Information Society Watch

February 14, 2008, Preeti Parashar, The Financial Express

This news report hopes that India's e-Governance programme might get a budget allocation of 1,500 crore rupees in 2008, an increase in comparison with a figure of 1,300 crore rupees in 2007. Quoting the minister for communication and information technology, the report adds that under the National e-Governance Plan, one lakh common service centres will be set up in six lakh villages across India, bringing services to the doorsteps of its ordinary citizens. Many of the states are in the process of launching state wide area networks, with Haryana having implemented it already.

February 5, 2008,Deccan Herald

This news story observes that Bangalore has become an important link in the cyber crime chain. It quotes experts as saying that cyber criminals use sophisticated, professionally developed tool-kits sold in the underground economy to carry out attacks.

December 29, 2007, Hindustan Times

The Goa government has unveiled a broadband initiative which aims to create an environment where information technology can be an enabler towards efficiency and accountability. Christened 'Goa Broadband Network', the project seeks to provide citizens services in the domains of health, education, agriculture and welfare services. The government is hoping that by also offering business services, the initiative can become commercially viable and will encourage public private partnerships towards this end.

January 4, 2008, Indiatimes Infotech

Internet telephony is recording significant growth in India. The official statistics show a growth of 15% which is impressive considering the fact that there is a grey market for the service whose usage goes unreported.

May 18, 2007, Times of India

While multinationals are rushing into India to take advantage of the IT boom, one company, Citigroup has decided to put up it's BPO (Citigroup Global Services) up for sale. The company has decided to do this after finding it difficult to keep its costs down, arising out of rising salaries and advertising costs.

April 26, 2007, Times of India

The Indian government has proposed to offer free, high-speed broadband connectivity to all Indians by 2009, through state-owned telecom players. This will be done by spending a portion of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) on providing free connectivity. While this may benefit consumers, it remains to be seen as to how this move will affect business.

April 2, 2007, The Times of India

In India, the state government of Gujarat has decided to make a shift to a paperless office. Beginning from April, all government departments will mandate creating new files online.

April 7, 2007, Mumbai Mirror

The Mumbai city police is planning to install a software to monitor all cyber cafes in the city and maintain a database of users. This primary aim of this move is to deter offenders who operate in cyber space.