding  digital  solutions  and infrastructure,  including  broadband  connectivity,  mobile  networks,  and  data  centres  have been  achieved.  State  Wide  Area  Networks  (SWANs)  have  been  established  across  all States/UTs, except for the UT of Ladakh. Number of National Data Centres have been set up including  National  Data  Centre  in  North-East  Region  (NDC-NER)  at  Guwahati,  Assam which  will  act  shall  act  as  a  Data  Centre  hub  for  all  the  eight  North  Eastern  States.

services to the world's enterprises, Governments and consumers. Simultaneously, over 86 crore broadband connections have been provided.

(d) and (e): BharatNet project is being implemented by the Department of Telecommunication in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats  (GPs)  and  villages.  The  infrastructure  created  under  BharatNet  project  is  a national  asset,  accessible  on  a  non-discriminatory  basis  to  the  Service  Providers,  and  the same  can  be  utilized  to  provide  broadband  services,  such  as  Wi-Fi  Hotspots,  Fibre  to  the Home  (FTTH)  connections,  leased  lines,  dark  fibre,  backhaul  to  mobile  towers,  etc.  The Government  has  approved  the  Amended  BharatNet  Program  (ABP)  in  August  2023  for providing  connectivity  to  2,64,554  GPs  that  includes  the  existing  GPs  those  are  already service readyi.e.2,10,190.

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