In 2024, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) made significant strides in advancing India’s digital growth.
Key initiatives focused on AI, cybersecurity, and skill development, aiming to enhance technology accessibility, boost innovation, and strengthen India’s position globally.
Semiconductor Manufacturing: Major Investments Under Semicon India Programme
India’s semiconductor industry received a major boost in 2024 with Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) securing approval for a Semiconductor Fab facility with an investment of Rs. 91,526 crore.
The facility, set up in partnership with Taiwan’s PSMC, is expected to have a production capacity of 50,000 wafer starts per month.
Tata Electronics also gained approval for an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility, with an investment of Rs. 27,120 crore.
In addition, CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited’s OSAT facility with an investment of Rs. 7,584 crore was also approved, further bolstering India’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
IndiaAI Mission: Shaping India’s Future in AI
India’s AI mission saw new milestones in 2024 with the expansion of the National AI Portal (INDIAai), offering AI-related resources such as articles, startups, and government initiatives.
The development of the AI Research Analytics and Knowledge Dissemination Platform (AIRAWAT) has positioned India as a global leader, with AIRAWAT’s infrastructure ranking 75th in the Top 500 Global Supercomputing list.
India also chaired the 6th GPAI Ministerial Council meeting, reinforcing its leadership in global AI ethics and innovation.
Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme: Boosting Electronics Manufacturing
The EMC 2.0 scheme, designed to develop infrastructure for electronics manufacturing clusters, saw key approvals in 2024, including Rs.104.63 crore Common Facility Centre in Hyderabad and Rs. 569.66 crore cluster in Mahabubnagar, Telangana.
These projects have attracted significant investments and are expected to create thousands of jobs, with more clusters being developed in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Skill Development: PMGDISHA Surpasses Targets
The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) achieved a key milestone in 2024 by surpassing its target of training six crore individuals, reaching 6.39 crore by March 31.
The initiative has played a crucial role in increasing digital literacy in rural India, leading to wider internet and smartphone use.
Additional skill development schemes in the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector trained over 4.93 lakh candidates, exceeding the initial target of 4.18 lakh.
Cybersecurity: Enhancing Digital Security Through Training and Awareness
The Cyber Surakshit Bharat programme continued its efforts to enhance cybersecurity in the government sector.
The 45th batch of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Deep Dive training was conducted, equipping CISOs with crucial cybersecurity skills. CERT-In onboarded 388 organizations to its Cyber Swachhta Kendra initiative, strengthening the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
BHASHINI Language Translation Platform: Breaking Language Barriers
Launched in July 2022, BHASHINI has become a crucial tool in bridging language barriers in India’s digital space. Offering translation services in 17 Indian languages, the platform reached over 100 million monthly inferences in 2024.
It also won numerous awards, including the Digital Trailblazer Award, for its contributions to AI and data analytics.
National Supercomputing Mission: New Supercomputers Dedicated to Research
In a major development for India’s research sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers in September 2024.
These supercomputers, installed at key research institutions, will significantly boost India’s capabilities in areas such as physics and cosmology.
A total of 33 supercomputers have been deployed under the National Supercomputing Mission, supporting over 10,000 researchers nationwide.
These achievements mark a significant year for MeitY, with 2024 underscoring India’s growing role in global technology and innovation.
