THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The India Smart Cities Fellowship (ISCF) Program, the India Smart Cities Internship (ISCI) Program and the Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards 2018 were launched on 9 July 2018.
The India Smart Cities Fellowship Program seeks to engage 30 young graduates/post-graduates and PhDs in the fields of urban planning, design, engineering, information and technology, mobility, finance, social sector and environmental issues for a period of one year, extendable upto three years. The maximum age of eligibility is 35 years. This Program is designed to provide valuable experience to the youth interested in smart cities specifically, and urban renewal sector in general to bring in new ideas, passion and energy to the challenging work of implementing cutting edge, high-impact solutions to key urban problems. This program ultimately aims at cultivating young leaders, strengthen their understanding of Indian urban sector and preparing them for greater leadership roles in future.
The India Smart Cities Internship Program (ISCI) seeks to engage 30 students pursuing Undergraduate/ Graduate/ Post- Graduate Degrees from recognized Universities/Institutions from India or abroad, as "Interns" for a period of six to twelve weeks. The maximum age of eligibility is 32 years. The Program aims at giving exposure to the interns in various areas of urban development like planning, design, engineering, information and technology, mobility, finance, social sector and environmental issues under Smart Cities Mission.
The Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards 2018 is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to promote ease of living for India’s urban residents. The objective of these awards is to guide, motivate, recognize and reward the Smart Cities for promoting digital payments and carrying out innovative payment initiatives in their respective cities through a two-stage Challenge process. This not only aims to reward Smart Cities at the forefront of digital payments but also to encourage other cities to follow suit and strengthen their digital payments infrastructure, create awareness through promotion of digital payments amongst all stakeholders and to provide citizens with multiple options to make digital transactions.
(c) to (e): At the National level, MoUs / Agreement for Technical Assistance have been executed with Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom and GIZ, Germany separately.
At the State level, MoUs/ Agreement for Technical Assistance have been executed between United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) & State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and French Development Agency (AFD) and Union Territories of Chandigarh, Puducherry and State Government of Maharashtra. A Credit Facility Agreement for loan of Euros 100 million and grant of Euros 6 million has been executed with AFD for funding of upto 15 innovative Smart City Projects selected through a Challenge Process from across the country. There is a provision for global expertise to be provided during the design and implementation phases of these Projects.
In addition, various other countries, namely, Spain, Canada, Germany, Singapore, UK, South Korea and Japan have also shown interest in participating in the development of Smart Cities.
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