Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee has recommended strengthening institutional capacity in cybersecurity, data protection and digital infrastructure while examining the government’s spending plans for the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) for 2026-27. The panel also cautioned that inadequate funding could affect the expansion of digital governance systems, cybersecurity capacity and emerging initiatives such as artificial intelligence infrastructure.The observations are part of the “Twenty-Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology” on the ministry’s Demands for Grants, which was presented in Parliament on March 16.The committee said that “allocation of more funds to the Ministry may help promote Digital Governance for empowering citizens, promoting the inclusive and sustainable growth of the Electronics, IT and ITeS industries… and ensuring a secure cyber space.”According to the report, MeitY’s budget estimate for 2026-27 stands at Rs 21,632.96 crore compared with Rs 26,026.25 crore in the 2025-26 budget estimates. The ministry told the committee that part of the reduction reflects the closure of the production linked incentive (PLI) component for large-scale electronics manufacturing, whose tenure ends on March 31, 2026.The committee also noted that variations between budget estimates and revised estimates in 2025-26 were linked to lower expenditure during the first half of the financial year and delays in executing agreements under semiconductor manufacturing projects. The ministry told the panel that semiconductor manufacturing projects are “highly complex, technology-intensive” and approved companies must fulfil stipulated conditions before fiscal support can be released, resulting in delays in agreements.The report also highlighted implementation challenges across several programmes, including interoperability gaps in e-governance systems, cybersecurity and privacy risks, and capacity constraints in digital infrastructure projects. It asked the ministry to address these issues and keep the committee informed of progress.On cybersecurity and digital safety, the committee sought updates on the creation of additional posts in the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and recommended strengthening the Data Protection Board to improve safeguards for personal data and address incidents of cyber fraud and digital scams.The committee also asked the ministry to ensure that funding shortages do not affect the functioning of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which provides core digital infrastructure for government platforms. It further recommended expanding digital public services with stronger local-language support to improve digital inclusion.The report also discussed the implementation trajectory of the IndiaAI Mission, noting that variations in allocations partly reflected the programme’s rollout dynamics following its approval in March 2024. According to the ministry, early stages focused on institutional setup, consultations and operational guidelines before scaling up activities across research, ecosystem development and international collaboration.Among future initiatives, the panel suggested using enhanced funding under the National Knowledge Network to establish a blockchain-based National Digital Research Repository aimed at enabling secure knowledge sharing among research institutions.The report further recommended expanding digital literacy programmes in rural and tribal areas and strengthening the IT ecosystem in underperforming states, including in the Northeast, to support more balanced growth in India’s digital economy.
