Infrastructure plays an important role in the economic growth and development of a country. As India continues its journey for becoming a global economic powerhouse with the drive towards a developed nation, the need for development of sustainable infrastructure becomes increasingly paramount. The government's commitment is evident through its allocation of 3.3% of GDP to the infrastructure sector in the fiscal year 2024 and is expected to grow further in future years. Infrastructure development and its sustenance are essential not only for economic growth but also for the quality of life for its citizens. This can be achieved through embracement of technological developments, and integration of various infrastructure, their maintenance and efficiency in their services through proper institutional framework.
In this backdrop, the Engineering Congress is expected to focus on the development of infrastructure with a comprehensive approach. It is aimed to address multi-dimensional research activities in various fields of infrastructure and their applications in real life. As the nation continues to invest on the new infrastructure, it is essential to ensure that the research and investments are sustainable and beneficial to the society. At the same time, it is necessary to overcome the challenges and shortcomings that the infrastructure sector is facing in implementation. The Congress aims to bring together the bright minds from academia, industry and government sectors to share their knowledge and experiences, discuss challenges in implementation and brainstorm towards appropriate and innovative solutions for future research connecting the real-life applications.
The ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector in India has experienced significant growth over the past few decades, positioning India as a major player in the global tech industry. Here are some key aspects of the ICT sector in India:
Software Services: India is renowned for its software services industry, particularly in areas like software development, IT consulting, and outsourcing. Major Indian IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro are global leaders in providing these services.
IT Outsourcing: India has emerged as a hub for IT outsourcing, offering cost-effective solutions to companies worldwide. The country's large pool of skilled IT professionals, coupled with its English proficiency, has made it an attractive destination for outsourcing IT projects.
Digital Transformation: With the government's push for digital initiatives like Digital India, there has been a significant emphasis on digital transformation across various sectors including e-governance, healthcare, education, and finance. This has led to increased demand for ICT services and solutions.
Startup Ecosystem: India has witnessed a thriving startup ecosystem in the ICT sector, with startups focusing on areas such as fintech, e-commerce, healthtech, and edtech. Cities like Bangalore, often dubbed as the Silicon Valley of India, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have emerged as major startup hubs.
Mobile Technology: With the widespread adoption of smartphones and increasing internet penetration, mobile technology has become a key driver of growth in the ICT sector. India has a massive market for mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and digital content consumption.
Emerging Technologies: India is also making strides in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, IoT (Internet of Things), and cybersecurity. These technologies are increasingly being integrated into various industries to drive innovation and efficiency.
Setting up of 100 5G Labs across India is on the anvil which will create sustainable innovation and incubation centre for 5G use cases. Government of India has already published 6G Vision Document to design, develop and deploy 6G network technologies that provide ubiquitous, intelligent and secure connectivity for high quality living experience in the world.
Government of India has also cleared National Quantum Mission with more than 700 million USD outlay to improve Scientific and Industrial R&D. As a part of the Semiconductor Mission, Government of India has started creating Chip Manufacturing hub in the country in order to address the growing need in affordable and effective manner and to cater to the benefit of technology to the bottom of the pyramid in terms of e-Learning, e-Health, e-Farming etc.
Overall, the ICT sector in India continues to evolve rapidly, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and a conducive ecosystem for technology adoption and development. Many MNC IT Companies are also operating from India through their Global Capability Centres (GCC). The domestic GCC market is expected to reach 110 billion USD by 2030.