Ict Scenario In India

1 ICT SCENARIO IN INDIA Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is bringing rapid and challenging changes for India. The issues of “digital divide”, “spectrum allocation”, “security concerns”, “defence force requirements”, “law enforcement requirements”, “wireless networks vulnerability”, etc are posing a herculean task before the Government of India to provide the maximum benefits to the stake holders. The lack of sound ICT Strategies and Policies in India is the main cause of these troubles. We cannot solve these issues by piecemeal actions and half hearted efforts. Our efforts must not only be “holistic” but must also be “dedicated” towards the larger interest of India. It may sound alarming but ICT Emergency in India 1 may engulf our ICT Superpower status in the near future. The ICT Strategy of India Needs Rejuvenation 2 and Reforms 3 The concerns 4 regarding lack of cyber security and cyber forensics capabilities keep on surfacing now and then. The Government is equally vocal regarding the adequacies of these capabilities. The fact remains that Cyber Security Strategy of India 5 is not upto the mark. The Cyber Security Trends by PTLB-2007 6 have already proven the inadequacies of the cyber security and cyber forensics expertise in India. The end result of a continued indifference towards these crucial requirements is that issues like Crisis Management Against Terrorism in India 7 , Offensive Cyberspace capabilities 8 , Critical ICT Infrastructure Protection and Management in India 9 , etc have not yet become part of the legal systems of India and national policies. Further, some of the issues like Data Protection Law in India 10 , Digital Preservation in India 11 , ICT and Cyber Security Rights Perspective 12 , etc have not yet become a part of the legal framework for the information society in India. Even the Legal Enablement of ICT Systems in India 13 has not yet taken place effectively despite India having a good National E-Governance Plan (NEGP). The use of ICT in Judicial System of India 14 has not yet fully integrated into the Indian courts. The Prerequisites for E-Courts in India 15 mandates not only a pro-active but also holistic application of ICT for judicial © Praveen Dalal and B.S.Dalal. All rights reserved with the authors. Managing Partner and Senior Partner of Perry4law (First Techno-Legal ICT Firm, Delhi, India). Contact at: [email protected]/ [email protected] Telephone: 9313932767. 1

http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/04/ict-emergency-in-india.html http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN029840.pdf 3 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/05/ict-strategy-of-india-needs.html 4 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/09/cyber-law-and-cyber-security-show-must.html 5 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/07/cyber-security-strategy-of-india.html 6 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/12/cyber-security-trends-by-ptlb-2007.html 7 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/09/crisis-management-against-terrorism-in.html 8 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/09/offensive-cyberspace-capabilities-is.html 9 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/01/critical-ict-infrastructure-protection_26.html 10 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/09/data-protection-law-in-india.html 11 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/03/digital-preservation-in-india-ipr.html 12 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/09/ict-and-cyber-security-in-india-rights.html 13 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/12/legal-enablement-of-ict-systems-in.html 14 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/01/ict-and-judicial-system-in-india.html 15 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/06/e-courts-in-india-prerequisites.html 2

2 functioning in India. Equally important issues are adoption of alternative methods of dispute resolution in an online environment. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Mechanism must also be established so that the disputes can be amicably settled out of the court through use of ICT. The ICT Strategy of India must consider the ODR Perspective 16 as well. Similarly, the business community must also keep in mind the advantages and disadvantages of use of ICT. 17 The Cyber Insurance Business and Data Loss Covers in India is both a business and necessity for Indian business entities. 18 The Leadership Development Initiatives and a Political will to achieve the desired results are the Need of the Hour 19 . All the suggestions and ideas are useless till the action is taken at the National level through incorporating the same in the National Policies and Strategies. SOURCE: http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/10/ict-scenario-in-india.html

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http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN029839.pdf http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/08/indian-business-environment-some.html 18 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/01/cyber-insurance-business-and-data-loss.html 19 http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2007/05/leadership-development-initiatives-need.html 17