<h1>Government Highlights Innovation as Economic Driver; Invests Rs 20,000 Crore in Optical Fibre Network for Connectivity Expansion.</h1> The Union Minister for Communications and IT presented the National Innovation Council's second report, emphasizing innovation as a key driver of economic growth and societal development. The government declared 2010-2020 as the 'Decade of Innovation' and established the National Innovation Council to foster inclusive innovation. Key initiatives include the Triad of policies for Telecom, IT, and Electronics Manufacturing, and the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), aimed at enhancing connectivity and service delivery across 250,000 Panchayats. The government plans to invest Rs 20,000 crore in NOFN to improve access to information and services, thereby empowering citizens and enhancing government and business interactions.