Digital India initiative gets formal Cabinet nod

In a bid to bolster India’s position as a connected knowledge economy, India’s Union cabinet has approved key infrastructural projects that aim to connect people faster, deploy information technology and communication networks in the remotest parts of the country, and promote e-governance under the ambitious Digital India programme.

“India is at the cusp of a digital revolution and this Government is enabling that to happen quicker,” said India’s Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on August 21.

Digital India — a pet idea of the India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi –- aims to bringing existing initiatives such as the Ebiz project, E-kranti, virtual classroom, e-visas and the National Optical Fibre Network project under a single umbrella.

The project will improve digital education, e-governance, e-delivery and enhance mobile banking facility to rural area.

The telecom minister added that the government was also planning to enhance mobile connectivity in areas in areas affected by left-wing extremism.

“The Cabinet also approved setting up of 1,836 new base transmission towers in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected districts. People in these areas and security forces have asked to improve the mobile connectivity in these districts,” said Prasad.

Modi had listed Digital India as a top priority for the government, during his address to the nation on August 15.

When implemented Digital India will connect 2.5 lakh villages by broadband and phones, bring wi-fi to 2.5 lakh schools, all universities, public wi-fi hotspots for citizens, decrease import of telecom imports to zero and create 1.7 crore direct and 8.5 crore indirect jobs.

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