Ashwini Vaishnav has been retained in his old ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, so there is continuity in policies. Vaishnav can expect to continue the focus on issues such as electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, data privacy, internet regulation, cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI) that he focused on in his last tenure.
“We need to focus on self-sufficiency in semiconductors over time. This will require domestic manufacturing and policies that encourage the use of locally made products,” says Kris Gopalakrishnan, Infosys co-founder and chairman of Axilor Ventures.
what needs to be done
Stuck bills – The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDP) and the Digital India Bill are important bills on which the ministry can move forward. The DPDP recognizes the individual’s right to protection of personal data and the need to process it for lawful purposes. The Digital India Bill attempts to balance accountability with protection of internet users.
AI Mission – The IT Ministry is to launch the India AI Mission worth Rs 10,000 crore. This amount will be given to the components of the mission through the PPP model.
Who is responsible for this?
Ashwini Vaishnav
53 years: BJP
Minister of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
state Minister
Jitin Prasada50 years: BJP
Elected from Pilibhit, UP; also Minister of State for Commerce and Industry
Information and Broadcasting – Dilemma of Regulation
The main objective of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is to disseminate information about government policies, schemes and programmes through various mass media. However, in recent years, the ministry itself has been in the news for its attempts to ‘control’ information. The next big concern is the proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation (BSR) Bill 2023, which will replace the existing Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 once it becomes law.
It talks about creating a legal framework for the broadcasting sector and expanding its scope to OTT content, digital news and current affairs. Experts fear that this will be a powerful weapon for the government to censor news. The ministry should address this concern.
What needs to be done
focus on trust issues – An environment of trust needs to be created between media outlets, social media intermediaries and the government, with the ministry seen as a guiding role
Censorship controls – There is a need to prevent the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Regulations 2021 from becoming a weapon of censorship
Freedom for filmmakers – The recommendations of Justice Mudgal Committee of 2013 should be implemented to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952
Who is responsible for this?
Ashwini Vaishnav
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
state Minister
l. Murugan is 47 years old: BJP
Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh; also Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.