The 2021 edition of the NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum (NTLF) was inaugurated last week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Present at the event were NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) President and Chairman, along with key players from the industry.
According to a media report, in his inaugural address, Prime Minister Modi praised the resilience and growth demonstrated by India’s information and technology (IT) sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When the chips were down, your code kept the world running,” he said. “When the whole world was restricted to the four walls of their homes, our IT sector ran their projects with the same commitment and dedication.”
The theme of this year’s NASSCOM’s Technology and Leadership Forum was “Shaping the future towards a better normal.” The event is aimed at achieving three objectives: mark a celebration of technology, which has worked as a backbone to boost businesses during the pandemic, to lay out a roadmap towards building a better future and highlight the significance of responsible technology in this virtual world.
The Prime Minister mentioned government policy initiatives that will help entrepreneurs and innovators overcome challenges. These included the National Digital Communication Policy and recent policy initiatives regarding the liberalisation of mapping and geospatial data for the industry, which will empower the tech start-up eco-system and further the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat mission.
He said, “It’s a time when the world is looking at India with greater hope and expectations than before. However tough may be the challenge, we should not think of ourselves as weak or move away fearing challenges. During COVID, our science and technology not only proved itself but also evolved.”
The government is expected to aid the agriculture and health sectors with technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The tech industry needs to provide solutions associated with the masses in relation to education and skill development, the PM noted. AI in Agriculture will enable the monitoring of soil, water, and fertiliser management on a large scale. He also urged start-ups and innovators to explore how India can create world-class products that will set the global benchmark on excellence.
The NASSCOM Technology and Leadership Forum 2021 was attended by 1600 participants from over 30 countries and more than 30 products were showcased during the three-day event.
Recently, NASSCOM released a report, New World: The Future is Virtual, which showed that during 2020, India added more than 1,600 tech startups, making it the third-largest tech startup hub in the world.
As OpenGov Asia reported, despite the downturn, the Indian tech industry continues to be a net hirer with a significant focus on digital upskilling. The industry is expected to add more than 138,000 net new hires in FY2020-21, taking its total employee base to 4.47 million in the financial year. The digital talent pool is expected to cross 1.17 million, growing at 32% over the last year. Further, while the global output is estimated to have shrunk by 3.2%, the Indian technology sector grew 2.3% year-on-year on the back of rapid acceleration in digital transformation and tech adoption.
