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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: pd37@rediffmail.com/ perry4law@yahoo.com
Telephone: 9313932767.
1
http://reclaiming-india.blogspot.com/2008/04/ict-emergency-in-india.html
2
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
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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

16
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN029839.pdf
17
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