We want both highways and i-ways: Narendra Modi
September 26, 2014
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government wants both highways as well as information ways (i-ways) for a Digital India.
“We want highways. We also want i-ways for a Digital India,” Modi said during his address at the launch of his pet “Make in India” campaign.
The campaign aims to put India prominently on the global manufacturing map and, in turn, facilitate the inflow of new technology and capital, while creating millions of jobs.
Source:Economic Times
Google to roll out initiatives to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India
September 26, 2014
Google will run a number of campaigns as part of the Government of India’s Digital India program
In support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision towards a Digital India, Google India, is delighted to announce some key initiatives that will help realize this dream of the Prime Minister. Time and again, including his recent speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister has called for moving towards a Digital India, where technology becomes the foundation of good governance and India moves towards a knowledge economy based on the Mantra of ‘IT (Information Technology) + IT (Indian Talent) = IT (India’s Tomorrow). As part of supporting the Prime Minister’s vision, Google will run a number of campaigns as part of the Government of India’s Digital India program.
The highlights are: ● MyGov, the citizen engagement platform of the Government and Google are collaborating to launch a nationwide contest to develop a mobile app for the PM’s Office. The mobile app will bring the PMO to every citizen and the contest will showcase how Indians can build a world class app ● Google India will continue to build a vibrant language ecosystem online and help the Government transition into the increasingly ‘mobile’ India. ● Programs such as Helping Women get Online, getting Indian SMEs Online and showcasing India’s rich heritage and culture online will further promote the digital empowerment of citizens. ● Additionally, to encourage digital literacy and Internet safety, Google is also introducing curriculums for schools, officials and elected representatives. RS Sharma, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology said “The Digital India Program has been launched with the vision of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It can truly transform India and bring it on par with other developed countries. I’m happy Google is coming forward to roll out initiatives that will contribute to the Digital India vision. I’m sure others will come forward and join this moment.”
Rajan Anandan, Vice President and Managing Director, Google India said “India is already home to the 3rd largest number of internet users globally with 245 million users as of June 2014. We are on track to become the 2nd largest user market by 2015 and a 500 million-user market by 2016. Yet, there are more than a billion people who will need to be brought online for India to realize the vision of a digitally connected, knowledge economy. Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India program will play a transformational role in achieving this, and we are excited to be making a meaningful contribution by rolling out several initiatives in collaboration with the Government of India.”
Google is working with the Department of Information Technology and other State Governments to develop these initiatives. The company also welcomes the Prime Minister’s vision of enhancing information highways, as part of the Digital India program. The Prime Minister’s idea of M-Governance for mobile governance has the potential to revolutionize service delivery and provide good governance to people across the length and breadth of India.
Source: Information week
Cisco unveils smart city model for Digital India
September 26, 2014
IOT powered Globalisation East campus shows how citizens can live, work, play and learn in a Digital India
Cisco demonstrated how a future smart city would look like in its campus in Bangalore on Tuesday. Spread over 2.6 million square feet, and designed as a campus-as-a-city for thousands of Cisco employees to work, play and learn, the model city showcased all the possible city utilities which can be availed in a smart city powered by IOT.
As part of the inauguration, Cisco demonstrated the possibilities of the government’s Digital India program where infrastructure would be offered as a utility to every citizen, governance and services would be on demand and citizens would be digitally empowered. Incorporating real time, online and mobile platforms the model illustrated how intelligent networks could digitally enable Indian citizens.
Cisco in association with ELCIA (Electronics City Industry Association) is building the smart city in Bangalore’s Electronic City. The collaboration has already identified 5-km stretch where street lighting, parking, traffic and water management will be controlled centrally through intelligent sensors, information systems and the Internet to improve the quality and efficiency of civic amenities in the area. This project will form the proof-of-concept for a smart city early next year.
Cisco has already built smart cities in Barcelona, Spain and Canberra, Australia. The program highlighted how Cisco and Barcelona council have helped transform the city into a blueprint for sustainable urban development. Canberra, the capital of Australia described the role of Cisco’s technologies in achieving the city’s digital strategy.
Speaking about the hurdles and challenges of building a smart city in India, Srivatsa Krishna, IAS & Secretary to the Government Dept. Of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, said, “Building a smart city in Bangalore is not about selling more routers and switches. Cisco has to come up with economical, cost-effective and affordable smart city concept which can be availed by every Indian.” Cisco initially thought of making the parking lots in Bangalore smart, however the concept did not work out due to several reasons.
Anil Menon, President, Deputy Chief Globalization Officer, Cisco said, “When we build a smart concept for any city we look at five parameters which includes government regulations, cost-effectiveness, scalability, profitability and sustainability.” According to Menon, the absence of these parameters made Cisco not to build the smart parking space in Bangalore. However, with changing times Cisco hopes to be able to build smart city in Bangalore in the coming days
Source:Information week