Question : NCETIS

(a) whether Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai has formulated an action-plan to set up the National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS) to meet the tech- nological requirements of the State and Central Police Forces;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has approved the Centre and if so, the details thereof and the total cost of this project;

(d) whether NCETIS is likely to assist in mobi- lising secret information, dissemination, detecting crime and enforcement, employing technology in improving the standard of prepa- ration of the forces and reducing the response time in case of emergency; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e): As per information provided by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS) has been proposed by an interdisciplinary team from IIT-Bombay to nurture it as a national common facility for addressing technology requirements of police and paramilitary forces. The Standing Finance Committee of Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has appraised the proposal with a project outlay of Rs.100.87 Crores. However, the specific projects to be taken up by NCETIS are not decided at this stage. The project is yet to be approved by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.