Will significantly like to grow the following areas in Information Technology as of extreme importance to India for bringing about an all round economic development.

1. I shall aim at achieving convergence of Information, Communication and Media Technologies. This issue, I am told, was pending before the Select Committee of Parliament. I shall do my best to expedite the Convergence of Technologies. My priority would be to focus on PC penetration and thereby bring Cyber Connectivity to every citizen.

2. I shall endeavor to bring about transparency in administration and make government functioning more citizens centric. I shall be stressing on E-governance, and expeditious implementation of a National E-governance Plan.

3. Broadband Connectivity
Providing broadband connectivity to all, at the most reasonable prices shall be my top most priority.

4. Next Generation Mobile Wireless Technologies
I plan to leapfrog from the current generation of Mobile telephony to the next 4G generation. India is currently using the technology of GSM (2.5 G) and CDMA for mobile telephony. The 3G standard has been evolved, but has not proved cost effective. I therefore plan to leapfrog this generation and develop 4G technology. India has an opportunity with its large market and high technical skills to be a significant player in this field. We are going to set up a National Centre for Excellence in this area.

5. National Internet Exchange and Indian Domain Name
I would like to connect all ISPs in India to a National Internet Exchange, in order to achieve efficient Internet traffic routing, cost reduction and improvement in the quality of service for the Internet users in India. Four Internet exchange points would be fully operationalized. Most small and big ISPs would route their traffic through these exchange points to also ensure the security of domestic traffic. Currently, 25 ISPs are connected.

I shall bring about significant improvement in Indian Internet Domain Name with a greater market focus to proliferate the Internet. Towards this, we will encourage major multinational companies to host their mirror sites in India and also encourage Indian enterprises to host sites to promote business and trade in India.

6. Migration to New Internet Protocol IPV6
World Wide the new IPV6 is being implemented on the internet to accommodate increased number of users and take care of security concerns. It would be my endeavor to bring about migration to IPV6 in India by 2006.

7. Security & Digital Signature
I shall be concentrating on Cyber Infrastructure Protection. All efforts shall be made to promote the use of Digital Signatures in the financial sector, judiciary and education.

8. Media Lab Asia
I shall ensure that the programme of Media Lab Asia of the Government focuses on the following areas of importance to the large Indian populace.

(i) Providing seamless communication connective to rural areas and promoting value added services and micro enterprises to double the village GDP in a couple of years.

(ii) Extend quality healthcare services to remote areas using the technologies of telemedicine and internet access

(iii) Use Information and Communication Technology tools to improve literacy through distance education, inclusive processes and pedagogy.

(iv) Promote development and availability of low-cost PCs and communiation access devices to increase Internet penetration 10 fold in a few years.

9. Language Computing
Given India’s multi-lingual nature, we will accelerate dialogue with State Government, linguists, R&D labs and Industry for increased deployment of language computing solutions in Government, industry and the society at-large, particularly the disadvantaged sections.

10. Outsourcing Skilled Manpower and R&D thrust
I shall make all endeavors to make India the world’s hub for outsourcing skilled manpower in the IT sector.

India cannot hope to aspire to become a great IT nation without adequate level of Research and Development (R&D) work. Towards this, our National R&D institutions would be given encouragement to invest in R&D and bring about world-class technologies.