Centre has proposed to launch a pan India Programme called “Digital India” to further bridge the divide between digital “haves” and “have-nots”. This would ensure Broad band connectivity at village level, improved access to services through IT enabled platforms, greater transparency in Government processes and increased indigenous production of IT hardware and software for exports and improved domestic availability. Presenting his Maiden Budget in Parliament here today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that special focus would be given on supporting software product startups.

The Finance Minister said that the Government has also proposed to set-up A National Rural Internet and Technology Mission for services in villages and schools, training in IT skills and E-Kranti for government service delivery and governance scheme with an initial corpus of ₹ 500 crore. A programme for promoting “Good Governance” will also be launched and a sum of ₹ 100 crore will be set aside for this, the Minister added.

Shri Jaitley informed that so far around 400 permissions for setting up of a Community Radio Stations have been issued and to encourage further growth in this sector, a new plan scheme has been launched with sum of ₹ 100 crore to support 600 new and existing Community Radio Stations.

The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley informed that Film & Television Institute, Pune and Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata will be accorded status of Institutes of national importance and a “National Centre for Excellence in Animation, Gaming and Special effects will be set up.

Digital inclusion programme expands broadband and IT services in rural areas, enabling e governance and community media support. The Digital India Programme prioritises village-level broadband, a National Rural Internet and Technology Mission for services, IT skills training and e governance delivery with an initial corpus, alongside support for community radio expansion, software product startups, and designation of key film and television institutes to strengthen animation, gaming and special effects capacity.