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India Mobile Congress ‘Digital Inclusivity’ and ‘Sustainable Development’
TOPIC: General Studies 3
- Technology
In News: India’s largest digital technology event and the biggest international tech conference in South Asia
- The theme for IMC 2020 is “Inclusive Innovation – Smart, Secure, Sustainable”.
- Organised by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)
- Considered the largest Digital Technology Forum in Asia, IMC has established itself as a leading platform for bringing together the industry, Government, academia, and other ecosystem players to discuss, deliberate and display the latest industry technology trends around major themes such as SG, Artificial Intelligence (Al), Internet of things (loT), Data Analytics, Cloud and Edge Computing, Open source tech, data privacy and cyber security, Smart Cities and automation.
Objectives:
- Align to the Prime Minister’s vision to promote ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital Inclusivity’, and ‘Sustainable development, entrepreneurship & innovation’.
- Drive foreign and local investments, encourage R&D in the telecom and emerging technology sectors.
The Virtual Event presented interesting sessions on Sustainable, Secure and Inclusive tech; 5G, AI and Next Gen innovation wave, smart devices of the future, among others.
In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister emphasized on India’s digital technology push and stated that the nation is emerging as the most preferred place for mobile manufacturing.
Key points made
- Due to technological upgradation, we have a culture of replacing handsets and gadgets frequently. The delegates need to ponder whether the industry can form a task-force to think of a better way of handling the electronic waste and create a circular economy.
- Urged to work together to ensure a timely roll-out of 5G to leapfrog into the future and empower millions of Indians.
- It is important to think and plan how to improve lives with the upcoming technology revolution. Better healthcare, Better education, Better information and opportunities for our farmers, Better market access for small businesses are some of the goals that can be worked on.
- For a lot of young techies it is the Code which makes a product special, for some entrepreneurs it is Concept which matters more, investors suggest that Capital is more important to scale a product. Often what matters the most is the Conviction the youngsters have on their product. Sometimes conviction is all that stands between just a profitable exit and making of a unicorn.
- It is because of mobile technology that we are able to provide benefits worth billions of dollars to millions of Indians, we were able to help the poor and vulnerable quickly during the pandemic and we are seeing billions of cashless transactions which boost formalisation and transparency and we will also enable a smooth contactless interface on toll booths.
- Digital technology and virtual communication tools have proved their extraordinary worth during challenging times of covid-19. The digital Technology has enabled us to liberalise our work from home systems, for example 85% of IT operations are being worked from home.
- India is emerging as one of the most preferred destinations for mobile manufacturing. The Production Linked Incentive scheme was introduced to promote telecom equipment manufacturing in India. The Government aims to bring high-speed fibre-optic connectivity in every village over the next three years. Towards this end, focus is made exclusively on places, which can make the best out of such connectivity – Aspirational Districts, Left wing extremism affected districts, North Eastern states, Lakshadweep Islands etc. Greater spread of fixed line broadband connectivity and public Wi-Fi hotspots will be ensured.
- Emerging Digital Technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics etc. present a huge opportunity in India. Artificial Intelligence should not be monopolised and not become a tool of weaponisation but it should lead to empowerment of the ordinary people. It should lead to betterment of education, health etc. Inclusive character of our public digital platforms has already been demonstrated, examples including Jan DhanYojana, JAM (Jan Dhan Accounts, Aadhar, Mobile) Trinity, Aadhar, GSTN, direct benefit transfer , UPI leading to digital transaction etc. where optimum use of digital technology has led to digital inclusion and centre of all this is ‘mobile’, the most shining instrument of inclusion.
Connecting the Dots:
- ‘Mobile’ – The most Shining Instrument of Inclusion.
- Artificial Intelligence should not be monopolised and not become a tool of weaponisation but it should lead to empowerment of the ordinary people. Discuss.
