Steering Committee for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012).

Communications and Information

Dated 11th May 2006

In the context of preparation of Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) it has been decided to constitute a Steering Committee on Communication and Information covering Telecom, Information Technology (IT), Information and Broadcasting (I and B) and Postal Sectors to make recommendations on the various policy matters relevant to the formulation of the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

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

III. The Terms of Reference to the Steering Committee will be as follows:

Information Technology Sector

1. To review the existing policies and evolve an approach for the Information Technology sector for the Eleventh Plan, keeping in view the comparative advantage, strengths and weaknesses of the Indian electronics and IT industry, international scenario and the national goal of making India IT super power.
2. To examine the organizational structure under the department of IT and suggest measures to make it more relevant to the emerging needs.
3. To assess the impact of IT sector and suggest measures to improve use of IT for increasing productivity, bringing in socioeconomic development and services like e-medicine, e-education, e-entertainment etc., especially for the rural areas.
4. To put in place the basic policy framework for making India a major regional manufacturing hub for high-end electronics and IT hardware coupled with strong R and D.
5. To work out an Action Plan, including organisational structure for obtaining recognition of non formal courses being offered by DOEACC and to develop a mission mode project for continuous upgradation of knowledge and skills of teachers in electronics, computer science and engineering, IT and related disciplines through e-learning and instruction design for capacity building. 
6. Plan, assess and prepare a framework for manpower development by assessing the present and future needs of the industry including emerging areas. Also to identify gaps in existing skill sets in different ITES / BPO industries and suggest programmes for  bridging them through formal and non-formal modes.
7. To workout a roadmap for adopting digital signature regime with a view to facilitate secured transaction in all sectors on a Mission Mode basis and to work out an action Plan for capacity building in cyber security field.
8. To drive the National e-Governance Plan and workout modalities for providing web enabled e-Governance services coupled with creation of relevant content in Indian languages for wide scale application and use.

Telecommunication Sector

9. To evolve a strategy for telecom sector for the 11^th Plan with the basic objective of development of world class infrastructure for supporting accelerated growth of all sectors of the economy.
10. To make specific recommendations for improving and roll out of broadband rural connectivity which is affordable as well as self-financing.
11. To make recommendations on optimum utilization of scarce spectrum resource and examine the possibility of creation of a Spectrum Relocation Fund. Indicate likely source and quantum of resources so generated and guidelines for the operation of the fund.  The Pricing Policy would need to look at both the spectral efficiency and sectoral business viability. Also, suggest guidelines to encourage and incentivise introduction of spectrum efficient technologies.
12. To make recommendations on further restructuring/reforms required in the post-convergence scenario including availability of spectrum, expansion of broad band and promotion of R and D;
13. To make Policy recommendations for promotion of private sector investments including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the light of the experience gained so far;
14. To review the performance of telecom equipment manufacturing sector with identification of constraints and make recommendations for evolving an appropriate policy to promote indigenous manufacturing.
15. Any other issue of importance to policy formulation for the telecom sector including creation of a consolidated database.

Postal Sector

16. To evolve an approach on postal sector for the Eleventh Plan keeping in view the strengths/weaknesses of the sector; socio economic needs of the country; objectives of providing world class postal services at an affordable price; international commitments of the country at Universal Postal Union, WTO; and also make recommendations for making the Department of Posts a self sustaining organization by reforms/restructuring.
17. To make recommendations for the optimal utilization of the resources of the Postal Department through Public Private Partnership.
18. To computerize the post offices and networking, setting up of Data Center and providing world class facilities for all the postal and economic transactions.
19. To assess the impact of Private Industry on the operations of the Post Department and take remedial steps for providing better services to the public. 
20. To integrate information technology in promoting and facilitating e-commerce and process of certification.
21. To make recommendations on the optimum utilization of the land buildings and other physical infrastructure by commercial exploitation and to generate additional resources for the Department.

Information and Broadcasting Sector

22. To evolve an approach for formulation of Plans and programmes for the Information and Broadcasting sector during the 11^th Plan period, keeping in view the emerging trends in radio, television, non-electronic media and IT enabled media applications.
23. To recommend measures involving use of latest technology such as Direct to Home TV, Digital TV broadcasting, Web based TV to increase the reach of the transmission network including identification of legal issues and suggest policy framework.
24. To assess the total investments required in media infrastructure, including hardware and software, and to suggest measures to stimulate greater private investment in this sector.
25. To assess and identify gap in manpower requirement in existing areas of technology as well as manpower requirements for the new areas of Technology including, Multimedia and animation for digital film production.
26. To review existing schemes in this sector and suggest the type of schemes that needs to be retained/included for the Eleventh Plan period.

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 Committee may set up Working Groups to go into specific sectors or issues for detailed information gathering and analysis.  The Chairman of the Steering Committee may co-opt any person whose knowledge or expertise is considered to be useful to the Working Groups or the Steering Committee and may invite any such person to any specific meeting(s).

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.   Adviser(C and I), Planning Commission would be the coordinating Officer in the Commission for the work relating to the Steering Committee and may be contacted at:

Dr C. Muralikrishna Kumar, Adviser (C and I)
Room No 217, Yojana Bhawan, Parliament Street
New Delhi 110001
Telefax- 011-23096607

VIII.   The Steering Committee shall submit its report by 30^th September 2006.