Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & IT, Government of India, while addressing the News18 Chaupal on Monday, said, “Today, India is being recognised as the highest AI talent concentration country”. He adds that the country has also chaired the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which is an initiative to advance human-centric and AI development. The minister reminded us that technological advancements should be utilised for the welfare of society. “Use the good elements of technology to change society and stop the bad ones through regulations”, he added.

While talking about the government’s initiatives to expand the IT industry in India, the minister said Digital India had been the talk of the town. He also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India. Launched in 2015, the Digital India programme is based on inclusivity and private-public partnership. 

While talking about India’s role in shaping the IT industry in the world, the minister replied that the country has already assumed the lead in every aspect, as our country is exporting close to 230 million dollars of business and has nearly 54 lakh people directly employed in the IT sector in the country. He also claimed that India is one of the top three start-up innovations in the world. 

When he was asked about the data protection laws in the country, the minister claimed that the bill would soon be moved to the parliament and used as a model for other countries. He added that the bill prioritises women’s empowerment, “she/her was used in the bill instead of he/him,” the minister said.

The minister, while talking more about the digital economy and the government’s part in it, mentioned that the centre had sanctioned nearly 40,000 crore rupees in the past two years in strengthening digital and telecom connectivity and enhancing all the villages and districts in the country. 

“Close to 380 towns and cities have been already connected to 5G, which was launched by PM Modi last October,” said the minister while commenting about PM’s vision for Digital Village. He added that more than 1 lakh 5G towers had been installed against a target of 40,000 by 31 march 2023. He also pinpointed that the significant difference between a city and a village with respect to the digital economy is slowly getting eradicated.