Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Categories: Government of India Ministries and Departments

The administration of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology extends to three departments:-

Dept. of Telecommunication,
Dept. of Posts and,
Dept. of Information Techonology

The political head of the Ministry is a Cabinet Minister. The incumbent is Shri. A. Raja.

1 Department of Telecommunication
2 Department of Information Technology
3 Department of Posts
4 See also
5 Organization Chart
6 References

Department of Telecommunication

Also known as the DOOR SANCHAR VIBHAG this department concerns itself with Policy, Licensing and Coordination matters relating to telegraphs, telephones, wireless, data, facsimile and telematic services and other like forms of communications. It also looks into the administration of laws with respect to any of the matters specified namely:-

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885);
The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 (17 of 1933); and
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997)

Various concern coming under its jurisdiction are:-

Public Sector Units

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL)
Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI)
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited(MTNL)
Telecommunications Consultants India Limited(TCIL)

R & D Unit

Center for development of Telematics (C-DoT)

Other Units

Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing (WPC)
Telecom Engineering Center (TEC)
Controller Of Communication Accounts (CCA)

Department of Information Technology

The newest of all departments the Dept. of information technology(DIT)regulates the various aspects of Information Technology related to India. The following are comprehensive functions of the DIT

Policy matters relating to Information Technology;Electronics;and Internet (all matters other than licensing of Internet Service Provider)
Promotion of Internet, IT and IT enabled services
Assistance to other departments in the promotion of E-Governance, E-Commerce, E-Medicine, E-Infrastructure, etc.
Promotion of Information Technology education and Information Technology-based education
Matters relating to Cyber Laws, administration of the Information Technology Act. 2000 (21 of 2000) and other IT related laws
Matters relating to promotion and manufacturing of Semiconductor Devices in the country excluding all matters relating to Semiconductor Complex Limited (SCL) Mohali; The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000 (37 of 2000).
Interaction in IT related matters with International agencies and bodies e.g. Internet for Business Limited (IFB), Institute for Education in Information Society (IBI) and International Code Council - on line (ICC).
Initiative on bridging the Digital Divide: Matters relating to Media Lab Asia.
Promotion of Standardization, Testing and Quality in IT and standardization of procedure for IT application and Tasks.
Electronics Export and Computer Software Promotion Council (ESC).
National Informatics Centre (NIC)
Initiatives for development of Hardware/Software industry including knowledge-based enterprises, measures for promoting IT exports and competitiveness of the industry

Department of Posts

Dept of Posts(DoP) operates one of the oldest and one of the extensive mail services in the world. with about 26,000 full time and 1,30,000 part time post offices. It offers a whole range of products under Posts, Remittnce, Savings, Insurance and Philately. While the Director General is the head of operative set up, Secretary is an adviser to the Minister. Both roles are played be one officer.

The DG is assisted by the Postal Services Board with three members-Member (Operations and Marketing), Member (Infrastructure and Financial Services) and Member (Personnel). Shri IMG Khan is the Secretary (Posts) and DG Posts as also the Chairman of the Postal Services Board (PSB). Mrs K Noorjehan is the Member (O&M, Mrs Anju Dasgupta is the Member (I&FS) and Ms Radhika Doraiswamy is the Member (Personnel). The national headquarters is at Delhi and is functioning from Dak Bhavan located at the junction of Parliament Street and Ashoka Road.

The annual revenue is around Rs. 4,500 Crores and expenditure is Rs. 5,800 Crores. Lack of proper investment in infrastructure and technology is the reason for such low revenue. The present top management has already started investing in latest technology to improve the infrastructure. Quality of service is being improved and new products are being offered to meet the competition.

The field services are managed by Postal Circles-generally conforming to each State-except for the North Eastern States. APS (Army Postal Services) is a unique arrangement to take care of the postal requirement of soldiers posted across the country. Personnel of Dept of Posts are commissioned in to the army to take care of APS.

The DoP is governed by The Indian Post Office Acts, 1898. Other than the traditional postage service in order to keep up with the age many new services have been introduced by the department.