Panel Discussions
Panel Discussions 1
Digital India: Goals and Challenges for Developed Bharat
(Moderator: Dr. Vijay Kumar Chaurasiya)
Digital India Mission was launched in July 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Digital India Mission envisions comprehensive digital infrastructure, increased digital literacy, and widespread digital access across all sectors. The Digital India initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and leverage technology to enhance the quality of life for all citizens while fostering economic growth and innovation.
The nine pillars of Digital India are broadband highways, universal access to mobile connectivity, public internet access, e-governance, e-Kranti, global information, electronics manufacturing, IT training for jobs and early harvest programs. The main aim of the Digital India Mission is to promote innovation, connectivity, and empowerment across every stratum of society, where all citizens have access to the benefits of digital technology. The campaign has impacted various fields, including healthcare, education, financial services, government services and the economy.
Although, as a nation, we have travelled a long way in the digital transformation journey, some challenges are always left that require our attention. This panel discussion is envisioned to identify the goals and challenges in the digital transformation journey for Developed Bharat.
EXPERTS
Dr. Gulshan Rai
Dr. Gulshan Rai holds a doctoral degree and M.Tech and has over 30 years of experience in different areas of Information Technology which include different aspects of e-Governance, cyber security, cyber laws and several related fields. At present, he is Chief Information Security Officer, Prime Minister’s Office. Prior to that he was National Cyber Security Coordinator, Government of India in the Office of Prime Minister. Earlier he was Director General, CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and Group Coordinator of E-Security and Cyber Law Division in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. He has led the team to set up National Watch and Alert System in the country as part of cyber security initiative and Computer Emergency Team. Several international cooperation agreements have been entered under his leadership. He led a team from time to time to draft and bring out National Policies in the area of cyber security and cyber laws. Dr. Rai has been working since 1998 in the area of evolving legal framework to address issues arising out of cyberspace, which resulted in second Technology Legislation in the country i.e. Information Technology Act and recent amendments in the Act. He was Executive Director, ERNET India for over 7 years and was instrumental in setting up of the first large scale education and research network in close collaboration with the leading educational and research institutions in the country. During his tenure, the project of National Knowledge Network was evolved and designed. He has been leading team, designing and implementing IT solutions in the areas of Finance, Taxes and Law & Order.
Dr. Bharat Panchal
Bharat Panchal is a distinguished industry leader in cybersecurity in India, boasting an impressive more than 30 years of experience in risk management, primarily within the Fintech, Banking and telecommunication sectors. Globally acknowledged as a thought leader and evangelist for enterprise risk, cyber security, and data sovereignty, Bharat has made substantial contributions to establishing a safe and secure digital banking ecosystem in India.
During his tenure as Chief of Risk Management and a founding member at the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for nearly 9 years, Bharat played a pivotal role in instilling a risk culture across the banking ecosystem by conceptualizing, implementing, and overseeing risk controls. Bharat has spearheaded the design and implementation of a robust Risk, cybersecurity and Compliance framework for every product launched by NPCI i.e. RuPay, IMPS, NACH, CTS, BBPS, FasTag, AEPS for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and the most prestigious UPI. ecosystem. During his tenure as Chief of Risk Management and a founding member at the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for nearly 9 years, Bharat played a pivotal role in instilling a risk culture across the banking ecosystem by conceptualizing, implementing, and overseeing risk controls. Bharat has spearheaded the design and implementation of a robust Risk, cybersecurity and Compliance framework for every product launched by NPCI i.e. RuPay, IMPS, NACH, CTS, BBPS, FasTag, AEPS for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and the most prestigious UPI. ecosystem.
Prof. Sandeep Kumar Shukla
Prof. Sandeep Kumar Shukla is a professor in the Computer Science and Engineering department and Rajiv & Ritu Batra Chair in Cyber Security at IIT Kanpur (IITK). He headed the department between 2017 and 2020, and was the Poonam & Prabhu Goel Chair Professor between 2016-2019, along with being a joint director of the National Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security & Cyber Defense of Critical Infrastructures (C3i Center) at IIT Kanpur. He is also a joint director of the National Blockchain Project funded by the PMO. He is a program director of the C3i Hub, a Technology Innovation Hub on Cyber Security created by the DST, Government of India. He has worked at GTE Labs as a principal member of Technical Staff, as Senior Staff Design Engineer at the Intel Corporation, as research faculty at the University of California, Irvine and as a professor of Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg USA. His major research areas are cyber security, cyber-resilient system design, risk assessment, and critical infrastructure security and Blockchain Technology. Prof. Shukla published over 300 peer-reviewed conference papers, journal articles, book chapters, 12 books, and worked as an editor for several noted Journals and Technical publications.
Prof. Mukul Sharad Sutaone
Dr. Mukul Sutaone is currently the Director of Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (An Institute of National Importance with the Act of Parliament). In the immediate past, he graced the position of the First Vice Chancellor of COEP Technological University Pune, which is the legacy in the field of Engineering Education in the Country. He worked at College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) as Professor in Electronics and Telecommunication department for more than 30 years of experience, with illustrious accomplishments in Academics and Research. At COEP, Prof. Sutaone handled various administrative responsibilities such as Officiating Director, Deputy Director, Dean Academics, Dean-International Relations, Head of the Department, etc.
His areas of work & interests in Teaching & Research are ‘Statistical & Adaptive Signal Processing, Wireless Communication & Networks and Statistical Modeling of Data’. He has conceived, practiced, executed and steered many innovative academic experiments in curriculum design and delivery for the students and faculty of his Institute, Pune University and other aspiring institutes, mentored by him.
In the capacity of Principal investigator of the “Center of Excellence in Signal & Image Processing”, a World Bank funded project by MHRD-GoI (under TEQIP), Prof. Sutaone has been associated with the development and conversion of prototypes from mere Proof of Concept (PoC) to transferrable technologies. Some of such projects are ‘Video Stabilization for Cell Phones’ ‘Automated Inspection System for PCB fault detection’, ‘Density and Direction detection for Stampedes’, and ‘Optimal Microphone Array for Audio beam-forming’.
With handsome number of contributed and cited publications to his credit, a few granted patents and copyrights as well as multiple Govt./Corporate funded projects, he is an applauded resource person in many conferences, workshops and symposia, in the areas of Signal Processing, Next Generation Communication, Outcome based Education and Effective Deployment of New Education Policies.
Panel Discussions 2
Reorienting ICT in India in Post-Covid World
(Moderator: Prof. Pritish Kumar Varadwaj)
This Panel Discussion will facilitate this debate by asking each panel member to give his/her opinion on one or more of the following five questions :
1. International (Vs National) : Should the ICT in India cater for the local needs of India or utilize its high quality human resources to develop innovative products for larger markets, and cross-border utilities and solutions ? What may be the potential indigenous and inclusive ICT solutions that are crucial for addressing challenges like rural connectivity and digital inclusion while aligning global and national priorities ?
2. Service Sectors (Vs Industrial and Fundamental Core Sectors): ICT has propelled service sectors but remains underutilized in core industries like agriculture and manufacturing. How expanding ICT to these sectors can boost productivity and sustainability ? What are the possible ways to foster equitable economic growth and rural empowerment through ICT interventions ?
3. Multi-Integrating (Converging) Multiple Domains: Should ICT integrate domains like science, arts, and management to drive innovation? What are the possibilities of AI in life sciences or VR in arts to address complex challenges, ensuring ICT becomes a tool for holistic, interdisciplinary progress ?
4. Impact of Generative AI / Accommodating Gen AI: How can the generative AI transform current knowledge generation ? What can be the ways to tackle challenges like ethics and privacy while using Generative AI ? What should be done in India to develop regulations, create localized AI for its diverse contexts, and upskill the workforce ? How can the gen–AI revolutionize sectors while making inclusive progress and strategic integration ?
5. Reorienting ICT for Healthcare and Education in India: How can ICT enhance healthcare with telemedicine and AI diagnostics and transform the Indian education sector through e-learning and immersive tools ? What are the infrastructure upgrades, and inclusive policies required to maximize the impact in these critical sectors ?
EXPERTS
- Prof. U S Tiwary, IIIT-Allahabad
- Prof. Neetesh Purohit, Director, SGSITS Indore
- Prof. Mukul S Sutaone, Director, IIIT Allahabad
- Dr. Jong-Hoon Kim, Kent State University, USA
- Prof. Bhartendu K. Singh, Director, IIITDM Jabalpur
- Prof. S. N. Singh, Director, IIITM Gwalior
- Prof. M. V. Kartikeyan, Director, IIITDM Kancheepuram
- Prof. D V L N Somyaluju, Director, IIITDM Kurnool