information technology in india essay pdf

Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation

With more than half a billion internet subscribers, India is one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for digital consumers, but adoption is uneven among businesses. As digital capabilities improve and connectivity becomes omnipresent, technology is poised to quickly and radically change nearly every sector of India’s economy. That is likely to both create significant economic value and change the nature of work for tens of millions of Indians.

In Digital India: Technology to transform a connected nation (PDF–3MB), the McKinsey Global Institute highlights the rapid spread of digital technologies and their potential value to the Indian economy by 2025 if government and the private sector work together to create new digital ecosystems.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

India's consumers are taking a digital leap, uneven adoption among india's businesses has opened a digital gap, measuring the potential economic impact of digital applications in 2025, building digital ecosystems that connect, automate, and analyze, what are the implications for companies, policy makers, and individuals.

By many measures, India is well on its way to becoming a digitally advanced country. Propelled by the falling cost and rising availability of smartphones and high-speed connectivity, India is already home to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing bases of digital consumers and is digitizing faster than many mature and emerging economies.

India had 560 million internet subscribers in September 2018, second only to China. Digital services are growing in parallel (Exhibit 1). Indians download more apps—12.3 billion in 2018—than any country except China and spend more time on social media—an average of 17 hours a week —than social media users in China and the United States. The share of Indian adults with at least one digital financial account has more than doubled since 2011, to 80 percent , thanks in large part to the government’s mass financial-inclusion program, Jan-Dhan Yojana.

To put this digital growth in context, we analyzed 17 mature and emerging economies across 30 dimensions of digital adoption since 2014 and found that India is digitizing faster than all but one other country in the study, Indonesia. Our Country Digital Adoption Index covers three elements: digital foundation (cost, speed, and reliability of internet service); digital reach (number of mobile devices, app downloads, and data consumption), and digital value, (how much consumers engage online by chatting, tweeting, shopping, or streaming). India’s score rose by 90 percent since 2014 (Exhibit 2). In absolute terms, its score is low—32 on a scale of 100—so there remains ample room to grow.

Public- and private-sector actions have driven digital growth so far

The public sector has been a strong catalyst for India’s rapid digitization. The government’s efforts to ramp up Aadhaar, the national biometric digital identity program, has played a major role. Aadhaar has enrolled 1.2 billion people since it was introduced in 2009, making it the single largest digital ID program in the world, hastening the spread of other digital services. For example, almost 870 million bank accounts were linked to Aadhaar by February 2018, compared with 399 million in April 2017 and 56 million in January 2014. Likewise, the Goods and Services Tax Network, established in 2013, brings all transactions of about 10.3 million indirect tax-paying businesses onto one digital platform, creating a powerful incentive for businesses to digitize their operations.

At the same time, private sector innovation has helped bring internet-enabled services to millions of consumers and made online usage more accessible. For example, Reliance Jio’s strategy of bundling virtually free smartphones with mobile-service subscriptions has spurred innovation and competitive pricing. Data costs have plummeted by more than 95 percent since 2013 and fixed-line download speeds quadrupled between 2014 and 2017. As a result, mobile data consumption per user grew by 152 percent annually—more than twice the rates in the United States and China (Exhibit 3).

Global and local digital businesses have recognized the opportunity in India and are creating services tailored to its consumers and unique operating conditions. Media companies are making content available in India’s 22 official languages, for example. And by tailoring its mobile payments and commerce platform to India’s market, Alibaba-backed Paytm has registered more than 100 million electronic “Know Your Customer”-compliant mobile wallet users and nine million merchants .

The pace of growth is helping India’s poorer states to narrow the digital gap with wealthier states. Lower-income states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand are expanding internet infrastructure such as base tower stations and increasing the penetration of internet services to new customers faster than wealthier states. Uttar Pradesh alone added close to 36 million internet subscribers between 2014 and 2018. Ordinary Indians in many parts of the country—including small towns and rural areas—can now read the news online, order food delivery via a phone app, video chat with a friend (Indians log 50 million video-calling minutes a day on WhatsApp), shop at a virtual retailer, send money to a family member using their phone, or watch a movie streamed to a handheld device.

Despite these advances, India has plenty of room to grow. Only about 40 percent of the populace has an internet subscription. While many people have digital bank accounts, 90 percent of all retail transactions in India, by volume, are still made with cash. E-commerce revenue is growing by more than 25 to 30 percent per year, yet only 5 percent of trade in India is done online, compared with 15 percent in China in 2015. Looking ahead, India’s digital consumers are poised for robust growth.

We surveyed more than 600 large and small companies in India to gauge the level of digitization in various sectors as well as the underlying traits, activities, and mind-sets that drive digitization at the firm level. We used each company’s answers to score its level of digitization and then ranked them in the MGI India Firm Digitization Index. Companies in the top quartile, which we characterize as digital leaders, had an average score of 58.2 (relative to a maximum potential value of 100), while those in the bottom quartile, the digital laggards, averaged 33.2. The median score was 46.2. A higher score indicates that the company is using digital in its day-to-day operations more extensively (implementing CRM systems, accepting digital modes of payments, etc.) and in a more organized manner (having separate analytics team, centralized digital organization, etc.) than the ones with lower scores.

Our survey found that, on average, leaders outscored others by 70 percent on strategy, 40 percent on organization, and 31 percent on capabilities (Exhibit 4).

Differences within sectors are higher than those across sectors. While some sectors have more digital leaders than others, top-quartile companies are found in all sectors—even those considered resistant to technology, such as farming or construction. Conversely, sectors with more leaders, such as information and communication technology, still have companies in the bottom quartile.

However, India’s digital leaders generally do share common traits in terms of the following areas:

• Digital strategy: Leaders are 30 percent more likely than bottom-quartile companies to fully integrate digital and global strategies and 2.3 times more likely to sell on e-commerce platforms. Leaders are 3.5 times more likely to say digital disruptions led them to change core operations and 40 percent more likely to say digital is a top priority for investment.
• Digital organization: Leaders are 14.5 times more likely than bottom-quartile companies to centralize digital management, and five times more likely to have a stand-alone, properly staffed analytics team. Top-quartile firms are also 70 percent more likely than bottom-quartile firms to say their CEO is “supportive and directly engaged” in digital initiatives.
• Digital capabilities: Leaders are 2.6 times more likely than bottom-quartile firms to use digital tools to manage customer relationships and 2.5 times more likely to use digital tools to coordinate the management of their core business operations.

The gap between digital leaders and other firms is not insurmountable. In some cases, even when the gap is large, lagging companies may be able to begin closing it by digitizing in small, relatively simple ways. Social media marketing is a good example. While bottom-quartile firms are much less likely than leaders to use social media, e-commerce, or listing platforms, each of these channels is cheap and easily accessible and there is little to stop a business owner with a high-speed internet connection and a smartphone from taking advantage of them.

For now, large companies (defined in our survey as having revenue greater than 5 billion rupees, or about $70 million) are more likely to have the financial resources and expertise needed to invest in some advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. But growing high-speed internet connectivity and falling data costs may soon make some of these technologies available to small-business owners and even sole proprietors.

Indeed, our survey found small businesses are ahead of big companies in terms of accepting digital payments: 94 percent accept payment by debit or credit card, compared with only 79 percent of big companies; for digital wallets the difference was 78 percent versus 49 percent.

Our survey found 70 percent of small businesses use their own websites to reach clients, compared with 82 percent of big companies. Small businesses are less likely than big companies to buy display ads on the web (37 percent versus 66 percent), but they are ahead of big companies in connecting with customers via social media, and more likely to use search-engine optimization. More than 60 percent of the small firms surveyed use LinkedIn to hire talent, and about half believe that most of their employees today need basic digital skills. While only 51 percent of smaller firms said they “extensively” sell goods and services on their websites (compared with 73 percent of big businesses), small businesses use e-commerce platforms and other digital sales channels just as much as large firms and are equally likely to receive orders through digital means like WhatsApp.

Companies that innovate and digitize rapidly will be better placed to take advantage of India’s large, connected market, which could include up to 700 million smartphone users and 840 million internet users by 2023. In the context of rapidly improving technology and falling data costs, technology-enabled business models could become pervasive over the next decade. That will likely create significant economic value.

We consider economic impact in three broad areas. First are core digital sectors, such as IT-BPM, digital communications, and electronics manufacturing. Second are newly digitizing sectors such as financial services, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, which are not traditionally considered part of India’s digital economy but have the potential to rapidly adopt new technologies. Third are government services and labor markets, which can use digital technologies in new ways.

Core digital sectors could double their GDP contribution by 2025

India’s core digital sectors accounted for about $170 billion—or 7 percent—of GDP in 2017–18. This comprises value added from core digital sectors: $115 billion from IT-BPM, $45 billion from digital communications, and $10 billion from electronics manufacturing. Based on industry revenue, cost structures, and growth trends, we estimate these sectors could grow significantly faster than GDP: value-added contribution in 2025 could range from $205 billion to $250 billion for IT-BPM, from $100 billion to $130 billion for electronics manufacturing, and $50 billion to $55 billion for digital communications. The total, between $355 billion and $435 billion, may account for 8 to 10 percent of India’s 2025 GDP.

Newly digitizing sectors are already creating added value

Alongside these already digitized sectors, India stands to create more value if it can nurture new and emerging digital ecosystems in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, and logistics. The benefits of digital applications in each of these newly digitizing sectors are already visible. For example, in logistics, tracking vehicles in real time has enabled shippers to reduce fleet turnaround time by 50 to 70 percent . Similarly, digitized supply chains help companies reduce their inventory by up to 20 percent. Farmers can cut the cost of growing crops by 15 to 20 percent using data on soil conditions that enables them to minimize the use of fertilizers and other inputs.

Digital can improve government services and the efficiency of India’s job market

Digital technologies can also create significant value in areas such as government services and the job market. Moving government subsidy transfers, procurement, and other transactions online can enhance public-sector efficiency and productivity, while creating online labor marketplaces could considerably improve the efficiency of India’s fragmented and largely informal job market.

To unlock this value will require widespread adoption and implementation. The economic value will be proportionate to the extent digital applications permeate production processes, from supply chains to delivery channels. Our estimates of potential economic value depend on each sector’s digital adoption rate by 2025; where the readiness of India’s firms and government agencies is low and significant effort will be required to catalyze broad-based digitization, adoption may be low, between 20 to 40 percent of the potential. Where private-sector readiness is high and government policy already supports large-scale digitization, adoption could be as high as 60 to 80 percent.

In all, we estimate that India’s newly digitizing sectors have the potential to create sizable economic value by 2025: from $130 billion to $170 billion in financial services, including digital payments; $50 billion to $65 billion in agriculture; $25 billion to $35 billion each in retail and e-commerce, logistics and transportation; and $10 billion in energy and healthcare (Exhibit 5). Digitizing more government services and benefit transfers could yield economic value of $20 billion to $40 billion, while digital skill-training and job-market platforms could yield up to $70 billion. While these ranges underscore large potential value, realization of this value is not guaranteed: losing momentum on government policies that enable the digital economy would mean India could realize less than half of the potential value by 2025.

Digital can create jobs but will require new skills and some labor redeployment

Changes brought by digital adoption will disrupt India’s labor force as well as its industries. We estimate that as many as 60 million to 65 million new jobs could be created from the direct and indirect impact of productivity-boosting digital applications. These jobs could be enabled in industries as diverse as construction and manufacturing, agriculture, trade and hotels, IT-BPM, finance, media and telecom, and transport and logistics.

However, some work will be automated or rendered obsolete. We estimate that all or parts of 40 million to 45 million existing jobs could be affected by 2025. These include data-entry operators, bank tellers, clerks, and insurance claims- and policy-processing staff. Millions of people who currently hold these positions will need to be retrained and redeployed.

Jobs of the future will be more skill-intensive. Along with rising demand for skills in emerging digital technologies (such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and 3-D printing), demand for higher cognitive, social, and emotional skills , such as creativity, unstructured problem solving, teamwork, and communication, will also increase. These are skills that machines, for now, are unable to master. As the technology evolves and develops, individuals will need to constantly learn and relearn marketable skills throughout their lifetime. India will need to create affordable and effective education and training programs at scale, not just for new job market entrants but also for midcareer workers.

To capture the potential economic value that we size at a macro level, businesses will need to deliver digital technologies at a micro level: that is, how they use digital technologies to fundamentally alter day-to-day activities.

Three digital forces will drive these shifts: One is the greater ease with which people can connect, collaborate, transact, and share information; another is the opportunity for companies to increase productivity by automating routine tasks; the third is the greater ease with which organizations can analyze data to make insights and improve decision making.

The interplay of these forces will create new data ecosystems, which in turn will spur new products, services, and channels in virtually every business sector, and create economic value for consumers as well as those members of the ecosystem that best adapt their business models.

To highlight the kinds of business model changes that companies should predict and prepare for, we examine how this connect-automate-analyze trio can play out across four sectors: agriculture, healthcare, retail, and logistics.

Digital agriculture

India’s farms are small, averaging a little more than one hectare in size, with yields ranging from 50 to 90 percent of those in Brazil, China, and other developing economies. Many factors contribute to this. Indian farmers have a dearth of farm machinery and relatively little data on soil, weather, and other variables. Poor storage and logistics allows produce to go to waste before reaching consumers— $15 billion worth in 2013.

Digital technology can alter this ecosystem in several ways. Precision advisory services—using real-time granular data to optimize inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides—can increase yields by 15 percent or more. After harvest, farmers could use online marketplaces to transact with a larger pool of potential buyers. One such platform, the government’s electronic National Agriculture Market, has helped farmers increase revenue by up to 15 percent . Furthermore, online banking can provide the financial data farmers need to qualify for cheaper bank credit. Digital land records can make crop insurance more available. These and other digital innovations in Indian agriculture can help add $50 billion to $65 billion of economic value by 2025.

Digital healthcare

India has too few doctors, not enough hospital beds, and a low share of state spending on healthcare relative to GDP. While life expectancy has risen to 68.3 years from 37 in 1951, the country still ranks 125th among all nations on this parameter. Indian women are three times as likely to die in childbirth as women in Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa—and ten times as likely as women in the United States.

Digital solutions can help alleviate the shortage of medical professionals by making doctors and nurses more productive. Telemedicine, for example, enables doctors to consult with patients over a digital voice or video link rather in person; this could allow them to see more patients overall and permit doctors in cities to serve patients in rural areas. Telemedicine could also be more cost effective: in trials and pilots, it cut consultation costs by about 30 percent. If telemedicine replaced 30 to 40 percent of in-person outpatient consultations, coupled with digitization in overall healthcare industry, India could save up to $10 billion in 2025.

Digital retail

More than 80 percent of all retail outlets in India—most of them sole proprietors or mom-and-pop shops—operate in the cash-driven informal economy. These businesses do not generate the financial records needed to apply for bank loans, limiting their growth potential. Large retailers have their own sets of challenges. Their reliance on manual store operations and high inventory levels is capital heavy. In many cases, their marketing practices are ineffective, and their prices are static regardless of inventory or demand.

Digital solutions could reshape much of the sector. E-commerce enables retailers to expand without capital-intensive physical stores. Some do not even bother with their own website, relying instead on third-party sites such as Amazon, which offer large, ready pools of shoppers along with logistics, inventory, and payment services, and customer data analytics. E-commerce creates financial records that attest to the creditworthiness of both buyers and sellers, making it cheaper to borrow. Digital marketing can inexpensively engage customers and build brand loyalty. We estimate e-commerce in India will grow faster than sales at brick-and-mortar outlets, allowing digital retail to increase its share of trade from 5 percent now to about 15 percent by 2025.

Digital logistics

India’s economy has grown by at least 6.5 percent annually for the last 20 years. Continuing at that pace of growth would challenge India’s logistics network, which already suffers from a fragmented trucking industry, inadequate railways infrastructure, and a shortage of warehousing. India spends about 14 percent of GDP on logistics, compared with 8 percent in the United States, according to McKinsey estimates.

Digital technology can disrupt even this traditional, physical sector. The government is creating a transactional e-marketplace, the National Logistics Platform , to connect shipping agencies, inland container depots, port authorities, banks, insurers, customs officials, and railways managers. By letting stakeholders share information and coordinate plans, the platform may speed up deliveries, reduce inventory requirements, and smooth order processing. At the same time, private firms are using digital technologies to streamline operations by moving freight booking online, automating customer service, installing tracking devices to monitor cargo movements, using real-time weather and traffic data to map efficient routes, and equipping trucks with internet-linked sensors to alert dispatchers when a vehicle needs servicing. According to McKinsey estimates, digital interventions that result in higher system efficiency and better asset utilization can reduce logistics cost by 15 to 25 percent.

For India to reap the full benefits of digitization—and minimize the pain of transitioning to a digital economy—business leaders, government officials, and individual citizens will need to play distinct roles while also working together.

Business leaders will need to assess how and where digital may disrupt their company and industry and set priorities for how to adapt. Potential disruptions and benefits may be particularly large in India because of its scale, the rapid pace of digitization, and its relatively low productivity in many sectors. To benefit from these changes, companies need to act quickly and decisively to both adapt existing business models and to digitize internal operations. In this context, four imperatives stand out.

First, companies will need to take smart risks as they adapt current business models and adopt new, disruptive ones. Only 46 percent of Indian companies in our survey have an organization-wide plan to change their core operations to react to large-scale disruption.

Second, digital should be front of mind as executives plan. Customers are more digitally literate and have come to expect the convenience and speed of digital, whether shopping online or questioning a bill, but many companies have not reacted. In our survey, 80 percent of firms cite digital as a “top priority,” but only 41 percent say their digital strategy is fully integrated with their overall strategy.

Indian companies will need to invest in building digital capabilities, especially hiring people with the skills needed to start and accelerate a digital transformation.

Third, Indian companies will need to invest in building digital capabilities, especially hiring people with the skills needed to start and accelerate a digital transformation. That is challenging because many of India’s most talented workers emigrate. Companies could work with universities to recruit and develop skilled workers, beginning with digital natives who are currently in universities or have recently finished their studies. Companies also need to build deeper technology understanding and capabilities at all levels, including in the C-suite.

Finally, firms will need to be agile and think of themselves as digital-first organizations. This may need a new attitude that starts with a “test and learn” mind-set that encourages rapid iteration and has a high tolerance for failure and redeployment.

India’s government has done much to encourage digital progress, from rationalizing regulations to improving infrastructure to launching Digital India, an ambitious initiative to double the size of the country’s digital economy. However, much needs to be done for India to realize its full potential.

National and state governments can help by partnering with the private sector to drive digitization, starting by putting the technology at the core of their operations. This helps by providing a market for digital solutions, which generates revenue for providers, encourages digital start-ups, and gives individuals more reasons to go online—whether to receive a cooking-gas subsidy, register a property purchase, or access any other government service.

Governments also can help by creating and administering public data sources that entrepreneurs can use to improve existing products and services and create new ones; by fostering a regulatory environment that supports digital adoption and protects citizens’ privacy; and by facilitating the evolution of labor markets in industries disrupted by automation.

Individuals

Individual Indians are already reaping the benefits of digitization as consumers, but they will need to be cognizant that its disruptive powers can affect their lives and work in other fundamental ways. For example, they will need to be aware of how digitally driven automation may change their work and what skills they will need to thrive in the future. Individuals will also need to become stewards of their personal data and skeptical consumers of information.

While India’s public and private sectors have propelled the country into the forefront of the world’s consumers of internet and digital applications over the past few years, its digitization story is far from over.

Navigating the emerging digital landscape will not be easy, but it is one of the golden keys to India’s future growth and prosperity. Unlocking the opportunities will be a challenge for the government, for businesses large and small, and for individual Indians, and there will be pain along with gains. But if India can accelerate its digital growth trajectory, the rewards will be palpable to millions of businesses and hundreds of millions of its citizens.

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Science and Technology in India, Progress, Achievements, and Concerns

Science and technology have played a pivotal role in shaping India's modern identity and driving its socio-economic development. Know all Achievements Science and Technology in India.

Table of Contents

Science and technology have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s modern identity and driving its socio-economic development. With a rich history dating back centuries, India has made significant strides in recent years, positioning itself as a global player in the field of science and technology.

Science and Technology in India

Science and technology have significantly influenced India’s development. With a rich historical legacy, India has made remarkable strides in recent times. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has gained global acclaim with missions to the moon and Mars, while the IT and pharmaceutical sectors are thriving. These advancements have driven economic growth, improved healthcare, and strengthened the agricultural sector. However, India must address funding, education, and digital access disparities to maintain this momentum and ensure technology benefits all.

History of science and technology in India

India’s history of science and technology is a tapestry of remarkable accomplishments spanning millennia. Ancient Indian mathematicians blazed a trail with the invention of the decimal system and the concept of zero, while astronomers made precise celestial observations. The “Sushruta Samhita” demonstrated advanced surgical knowledge, and India’s metallurgical expertise was renowned. The medieval period witnessed architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal. British colonialism influenced the growth of modern scientific institutions.

Post-independence, India prioritized education and research, giving rise to institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Contemporary India excels in space exploration, IT, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, solidifying its global stature in science and technology. Science and technology have always been integral to Indian culture, with a rich tradition of natural philosophy. The Indian Renaissance, coinciding with the independence struggle, saw significant progress by Indian scientists. Post-independence, the government established robust S&T infrastructure, with the Department of Science and Technology playing a pivotal role.

Role of Science & Technology in India

The role of science and technology in India is pivotal, with significant contributions to the nation’s development and progress. This role can be understood through various dimensions:

Economic Growth

Science and technology play a critical role in driving economic growth. They underpin various industries, including information technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and manufacturing. India’s burgeoning software and IT services sector, in particular, has led to substantial foreign exchange earnings and job creation. The advancements in these industries have significantly contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and overall economic development.

Agricultural Transformation

Science and technology have been instrumental in transforming India’s agriculture sector. The Green Revolution, initiated in the mid-20th century, introduced high-yield crop varieties, modern irrigation techniques, and improved agricultural practices. These innovations increased agricultural productivity, ensuring food security for the growing population.

Healthcare Advancements

Technological advancements in the field of medicine have improved healthcare outcomes in India. Advanced medical equipment, telemedicine, and innovative treatment methods have enhanced the quality of healthcare services. India has also become a prominent player in pharmaceuticals, producing a wide range of affordable generic drugs and vaccines.

Education and Research

Science and technology have fostered a culture of innovation and research in India. The establishment of institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), and world-class research facilities has nurtured a new generation of scientists and engineers. These institutions have not only contributed to cutting-edge research but have also attracted international collaborations.

Space Exploration

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved significant milestones in space exploration. India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) in 2013 marked its entry into interplanetary space exploration. ISRO’s missions have contributed to advancements in communication, remote sensing, and global positioning systems, benefiting a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning.

Global Contributions

India has become a global contributor in science and technology. Its space missions and pharmaceutical industry have not only served domestic needs but have also had a global impact. India’s information technology sector provides crucial services to businesses and organizations around the world. The nation’s scientists and engineers are increasingly engaged in collaborative research projects with international partners, contributing to global scientific advancements.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Science and technology have fostered innovation and entrepreneurship. Start-ups in the technology, biotechnology, and clean energy sectors have gained prominence, attracting investments and generating job opportunities. India’s government and private sector actively support the growth of a vibrant start-up ecosystem.

Recent Developments of science and technology in India

India has a rich history of remarkable achievements in the field of science and technology, spanning from ancient innovations to modern breakthroughs. Here are some notable contributions:

Revolutionizing Agriculture

India’s Green Revolution, a monumental achievement, transformed the country’s agricultural landscape. Agro-scientists introduced high-yielding seeds, modern farming techniques, and improved irrigation practices. As a result, India became self-sufficient in food production, reducing reliance on foreign grain imports and ensuring food security.

Pioneering Satellite Communication

Under the visionary leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, India ventured into space technology. The successful launch of the Space Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) and the INSAT system in 1983 established India as a significant player in satellite communication. This achievement has had a profound impact on telecommunications, broadcasting, and weather forecasting.

Global Pharmaceutical Hub

India has earned its reputation as “the pharmacy of the world.” Government initiatives, including the establishment of Hindustan Antibiotics Limited and Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited, along with private sector contributions, have led to the production of affordable and effective drugs and vaccines with a global impact.

Indigenous Defence Advancements

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has been pivotal in developing indigenous defence systems, including advanced aircraft, weaponry, tanks, electronic warfare technologies, and missile systems. India’s successful nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 have reinforced national security and sovereignty.

Space Exploration Excellence

The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1969 marked a significant milestone. ISRO’s missions, including Chandrayaan (2008) and Mangalyaan (2014), have propelled India to the forefront of space exploration. India became the first nation to reach the orbit of Mars on its maiden attempt, expanding our knowledge of celestial bodies.

Global IT Dominance

The establishment of the Department of Electronics in 1970, coupled with the emergence of public sector companies like ECIL and CMC, challenged the dominance of global IT giants. Today, India stands as the world’s largest exporter of IT services, with companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) ranking among the top 10 IT firms globally, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic growth and technological prowess.

Achievements of India in Science and Technology

In the realm of space exploration, India has achieved notable milestones through the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). ISRO has successfully launched numerous satellites for communication, Earth observation, and navigation. The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), launched in 2013, marked a historic achievement, making India the fourth country in the world to reach Mars on its maiden attempt. Additionally, the Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched to explore the Moon, comprising an orbiter, lander, and rover.

Nuclear Technology

India has made significant strides in nuclear technology, developing capabilities for both civilian and military purposes. The Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 demonstrated India’s nuclear capabilities to the world. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have played pivotal roles in advancing nuclear science within the country.

Information Technology

India has established itself as a global IT hub, with companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro leading the industry. These companies have contributed to Silicon Valley and the global tech industry, while Indian engineers and entrepreneurs have made substantial contributions in the field of information technology.

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare

India is a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, producing a significant portion of the world’s generic drugs. Indian pharmaceutical companies have played a crucial role in the global fight against diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This contribution to healthcare has had a global impact.

Renewable Energy

India has made significant progress in the field of renewable energy, setting ambitious goals for solar and wind energy generation. The International Solar Alliance (ISA), initiated by India, promotes cooperation among countries in harnessing solar energy, contributing to sustainable development.

Biotechnology

In the field of biotechnology, India has made advancements through research institutions and companies. These advancements encompass genetic engineering, vaccine development, and crop improvement, making significant contributions to the global biotech sector.

Supercomputing

India’s indigenous supercomputer, Param, has been a valuable tool for scientific research and weather forecasting. It showcases India’s capabilities in high-performance computing.

Agriculture and Green Revolution

The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, led by scientists like Norman Borlaug, transformed agricultural practices in India. It significantly increased food production and played a crucial role in improving food security.

Space Research and Navigation

India’s space research extends to navigation with the launch of its regional satellite navigation system called NavIC. NavIC provides accurate positioning information services to users in India and neighboring regions, enhancing navigation capabilities.

Science and Innovation

Indian scientists and researchers have made substantial contributions to various scientific fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Their work has elevated India’s standing in the global scientific community and contributed to scientific knowledge worldwide.

Concerns in Science and Technology in India

India’s science and technology landscape faces several concerns that impact its growth and competitiveness:

• Funding Challenges: The level of investment in research and development in India is often insufficient to support cutting-edge scientific endeavors and technological innovations. Inadequate funding hampers the country’s ability to tackle critical challenges and compete globally.
• Educational Variability: Disparities in the quality of science and technology education across the country hinder the development of a skilled workforce. Education reform is needed to make curriculum more relevant and equip students with practical skills.
• Brain Drain: The emigration of highly skilled researchers and scientists to foreign countries in pursuit of better opportunities results in a substantial loss of expertise and innovation within India.
• Innovation Ecosystem: Establishing a thriving innovation ecosystem with support for startups and entrepreneurship remains a challenge. Translating research into commercially viable products or services can be difficult.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Inadequate infrastructure, including state-of-the-art research facilities, hinders scientific progress and innovation.

Way Forward

To bolster India’s science and technology sector, key measures are vital. Firstly, an increase in research and development funding is imperative, with a greater budget allocation to support innovative projects and cutting-edge scientific endeavors. Concurrently, a focus on education reform is essential, enhancing the quality of science and technology education with modernized curricula and practical skill development.

Mitigating the brain drain necessitates incentives to retain talented researchers and scientists while nurturing an innovation ecosystem through support for startups and streamlined regulations promotes the commercialization of research. Infrastructure development, including state-of-the-art research facilities, will facilitate scientific progress. These measures collectively position India to contribute significantly to global scientific advancements and ensure socio-economic development.

Science and Technology in India UPSC

Science and Technology is a significant subject within the Civil Services Examination. It’s evident from the numerous questions related to this subject that appear in both the UPSC Prelims and Mains. To assist IAS aspirants in their exam preparations, this article offers downloadable PDFs of UPSC notes on Science and Technology. In the UPSC Mains, Science and Technology form part of the GS III syllabus. Additionally, science subjects such as Botany, Chemistry, and Biology are among the optional subject choices for the IAS Mains exam. These scientific subjects offer the potential for high scores, but often, aspirants face challenges in balancing static and dynamic aspects while making notes, especially when dealing with contemporary issues from the news.

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Information and Communication Technologies in Education: A Framework for Transforming the Indian Education System through Smart Learning

• First Online: 07 June 2023

Cite this chapter

• Prama Chatterjee 7 ,
• Arnab Gantait 8 ,
• G. Anjaneya Swamy 9 &
• Babu George 10  

Part of the book series: Arts, Research, Innovation and Society ((ARIS))

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Literate and educationally advanced population is the primary characterizing feature of any developed nation. In this context, digital inclusion in education system is seen as a potent solution to the holistic growth of an education system, since it provides a comfortable learning environment that meets the demands of individual learners, and that of the society as a whole. Like many other governments around the world, the Government of India has also made strides in modernizing its education system by promoting Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based education. Educational institutions support this innovative technology-based education system, known as “Smart Learning”. The current chapter focuses on ICT’s required capabilities in establishing a digital environment and examines how ICT may upgrade education for next generation, while also being effective in smart learning. The study further emphasizes the opportunities and benefits of ICT in the education system, and throws light on a few important initiatives taken by the Indian Government and other organizations toward the holistic development of the Indian education system by bringing sophistication in the field of education. This work can be categorized as descriptive research. Researchers have chosen a qualitative method by reviewing and analyzing reports, research works, and other information sources pertaining to the topic. Thematic and Content Analyses are used to infer from the data acquired from various reports, reviews, and also from experts’ opinions. The challenges that pose impediments in the path of successful implementation of the ICT-based teaching-learning system in India are also dealt with. Findings of this study will provide guidance to educational policymakers as well as future researchers of the country.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to extend our special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Sangeetha. C. P. (Asst. Professor, Govt Arts College, Coimbatore, India); and Dr. Kuldeep Singh (Assistant Professor; GD Goenka University, Haryana, India) for their constant encouragement and support in completing this study.

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Chatterjee, P., Gantait, A., Swamy, G.A., George, B. (2023). Information and Communication Technologies in Education: A Framework for Transforming the Indian Education System through Smart Learning. In: Omrane, A., Patra, G., Datta, S. (eds) Digital Technologies for Smart Business, Economics and Education. Arts, Research, Innovation and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24101-7_16

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Essay on Information Technology in 400 Words

• Updated on  
• Apr 26, 2024

Essay on Information Technology: Information Technology is the study of computer systems and telecommunications for storing, retrieving, and transmitting information using the Internet. Today, we rely on information technology to collect and transfer data from and on the internet. Say goodbye to the conventional lifestyle and hello to the realm of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

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Also Read: Essay on Internet

Scientific discoveries have given birth to Information Technology (IT), which has revolutionized our way of living. Sudden developments in technology have given a boost to IT growth, which has changed the entire world. Students are taught online using smartboards, virtual meetings are conducted between countries to enhance diplomatic ties, online surveys are done to spread social awareness, e-commerce platforms are used for online shopping, etc.

Information Technology has made sharing and collecting information at our fingertips easier. We can learn new things with just a click. IT tools have enhanced global communication, through which we can foster economic cooperation and innovation. Almost every business in the world relies on Information Technology for growth and development. The addiction to information technology is thriving throughout the world.

Also Read: Essay on 5G Technology

• Everyday activities like texting, calling, and video chatting have made communication more efficient.
• E-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have become a source of online shopping.
• E-learning platforms have made education more accessible.
• The global economy has significantly improved.
• The healthcare sector has revolutionized with the introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHR) and telemedicine.
• Local businesses have expanded into global businesses. 
• Access to any information on the internet in real-time.

Also Read: Essay on Mobile Phone

Disadvantages

Apart from the above-mentioned advantages of Information Technology, there are some disadvantages also.

• Cybersecurity and data breaches are one of the most important issues.
• There is a digital divide in people having access to information technology.
• Our over-relying attitude towards the IT sector makes us vulnerable to technical glitches, system failures and cyber-attacks.
• Excessive use of electronic devices and exposure to screens contribute to health issues.
• Short lifecycles of electronic devices due to rapid changes in technological developments.
• Challenges like copyright infringement and intellectual property will rise because of ease in digital reproduction and distribution.
• Our traditional ways of entertainment have been transformed by online streaming platforms, where we can watch movies and play games online.

The modern world heavily relies on information technology. Indeed, it has fundamentally reshaped our way of living and working, but, we also need to strike a balance between its use and overuse. We must pay attention to the challenges it brings for a sustainable and equitable society.

Also Read: Essay on Technology

Paragraph on Information Technology

Also Read: Essay on Wonder of Science

Short Essay on Information Technology

Check out the short essay on information technology from below:

Also Read: I Love My India Essay: 100 and 500+ Words in English for School Students

Ans: Information technology is an indispensable part of our lives and has revolutionized the way we connect, work, and live. The IT sector involves the use of computers and electronic gadgets to store, transmit, and retrieve data. In recent year, there has been some rapid changes in the IT sector, which has transformed the world into a global village, where information can be exchanged in real-time across vast distances.

Ans: The IT sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. The IT sector includes IT services, e-commerce, the Internet, Software, and Hardware products. IT sector helps boost productivity and efficiency. Computer applications and digital systems have allowed people to perform multiple tasks at a faster rate. IT sector creates new opportunities for everyone; businesses, professionals, and consumers.

Ans: There are four basic concepts of the IT sector: Information security, business software development, computer technical support, and database and network management.

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Technology: essay on the growth of technology in india.

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Technology: Essay on the Growth of Technology In India!

Unless the technologies developed in the laboratories reach the actual users, commercial exploitation cannot take place, and the economy cannot benefit from the technologies. The executive agencies involved in the generation, adoption, adaptation, and dissemination of technology include the Departments of Science & Technology, Biotechnology, Atomic Energy, Electronics, Ocean Development and Space, as well as CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, etc.

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The government controls the import of technology through maintaining a national register of foreign collaborations and evolving schemes like technology of trading and technology (TAAS), and technology transfer advisory committee (TTAC), and technology transfer cell (TTC), etc.

To encourage the generation and use of indigenous technology, many fiscal and other incentives are granted by the government. Among steps taken for the transfer of technology for its absorption is the creation of institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendras of ICAR, extension centres and polytechnology centres of CSIR, rural technology-cum-training centres of NRDC, and community polytechnics and the Ministry of Human Resources.

The Department of Space occupies a unique place in that it generates its own technologies, adopts technologies developed by Indian industries and transfers spin-offs of advanced technologies, developed in space programmes, to industry.

The wide spectrum of technology and appli­cation areas covered under ISRO’s technology transfers include telecom­munications, computer systems (hardware and software), electronics, optics and opto-electronics, electrochemical systems, chemicals and poly­mers, and special materials. Antrix Corporation Ltd., the marketing division of ISRO has been exporting technology.

BARC has constituted a technology transfer group (TTG) for identification of the processes and prototypes developed in BARC which could be transferred to private or public sector undertakings. The broad subjects covered include environment and health; electrical, electronics and mechanical instruments; chemical and metallurgical processes; and radioactive applications.

For technology generation leading to self-reliance in electronic sector, the Department of Electronics constituted the technology devel­opment council (TDC), which has promoted several technology devel­opment programmes. The Department of Electronics has also undertaken the development of high technology linear accelerator machine for cancer therapy (LINAC) and has developed a workable prototype, the technology transfer of which is in progress.

The programmes of the Department of Ocean Development have resulted in the generation and absorption of new technologies related to the fields of Antarctic research, polymetallic nodules, and survey of living and non-living resources, development of coastal zone and islands, and marine instrumentation.

The Department of Biotechnology has created modern vaccines, therapeutic bioactive molecules, hybrid high yielding seeds, artificial seeds, tissue cultured propagules of agricultural, horticultural and forest plants, biofertilisers and biopesticides.

CSIR is another major source of technology transfer for a wide spectrum of industries. It not only offers technologies off the shelf but also develops specific technologies on sponsorship from the user industry.

Technology transfer from CSIR covers a wide gamut of application areas ranging from microelectronics to metallurgy, medicinal plants, industrial machinery, chemicals, microbiology, building materials, and food prod­ucts. Newer areas of technology transfer encompass development of new drugs, catalysts for petro-refining and petrochemicals, agrotechnologies.

However, Indian industry has for long been reluctant to adopt indigenous technology, preferring to import a proven technology even if obsolete. Industrialists in India take technology to be a one-time purchase, not a process. This attitude needs to change, and, of late, is changing. The private sector must put in more of its resources in research and development.

A gradual change is to be seen, however, for though liberalisation has eased the process of importing technology, the devalu­ation and convertibility of the rupee have also made such import more expensive. Indigenous technology may thus find a better local market.

Both firms and laboratories are discovering that it is worthwhile to be totally committed to a research project: while a company pays for the entire project, it gets exclusive use of the technology for a certain number of years after which the laboratory can sell the technology to other buyers. Indeed, the industrial production based on CSIR knowhow grew by around nine per cent, which was double the rate of growth of industrial sector per se, in 2000-2001.

The NRDC, a nodal technology transfer organisation in the country, has identified the constraints in commercialising indigenous technology, some of which are: lack of design and engineering facilities, a pre- production bottlenecking, lack of financial support, and lack of market data.

Now the NRDC and CSIR have evolved various strategies to get the private sector to use indigenously developed technologies. One is the equity scheme under which a firm gets ready-to-use technology if it gives an equity participation to the laboratory. Another is the profit-sharing scheme under which the laboratory gets a part of the savings generated by the company using its technology.

The setting up of marketing arms is also of help. If there is Antrix for ISRO, the NAL has set up NALTECH, and the Central Power Research Institute has decided on energy consultants and technologies. However, Indian businessmen might have to be provided with more incentives to adopt indigenous technologies.

The concept of sharing development costs has to be encouraged. It is only with more evidence of successful projects using indigenous technol­ogy that exports of such technology will increase.

The CSIR network, however, is doing some good work in exporting technologies. The IICT has contracted to transfer pesticide technology for the AIDS drug, AZT, and an anti-ulcer drug to Brazil, and other technologies to China and 9ther countries. A leading company in Holland has bought a hydro-dewaxing technology developed at the NCL. Collaborations with foreign firms are on the increase.

In order to tap the talent and cooperation of non-resident Indian experts, CSIR has two programmes, namely, Transfer of Knowledge/ Knowhow through Expatriate Indians (TOKTEN) and Interface with Non­resident Indians in Science and Technology (INRIST).

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to set up an engineering research centre (ERC), a business- oriented cell, at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Bengaluru. Basic research in artificial intelligence and robotics inevitably threw up several civilian applications which would be harnessed through the ERC.

In the context of an economy being steadily liberalised, the CSIR has taken some initiatives to reorient its programmes and realign priorities to meet industry’s demands. To optimise on the development of scarce resources, the government directed institutions to incorporate zero base budgeting (ZBB) as an integral part of the budgeting process, from the financial year 2000-2001.

A CSIR task force was constituted. The task force reviewed the ongoing and new Plan schemes of CSIR and recommended that, the scheme ‘national laboratories’ being the major component of the CSIR Plan, detailed exercise of formulation of the programmes/projects/activities in the national laboratories be done by applying ZBB.

Further, CSIR has filed several patents, both in India and abroad, and exploiting these is bound to be commercially lucrative. For the first time in the history of CSIR, foreign patent filing outstripped the Indian patent filing in 2000-2001.

The foreign patent filing was 452 (199 in 1999- 2000) and Indian patent filing was 410 (up from 377) besides 25 copyrights for software and 16 trademarks being obtained indicating the emergence of CSIR in the domains of other forms of industrial property as well.

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