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Budget 2018: Digitisation imprint flows across sectors

Amidst all this, the allocation for Digital India programme has been doubled to Rs 3,073 crore in 2018-19

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Apart from the big bang announcements in the Budget 2018, the other key take away was the government’s thrust on digitisation.

From the use of blockchain technology to artificial intelligence, from encouraging people towards digital payments to internet of things, from school board to digital board, the imprint of digitisation could be seen in the Budget speech like never before.

Amidst all this, the allocation for Digital India programme has been doubled to Rs 3,073 crore in 2018-19. The aim is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. “Global economy is transforming into a digital economy thanks to development of cutting edge technologies in digital space – machine 20 learning, artificial intelligence, internet of things, 3D printing and the likes. Initiatives such as Digital India, Start Up India, Make in India would help India establish itself as a knowledge and digital society,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said while presenting the Budget on Thursday.

To invest in research, training and skilling in robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, big data analysis, quantum communication and internet of things, the department of science and technology will launch a mission on Cyber Physical Systems to support establishment of centres of excellence.

Commenting on the Budget, Joe Verghese, Managing Director, Colliers International India said, “While the importance of Artificial Intelligence, IT Infrastructure and research have been rightly  identified as priorities for Centers of Excellence under Digital India, there is lack of clarity on the actual investments and expected impact”.

The government will also set up five lakh wifi hotspots which will provide broadband access to five crore rural citizens. An amount of Rs 10,000 crore in 2018-19 has been allocated for creation and augmentation of telecom infrastructure.

Pranav Roach, President, Hughes Network Systems says, “Internet connectivity is a medium through which maximum governance can be implemented.”

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