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Working Group for the formulation of Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).

Information Technology Sector

Dated 23th April 2001

Composition:

Terms of Reference:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. To estimate the investments required to be made in the public and private sector during the Tenth Five Year Plan.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. To examine the problems / constraints facing the growth of hardware sector in the country and make recommendations regarding policy changes / new initiatives that need to be undertaken to ensure optimum growth.
8. To assess the role and impact of telecommunications and IT on other sectors of the economy especially in the context of the objectives of socio-economic development.
9. To examine the constraints on development and application of IT in various sectors, suggest measures to promote faster use of IT including identifying the "killer" or lead application in each sector and to suggest the role of Government in achieving progressive IT application.
10. To critically evaluate the impact of IT and IT enabled services on the employment scenario and determine the employment potential of IT and IT enabled services in various segments of the economy and to recommend measures and strategies for ensuring optimum growth of job opportunities in consonance with attainment of other objectives.
11. Any other item that the Working Group deems necessary to be included for making the recommendations useful.

The Working Group may set up Sub Groups to go into specific issues / areas in the sector and or for detailed information gathering and analysis. The Chairman of the Working Group may co-opt any person whose knowledge or expertise is considered to be useful to the Working Groups or the Sub Group and may invite any such person to specific meetings.

The representatives of various Ministries / Departments on the Working Group should not be below the level of Joint Secretary.

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

The Group may hold joint meetings with the Working Group on Convergence and E-Governance as and when required.

Shri Nirmal Singh, Director, C and I Division, Planning Commission would be the Coordinating Officer for the work relating to the Group and may be contacted at:
Room No.252, Yojana Bhavan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001. Tel. No.: 3718401 ; 3715481 / 2286
Fax No. : 3717681. E-mail : nirmal@yojna.nic.in

The Group shall submit its report by 30^th June, 2001.