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Steering Committee for Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).

Communications and Informations

Dated 11th July 2001

In partial modification to the notification dated 21st December 2000, it is decided that Shri N.K. Singh, Member, Planning Commission will be the Chairman of the Steering Committee in place of Shri M.S. Ahluwalia, Member, who proceeded on foreign assignment recently. Shri N.K. Singh's e-mail address is nksingh@yojana.nic.in

Dated 21st December 2000

In the context of preparation Tenth Five Year Plan(2002-2007) it has been decided to constitute a Steering Committee on Communication and Information covering Telecom, Information Technology(IT), Information and Broadcasting(l and B) and Postal sectors to make recommendations on the various policy matters relevant to the formulation of the Tenth Five Year Plan.

II. The Composition of the proposed Steering Committee will be as follows:

III. The Terms of Reference of the Committee will be -

Convergence and e-Govemance

• To take an integrated view of the development of telecommunications, IT and I and B sectors including the state of the industries, services and the technological developments in these areas; convergence of technology, delivery systems and applications and to determine the needs of the individual sectors as well as new services emerging out of convergence.
• To assess the requirement of bandwidth for proper growth of IT and suggest ways and means for achieving the expansion of Internet in the country.
• To suggest measures for promotion of e-governance at various levels in the Government starting from Gram Panchayat level and to suggest strategy to be adopted in this regard.
• To suggest measures to address the issue of digital divide and taking the benefits of IT to the masses.
• To suggest measures for ensuring seamless transition to convergence of IT, telecommunication and information and broadcasting sectors.

Information Technology Sector

• To evolve the Approach for Information Technology sector for the Tenth Plan keeping in view the comparative advantage, strengths and weaknesses of the IT industry, international scenario including WTO regime and the national goal of making India an IT super power.
• To assess year-wise capacity and production for the different sub-sectors of the IT industry for the Tenth Five Year Plan period (2002-2007) in line with the perspective up to 2010 AD taking into account domestic requirements and export potential.
• To make an assessment of the likely exports and imports taking into account the options available with respect to "make v/s buy" and also to assess year-wise projections for the Tenth Five Year Plan.
• To estimate the investments required to be made in the public and private sector to achieve projections for the Tenth Five Year Plan.
• To critically review the impact of the various policy measures already initiated, identifying the constraints and to suggest further policy framework to be adopted to achieve the set goals.
• To examine the adequacy to the existing infrastructure facilities like Standardisation, Testing and Quality Assurance Centres, National and Regional Computer Centres, Components -and Materials Development Centres, and Manpower Development and training centres etc. in areas of electronics, computer networks and networking centres etc. and to recommend steps for optimal utilisation of the existing facilities.

Telecommunications Sector

• To evolve Approach on Telecom Sector for the 10th Plan keeping in view the basic goal of development of world class telecom infrastructure to support accelerated growth of IT and other sectors of the economy, objectives of New Telecom Policy (1999)r convergence of services and markets, international scenario in the wake of WTO/IPR regimes and other relevant factors.
• To make recommendations on development of an appropriate system of telecom network in rural areas which should be affordable but self-financing and capable of supporting a multi-media system of communications.
• To make recommendations on the further restructuring/reforms required in the telecom sector in the post - convergence scenario.
• To suggest measures to be adopted for promoting private sector investment in the light of the experience gained so far and the requirement of funds for future growth.
• To review the performance of telecom equipment manufacturing sector so far, identify the constraints and make recommendations for evolving an appropriate policy to ensure growth on the pattern of software sector.

Postal Sector

• To evolve Approach on Postal Sector for the 10th Plan keeping in view the strengths/weaknesses of Postal Sector, socio-economic needs of the country, objectives of providing world class postal services at affordable prices, international commitments of the country at Universal Postal Union, WTO etc.
• To make recommendations on the restructuring/reforms required to make the Department of Posts self-financing.
• To make recommendations on extent of privatisation of services and need and form of regulation required.
• Role of post offices in promoting/facilitating e-comrnerce and the process of certification.
• To examine the issue of optimum utilization of land, buildings and other physical infrastructure including commercial exploitation of properties held by Departments in metres and big cities and suggest an appropriate action plan in this regard with a view to generate additional resources for financing pian expenditure.

Information and Broadcasting Sector

• To evolve Approach to the Information and Broadcasting sector for the 10th Plan keeping in view the emerging trends in radio, television and IT enabled media applications.
• To examine the extent to which expansion of transmission network is needed and the best way to provide the reach of radio and television signals to the uncovered areas.
• To assess the total needs of investment in broadcasting infrastructure including that for content creation and to assess the extent of private investment that may come forward in the 10th Plan period and beyond and as to what steps should be taken to stimulate private investment.
• To assess the human resources needed for the telecommunications, broadcasting, media, internet and IT and to suggest road map for making the same available.
• To assess the status of the Film Industry and to suggest policy measures and other steps necessary to ensure production of good, socially relevant and aesthetically creative films.
• To take a look at the needs of government publicity including sectoral publicity programmes and to re-assess institutional arrangements for bringing out Government publications, advertisements and media products.

IV. Any other item that the Planning Commission or the Steering Group, deems necessary to be included for making the recommendations useful.

V. The Steering Group may set up Working Groups to go into specific sectors or issues for detailed information gathering and analysis. The Chairman of the Steering Group may coopt any person whose knowledge or expertise is considered to be useful to the Working Groups or the Steering Group and may invite any such person to specific meetings.

VI. The non-official members of the Committee will be paid TA / DA by Planning Commission as per SR 190 ( a ) for attending meetings of the Committee.

VII. The Steering Committee shall submit its report by 30th April 2001.

Summary Record of First Meeting