In today’s world, e-infrastructure is the key element for the development of a society.

E-infrastructure facilitates competent equipment and favorable resources and opportunities that are essentially needed to for the safety, security, and development of a society.

Further, e-infrastructure helps to integrate various technologies including different computer systems, internet broadband channels, computing power, data storage, data sharing, and many more.

To meet the growing challenges of globalization and also cope-up with the sustainable growth of information and communication technology, it is essentially required to integrate these systems by developing better e-infrastructure.

Initiatives

By understanding the growing demand and challenges, the Department of Information Technology formulated a ‘National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility’.

The policy was approved by the union cabinet in 2013.

The major strategies adopted in the implementation of the policy have been taken from the Press Information Bureau Government of India Cabinet October 3, 2013 −

• Creating awareness on universal electronics accessibility and universal design.

• Capacity building and infrastructure development.

• Setting up of model electronics and ICTs centres for providing training and demonstration to special educators and physically as well as mentally challenged persons.

• Conducting research and development, use of innovation, ideas, technology etc. whether indigenous or outsourced from abroad.

• Developing programme and schemes with greater emphasis for differently abled women/children.

• Developing procurement guidelines for electronics and ICTs for accessibility and assistive needs.

ITIR

For the exclusive growth of E-infrastructure in India, the Government of India has formulated the policy on ‘Information Technology Investment Regions (ITIRs) in 2008.

As per the policy, ITIRs will be self-contained integrated township with the purpose to accelerated growth of Information Technology, Information Technology Enabled Service, and Electronic Hardware Manufacturing units.

Further, the policy has recommended to assign minimum area of 40 sq. km for ITIR. However, out of the total demarcated area, 40% should be reserved for the processing zone and the remaining area for the non-processing zone.

The processing zone will include −

• Information Technology/Information Technology Enabled Services
• Electronic Hardware Manufacturing Units
• Logistics and other services and required infrastructure.

On the other hand, the non-processing area will include −

• Residential area
• Commercial area
• Other social and institutional infrastructure

National Knowledge Network

In 2009, in order to create an infrastructure that can fulfil the future requirements, the concept of ‘National Knowledge Network’ (NKN) is conceptualized.

The concept of NKN is designed to Encourage, Enable, Enrich, and Empower the user community to test and implement the innovative ideas without any restrictions.

Further, the NKN will provide better −

• Network design
• Security requirements
• Service requirements
• Operational requirements

Dot Bharat

The concept of developing the domain and website in ‘Devnagri’ (native script) was launched in August 2014.

This script will cover the following Indian languages −

• Hindi
• Marathi
• Boro
• Dogri
• Maithili
• Sindhi
• Gujarati

Gradually, other languages will also be covered.