Courtesy: National Informatics Centre
Compared to many countries India’s digital initiatives to monitor and control the impact of COVID19 have been surprisingly successful and swift. Creating and implementing the deep IT infrastructure necessary for this success is the National Informatics Centre (NIC) - the government’s pan-India, digital backbone.
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Under the ‘Artemis Accords’ the U.S. is planning an international coalition to extract natural resources from the Moon. China is concurrently planning an Earth-Moon Special Economic Zone. India’s antiquated endorsement of the 1979 Moon Agreement is shackling its true potential for economics-driven space exploration. India must immediately do away with Cold-War era, vintage whims of global commons.
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The COVID19-caused migration of India’s large workforce to their rural roots holds immense promise for the country’s agriculture productivity and farmer incomes. Precision agritech and satellite-as-a-service (SAAS) can reduce the urban-rural skill, remuneration, and digital divide. Time to privatize space technology for agricultural benefit.
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The post-COVID19 environment may entail austerity measures for the armed forces. India’s most technology-savvy force, the Indian Navy, can lead a transformation by accelerating Artificial Intelligence applications, and keeping budgets tight through collaborations with industry.
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COVID-19 and remote working have resulted in a surge in demand for digital intermediaries, such as Zoom. Most of these are U.S.-based, with some having servers in China, which has aggravated privacy concerns. IT companies have responded quickly by fortifying themselves internally through a range of measures, but it is now time for India’s highly accomplished tech industry to devise secure, scalable platforms with India-based servers
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Indigenous development of key Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure is critical to scaling up the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the armed forces. Home-grown cloud technology, like National Cloud Meghraj, can help in this transformation while also meeting India’s cyber-physical security demands for data exchange and data localisation
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The pandemic has highlighted the positive role of 3D-printing technology. Identifying this potential, and seeking to insert India into the new global value chains, the Ministry of Electronics, IT & Technology has announced a National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing. It will address the lacunae in the country's additive manufacturing ecosystem, including physical hardware like printers, software, materials and service providers.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deficiencies of India’s precision instrument import-dependency and the global supply-chain vulnerabilities of international high-tech manufacturing giants. New Delhi can incentivise such companies to manufacture under the Make in India and Assemble for the World in India programmes
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India has responded swiftly to contain the spread of the Corona Virus Disease. The government’s prompt and well-coordinated response, including in the diplomatic realm, shows direction from the highest political leadership. Yet, there is no room for complacency or slackening of vigilance
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India’s expansion of its capability in Artificial Intelligence (AI) depends on how eclectically it can bring together indigenous philosophies and the natural sciences, the bedrock of AI. India’s philosophical riches and its unique approach to the natural sciences can enrich global comprehension not only of natural and artificial intelligence, but also the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence