(a) whether the Ministry has requested the HRD Ministry to device a special scheme to propogate I.T. education in the country;
(b) if so, the facts thereof;
(c) the number of I.T. professionals being produced by the country every year;
(d) whether in comparison to other countries the I.T. professionals are not adequate in the country;
(e) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to promote the I.T. education in the country;
NISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a) and (b): A Communication has been sent to the Ministry of HRD for upgrading 43 Engineering Colleges to the level of IITs.
(c): The annual output at the level of B.Tech/MCA is about 75,000 in the formal education sector (Universities, Engineering Colleges and the like) and about 10,000 in the non-formal education sector (DOEACC and private institutions).
(d): Looking at the global demand and the domestic target the government has decided to increase the intake and consequently the availability of I.T. professionals.
(e): Does not arise.
(f): Various steps have been initiated by the Government from time to time to promote IT Education at various levels. These
include setting up of Smart schools, promotion of virtual universities, IT education in the non-formal sector through the DOEACC scheme and increasing the intake of students in both IITs and Regional Engineering Colleges(RECs).