Press Release

IndiaAI and Meta have announced the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur, along with the launch of the “YuvAi Initiative for Skilling and Capacity Building” in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), for the advancement of open source artificial intelligence (AI) in India. The partnership will enable development of indigenous AI applications, advance skill development in AI, boost research capabilities with the aim of contributing to India’s AI mission of ensuring tech sovereignty and the vision of building AI solutions that are tailor made for India.

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), inaugurated a 2.5-day training program on "Digital Governance & Data Management" on 23rd October 2024. The program is a part of the broader efforts under the Digital India initiative to equip government officials with essential knowledge and skills to drive digital transformation and enhance governance efficiency across India. A total of twenty-seven government officials from Central Line Ministries and various state departments including New Delhi, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Assam, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and West Bengal, are participating in the program. The diverse representation underscores the program’s national significance and its wide-reaching impact in enhancing digital governance practices across the country. The training program focuses on key areas of digital governance, including data management, cybersecurity, digital service delivery, e-governance frameworks, and emerging technologies. Participants will gain hands-on experience and practicalknowledge to address current challenges in governance and utilize digital tools to improve service delivery and operational efficiency within their respective departments. Special attention is given to enabling officials to design citizen centric digital governance projects, ensuring that government services become more transparent, accessible, and efficient. This initiative is a key component of the Capacity-Building scheme under the Digital India Program, which is aimed at building relevant capacities across all levels of government. By providing targeted training on critical topics such as data governance, cybersecurity, and digital leadership, the scheme is designed to enhance the ability of government officials to conceptualize, lead, and implement e-governance projects. The program also promotes the development of digital ecosystems that can deliver highquality, citizen-centric services at scale. Issued by the National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has set up a pavilion, ‘Digital India Innovation Zone’, at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 to provide hands-on experience to the delegates on India’s various Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs). The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress at Bharat Mandapam during the International Telecommunication Union - World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 programme and took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion. [caption id="attachment_9002" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Shri S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY visited the Digital India Innovation Zone at the India Mobile Congress at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (16.10.2024)[/caption] Secretary, MeitY Shri S Krishnan also visited the MeitY pavilion and had a look at the various advanced electronic systems and digital e-governance solutions at display. Meity Pavillion The MeitY pavilion aims to provide a hands-on experience to the delegates on various DPIs viz DigiLocker, UMANG, Aadhaar, UPI, eSanjeevani, ONDC, and Digital India BHASHINI. Additionally, MeitY’s organisations C-DAC, NIXI, SAMEER have set up interactive booths to showcase the Made-in-India technological advancements in the country. Through this state-of-the-art pavilion, MeitY seeks to make global stakeholders aware of projects that are scalable and bring Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business, and Ease of Governance for the citizens. The UMANG booth takes the visitor through some important services like blood bank search, train navigation, pensioner life certificate generation, passport seva, etc. in real-time through a rotoscope. On the other hand, ‘Time Challenge: Secure Docs’, a timed game at the DigiLocker booth allows the visitors to put their documents in a digital vault and earn Digital India merchandise. Delegates can also get a live demonstration of the DigiLocker ecosystem and a step-by-step process of registration. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) provides the delegates with a live demo of the ‘Scan & Pay’ facility through UPI and showcases other UPI services which are playing a significant role in the digital payment revolution in India. ONDC stall gives an interactive experience where on one hand it highlights the impact it has created in the ecommerce space through live numbers and seller stories and on the other hand it explains what ONDC does through a series of interesting videos along with a real life demo of how to shop from the network. People visiting the ONDC stall can also win exciting prizes by answering a few very easy questions in their trivia game. The Digital India BHASHINI booth is featuring its various use cases like ‘Baatcheet’, a cross-language translation for mobile calls; Sabha Lekha, an AI based multilingual meeting platform, and more. The Baatcheet app provides voice call capabilities along with transliteration displayed in-app for clearer communication. Baatcheet supports both App-to-App and App-to-mobile calling, allowing the other person to participate even without having the app installed. This booth also features pioneering AI-powered solution ConversationAIly which empowers doctors to optimise in-clinic conversations by providing positive conversation cues to improve compliance behaviors in patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Another tool Signassistive is a platform that makes any type of information accessible to 18M deaf and hard of hearing population. A teleconsultation center has been set up at the booth of eSanjeevani. The delegates can understand how the India's National Telemedicine Service is reaching out to citizens in both rural and urban areas, breaking the health divide. Every Indian’s unique digital identity, Aadhaar, is showcasing the face authentication solution impacting millions of lives. The “Mann Ki Baat” booth helps the delegates to listen to the various episodes in their own regional language. MeitY organization NIXI is offering an immersive experience designed to educate delegates on the importance of the .भारत domain and the need for a multi-lingual internet. They can even register their own .भारत domain at the booth. The pavilion has hosted CDAC's products and solutions on 5G and beyond technology areas. IOS-5GN, the project funded by MeitY for developing industry grade open source 5G platform, demonstration covered end-to-end 5G setup using open source solutions. CDAC has also showcased its mobile security solutions 'M-Kavach', 'M-Prabandh' and 'Parikshan'. The demonstration covers SDN middleware based 5G simulation platform for use cases, Smart energy meter, 5G V2X solution, and 5G based drone development platform, 'Create'. SAMEER has exhibited Next Generation Communication and Microwave Technologies those are being pursued under the Digital India mission of MeitY.  It has displayed various technologies developed in the field of Atmospheric Science, Healthcare, 6G Communications and Industrial applications through interactive UI and also displayed scale down replica of MMW Radiometer for climate studies & 1.5T Superconducting MRI Scanner for medical applications.  Through these exhibits, SAMEER is disseminating critical features of the technologies developed to the larger audience participating in IMC, 2024. India Mobile Congress 2024 The India Mobile Congress 2024 is displaying India’s innovation ecosystem, where leading telecom companies and innovators will highlight advancements in Quantum technology and Circular Economy along with spotlight on 6G, 5G use-case showcase, Cloud & Edge computing, IoT, Semiconductors, Cybersecurity, Green Tech, Satellite Communications, and Electronics Manufacturing. Its 2024 edition will showcase over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups, and participation from over 120 countries. The event also intends to highlight more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers. The four-day event, hosted by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi is being organised from October 15-18, 2024. [caption id="attachment_8998" align="aligncenter" width="559"] The Digital India Experience Zone at India Mobile Congress 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi[/caption]  

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today expressed satisfaction that Digital India has made the process of getting pension easier and it is proving to be very useful for senior citizens across the country. Responding to a post by journalist Ajay Kumar, Shri Modi wrote: “सबसे पहले @AjayKumarJourno जी, आपकी माता जी को मेरा प्रणाम! मुझे इस बात का संतोष है कि डिजिटल इंडिया ने उनकी पेंशन की राह आसान की है और यह देशभर के बुजुर्ग नागरिकों के बहुत काम आ रहा है। यही तो इस कार्यक्रम की बहुत बड़ी विशेषता है।”

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has announced the integration of the UMANG app with DigiLocker- India’s Digital Wallet. This collaboration aims to provide citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services bringing greater convenience and allowing users to manage multiple services through a single platform. Access UMANG services with just a few simple steps The UMANG app is accessible to all Android users with an expansion to iOS in the pipeline. And now, with just a few easy steps, these services can be accessed through the DigiLocker app as well. How to Get Started:

1. Update your DigiLocker app to the latest version
2. Open the DigiLocker app on your Android device
3. Click on the UMANG icon within the DigiLocker app
4. Install the UMANG app when prompted
5. Access a variety of government services in the DigiLocker app

  Simplified Citizen-Government interaction This integration makes it easier for citizens to interact with the Government in an efficient, digital-first manner. DigiLocker has always been a pioneer in simplifying access to personal and official documents, and after integration with UMANG, it has expanded the range of services you can access on the go. About DigiLocker DigiLocker is a flagship initiative under the Digital India program aimed at providing secure cloud-based storage of essential documents. By integrating with e-governance services such as UMANG, DigiLocker further is committed to further enhance accessibility and ease of living. For more information, please visit www.digilocker.gov.in.

In a significant move towards bolstering technical education in India, a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology and Government of Maharashtra through its Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, Mumbai on 11th October 2024 at New Delhi. "The collaboration between NIELIT and the Government of Maharashtra will ensure that students receive practical education, tailored to the current needs of the industry. This effort, beginning in Maharashtra, will be extended to other states, focusing particularly on Polytechnic institutions, ITIs, and the newly established university in the state. This is an exciting opportunity for our youth, especially in the IT industry" said Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, while addressing the gathering at the signing ceremony of this MoU in New Delhi today. Shri. Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, Minister of Higher & Technical Education, Govt. of Maharashtra, Dr. Vinod Mohitkar, Director, Technical Education, M.S., Dr. Pramod Naik, Director, Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education, Sh. Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and various officials from MeitY were also present at the signing ceremony. Centers of Excellence in AI, Robotics, and Advanced Technologies The scope of the work in this MoU is to establish Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence(Al), Robotics, Internet of Things (IOT), Industry 4.0, 3D Printing and Allied Technologies for capacity training and Research & Development centers at Government polytechnic and Government Engineering college in Maharashtra State and to seek funding from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) & other Govt. organisations through joint project proposals. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, praised the initiative and willingness of Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil, Maharashtra's Higher and Technical Education Minister in setting up the CoEs which was actively taken up by the Ministry. Addressing a gathering at the signing ceremony of this MoU, Shri Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of aligning education with industry demands. Maharashtra has built a strong foundation through its well-established network of Polytechnics, ITIs, and higher education institutions, which have developed the necessary capacities to house Centers of Excellence in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and IoT. It is based on these developed capabilities that the Government of Maharashtra was able to seek funding from the central government, a proposal that was actively supported and delivered by MeitY, ensuring that Maharashtra can lead in cutting-edge technical education and innovation. Shri Vaishnaw highlighted Shri Patil's foresight in recognizing the industrial strength of Maharashtra and the need for equipping its youth with relevant skills in today’s economy. He remarked, "The industrial strength of Maharashtra, which has a 150-200 year-old industrial base, is combined with the technical education necessary for today’s youth. This framework aligns perfectly with the  National Education Policy by focusing on practical and technical education." The initiative is expected to create significant opportunities for students, providing them with the necessary skills and job placements to succeed in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. The Government of Maharashtra has a total 40 Government Polytechnics and 300 private polytechnic in the State and the state government through Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education has already established the Center of Excellence in IoT at 6 Govt. Polytechnics and Center of Excellence in Robotics & Automation at 3 Govt. Polytechnics. At the remaining Govt. Polytechnics, Center of Excellence will be established through the funds made available through this MoU.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar today held Digital India Dialogues on the Principles of the Digital India Act, a future ready legislation that aims to replace the existing IT Act and provide a strong legal framework for protecting the rights of the Digital nagriks while ensuring an enabling environment for innovation and growth. Referring to DIA basic principles, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Act seeks to harmonise everything that’s going on in the tech space. Talking about Safety & Trust, the Minister mentioned “Safety and Trust will be at the heart of the DIA, and it is going to be a huge section in the DIA. Online harm is also being dealt with by regulators globally. India is soon going to have 1.3 billion people accessing the internet and these Digital Nagriks should approach the internet without any fear and mistrust, especially as many government services also move to the internet. A safe and trusted internet is a win-win for all stakeholders. Weaponisation of misinformation and disinformation is also a major concern that needs to be addressed, especially with the added catalyst of AI-driven deepfakes”

Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar today held Digital India Dialogues on the Principles of the Digital India Act, a future ready legislation that aims to replace the existing IT Act and provide a strong legal framework for protecting the rights of the Digital nagriks while ensuring an enabling environment for innovation and growth. Referring to DIA basic principles, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Act seeks to harmonise everything that’s going on in the tech space. Talking about Safety & Trust, the Minister mentioned “Safety and Trust will be at the heart of the DIA, and it is going to be a huge section in the DIA. Online harm is also being dealt with by regulators globally. India is soon going to have 1.3 billion people accessing the internet and these Digital Nagriks should approach the internet without any fear and mistrust, especially as many government services also move to the internet. A safe and trusted internet is a win-win for all stakeholders. Weaponisation of misinformation and disinformation is also a major concern that needs to be addressed, especially with the added catalyst of AI-driven deepfakes”

In a remarkable celebration of Republic Day 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi invited guests from various fields and ministries to witness the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path. This year, approximately 13,000 special guests had been invited to participate, aligning with the Government's vision of Jan Bhagidari, encouraging citizens from all walks of life to actively engage in the national festival. Over 250 women workers from five prominent companies – Samsung, Wistron, Dixon, Pegatron and VVDN – participated in the Republic Day Celebrations. The presence of these women workers from the electronic manufacturing industry at the Republic Day parade reflects the Government's dedication to inclusivity, diversity, and active citizen participation. To honour and recognize the contribution of women workforce in Electronics Manufacturing Industry in India an event is organised by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on 27^th January, 2024 wherein the Secretary, MeitY  Shri S Krishnan, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The other officials present during the event were Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi, DG, NIELIT Dr. Abhilasha Gaur, CEO, ESSCI, Smt. Girija Vedi, SVP, VVDN, and Sh. Subhanshu Tiwari, ED, NIELIT.

During the launch event of "Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024” held at IIIT- Delhi, the technology for Smart Food Grain Storage System (SAFEETY) which includes conveyorized loading & unloading of grain bags having RFID for traceability, online weight and moisture measurement with Radio Frequency Based Removal of Moisture from Grain has been developed by SAMEER under the aegis of MeitY. The technology has been transferred to M/s Paras Defense and Space Technology Ltd for manufacturing and supply of the systems. The system has capacity to handle almost one truckload (approx. weight: 28 tons) of grains in 40 minutes. The exchange of technology transferred documents were made in the presence of Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Jal Shakti, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar; Smt Sunita Verma, GC R&D in E⁢  Dr P. H. Rao, DG-SAMEER; Shri Rajesh Harsh, CI, SAMEER, Mumbai; Dr Om Krishan Singh, Scientist 'D', MeitY; Shri Amit Mahajan, Director Paras Defense and Space Technologies Ltd and the Senior officials in Government.

During the launch event of " Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024” held at IIIT- Delhi, three Indigenous Technologies - Thermal camera, CMOS camera and Fleet Management System designed and developed by CDAC Thiruvananthapuram under InTranSE Program of MeitY were transferred to 12 Industries. It is step towards Innovation, Science and Technology theme of Vikshit Bharat @2047 of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Initiative. Thermal Camera: The thermal Smart camera has an inbuilt DPU to run various AI based analytics. The indigenised technology is targeted for applications across multiple domains including Smart cities, Industries, Defence, Health & others. The field implementation, testing and validation of this camera was done for Road traffic applications. The technology was transferred to the following eight industries simultaneously.

1. RRPS4E Innovation Pvt Ltd
2. SCITA Solutions
3. TAK Technologies Pvt Ltd
4. AABMATICA Technologies
5. Prama India Pvt Ltd
6. Samriddhi Automations Pvt Ltd
7. Norden Research and Innovation Centre
8. Vehant Technologies Pvt Ltd

CMOS camera: Industrial Vision Sensor iVIS 10GigE is a CMOS based vision processing system with a powerful on-board computing engine to perform the next generation industrial machine vision applications. The technology is transferred to one industry i.e. M/s Spookfish innovations Pvt Ltd. Fleet management System:  FlexiFleet aims to optimize operations and enhance the efficiency of fleet operators and transit agencies. In addition to vehicle location tracking, it provides alerts for different conditions like over speed, geofence, ignition, idle, halt, and rash driving. Personalized Transit Route Guidance System is a mobile app that aims to improve the travel experience for passengers as it offers passengers the option to choose the most efficient or personalized routes of his choice. Operational Strategies for Headway Reliability serves as a dynamic scheduling decision support tool for transit operators, aiming to enhance the reliability of public transit services by minimizing instances of bus bunching. The technology is transferred to three industries simultaneously –

1. Atulya Abhinav Tech Private Limited
2. Unidad Techno Labs(P) Ltd
3. IBI Group India Private Limited

The exchange of technology transferred documents were made in the presence of Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Jal Shakti, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar; Smt. Sunita Verma, GC R&D in E⁢ E. Magesh, DG-CDAC; Kalaiselvan A, Director - CDAC Trivandrum; Senior officials in Government, CEO & CTO of Industries