Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)

Republic of India Ministry of Communications and Information Technology(India)
Emblem of India
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	Government of India
Headquarters	Sanchar Bhawan New Delhi 22°37′20″N 77°12′50″E
Minister responsible	Kapil Sibal
Child agencies	Department of Telecommunications Department of Information Technology Department of Posts
Website
www.mit.gov.in

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is an Indian government ministry. It contains three departments:

• Department of Telecommunications
• Department of Information Technology
• Department of Posts

The following cadre controlling authority of the Civil Services (including Indian Telecommunication Service, Indian Postal Service, Telegraph Traffic Service and Indian Posts and Telegraphs Accounts and Finance Service) are under the administration and supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Department of Telecommunications

Further information: Department of Telecommunications

Also known as the Door Sanchar Vibhag, this department concerns itself with policy, licensing and coordination matters relating to telegraphs, telephones, wireless, data, facsimile and telematic services and other like forms of communications. It also looks into the administration of laws with respect to any of the matters specified, namely:

• The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885)
• The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 (17 of 1933)
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997)

Public sector units

• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
• Indian Telephone Industries Limited
• Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
• Telecommunications Consultants India Limited

R&D unit

• Center for Development of Telematics

Other units

• Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing
• Telecom Engineering Center
• Controller of Communication Accounts
• Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring Cells (formerly known as VTM Cells)

A need was felt in the year 2007 to distinctly address the issues of Communication Network Security at DOT (HQ) level, consequent to enhancement of FDI limit in Telecom sector from 49% to 74% and therefore a new wing, named Security was created in DOT (HQ).

FUNCTIONS OF SECURITY TERM WING

1. Coordination and Administration of TERM (Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring) Cells, formerly VTM (Vigilance & Telecom Monitoring) Cells.
2. Nodal unit for Security functions with the external agencies like MHA , CDOT , etc.
3. Security Related National Projects.
4. Centralized Monitoring System : Requirements for the Project on Centralized Monitoring System had been finalized after detailed deliberations among various agencies concerned. Proof of Concept has been demonstrated and R&D activities are ongoing for the project.
5. Dedicated and Fully Secure Communication network: Architecture and dimensioning of the network had been finalized, scale and size of the project are under deliberation. Phase-I of the dedicated network will cover the National Capital.

TERM (Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring) Cells, formerly VTM (Vigilance & Telecom Monitoring) Cells.

Genesis of TERM Cells - With the increasing number of telecom service providers in the country, the Government felt the need for presence of Telegraph Authority in all the Licensed Service areas and large telecom districts of the country. With thegrowth of access service providers and ISPs, an increase in illegal/ clandestine telecom operations, was also observed. To tackle this, the Government created initially 4 Vigilance Telecom Monitoring cells (VTM) in 2004 at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, 9 more VTM Cells were created during the year 2006 for the circles of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and UP(E). 15 VTM Cells were subsequently added in January 2007 for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, UP(West), Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, North East-I, North East-II, Orissa and Uttaranchal. 6 more VTM Cells were created in March, 2007 at Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Jaipur and Lucknow, taking the total number of VTM Cells to 34. Since formation of VTM Cells, many more functions have been assigned to the VTM Cells, and therefore the VTM Cells were renamed as TERM (Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring) Cells to reflect their entire gamut of functions.

FUNCTIONS ASSINGED TO TERM CELLS The TERM cells are functioning as the subordinate offices of DoT in field. These cells represent the Telegraph Authority and the Licensor and perform the following functions:

MONITORING FUNCTIONS

• Coordination and monitoring among various network operators, telecom service providers in the field.
• Monitoring of network parameters.
• To ensure optimum call completion ratio of inter operator calls.
• Checking of the compliance by the licensee in respect of license conditions in general and any directions issued by the licensor in public interest.
• Checking of the compliance by the companies in respect of NOC issued by the DOT selling of the global calling cards , international SIM Cards etc.
• Checking of the compliance by the in respect of various companies who have registered by the DOT under OSP, IP-1 , IP-II etc. category.
• Subscriber Verification Audit to ascertain whether mobile service operators follow DoT guidelines for customer verification before providing connections.
• Matters related to national security.
• Disaster Management Taking over of network in the events of natural calamities or the other emergency situations.
• Grievance redress of subscribers in respect of deficiency by various operators.
• Perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it from time to time by the DoT in overall interest of the country and consumers.
• Inspection of LIS / LIM Capabilities of existing system in case of new Value Added Services offered by the Telecom Service Provider
• Checking of the EMF(Electro Magnetic Field) Radiation emitted by the BTS sites of telecom service providers and enforcement of the ICINRP parameters on the sites to keep EMF radiation under control.

SECURITY FUNCTIONS

• Interface between Service Providers in the field and Security Agencies.
• Assistance to the various security agencies / LEAs in providing the information related to the customers, CDRs, exchange records etc.
• Interaction with the State police and other authorities on the issues related with the telecom like Subscriber verification, telecom sales, infrastructure, EMF radiation pollution etc.

VIGILANCE FUNCTIONS

• Inspection / raid of illegal / clandestine grey telecom market activities in the field.
• Inspection of all licensed Telecom Service Providers i.e. UASL/CMTS/basic (Access Service Providers), NLDO (National long distance operator), ILDO (International Long distance operator), VSAT, MNPO (Mobile Number Portability operator), ISPs (Internet Service Providers), ITSPs etc.
• Curbing illegal activities in telecom services offered various licensees etc.
• Control over clandestine/illegal operation of telecom networks by vested interest having no license.
• To file FIR against the culprits, pursue the cases; issue notices indicating violation of conditions of various Acts in force from time to time.
• Analysis of call details records/exchange records / subscription/traffic data of various licensees.
• Technical arrangement for the lawful interception/monitoring of all communications passing through the licensee's network.
• To ascertain that the licensee is providing the services within the permitted Area. Enforcement of license conditions under Telecom and ISP Licenses.

OTHER MAJOR FUNCTIONS

• Service Testing of various Licensed Service Providers and checking Roll-Out obligation as per license conditions in all license service areas.
• Registration of OSPs and Telemarketers in all License Service Areas.
• Checking Mobile Spectrum Utilization in all Licensed Service Areas.
• Investigation of complaints received through MOCPG, Law Enforcement agencies, referred by Security TERM DOT HQ or complaint received directly by the TERM Cells in the field.
• Acceptance Testing of the mobile service providers and mobile Number Portability operator
• Maintenance, update of the Subscriber Database in the respective Licensed Service Area.
• Maintenance and update of the Cell Site / BTS registers of the respective licensed service area.

Notable Achievement

1. Mobile subscriber CAF verification audit has been conducted for about 7 Million samples by TERM Cells in the field, which has resulted in enhanced compliance by Service Providers, from 60% to more than 85%. More than 3000 complaint / FIR has been lodged by the TERM cells or through Telecom service providers against the errant retailer / dealer/ customers. In subscriber CAF audit, a penalty of Rs. 700 Crore( Apprx.) has been imposed on the telecom service providers. Presence of TERM Cells in field and various CAF related functions carried out by them have increased the awareness of the customers about the mobile service application documentation and have increased the consciousness & sense of responsibility among the retailers / dealers who are selling the SIM Cards.
2. Service Coverage Testing of more than 6000 BTs belong to different Mobile Service Providers has been carried out by the TERM Cells and it has resulted in to the receipt of service fees of Rs. 6 Crore (Approx). TERM Cells have completed the Service testing of all new telecom service providers within stipulated time.
3. TERM Cells played a major role in launch of Mobile Number Portability by carrying out the Acceptance Testing of the equipments of the Mobile Number Portability operator and carrying out the Call Flow and porting Process A/T for whole India in phased manner and coordinating with more than 400 telecom networks successfully. The MNP Service in India has been launched successfully on 20 Jan 2010 by Hon'ble Prime Minster of India in a function held at New Delhi.
4. Keeping in view the effect of electromagnetic radiation on public health, DOT has prescribed norms for EMF radiation from Mobile Towers & limits thereof as per the internationally accepted standards. More than 1100 BTSs have been checked by the TERM Cell for measurement of EMF radiation since 16 November 2010. TERM cells are testing the radiation emitted by the BTSs in the licensed service areas under their jurisdiction in a phased manner..
5. More than 500 inspections of various telecom service providers, IP-1, OSP etc. has been carried out by the TERM Cells. They have taken action wherever irregularities have been noticed.
6. Due to decentralization of Registration for OSP & Telemarketing to TERM Cells, pendency has reduced substantially. A total number of 2700 (approx.) OSP and Telemarketers have been registered by the TERM Cells which has also resulted in the receipt of fees Rs. 27 Lakhs(approx).
7. The OSP registration process has been made on line in which TERM Cells had a significant contribution testing the software and suggesting new features for making the software more effective. Now the applicant companies can apply through the ODT Website and can monitor the status of their application online.

Department of Information Technology

• Promotion of Information Technology education and Information Technology-based education
• Matters relating to Cyber Laws, administration of the Information Technology Act 2000 (21 of 2000) and other IT-related laws
• Matters relating to promotion and manufacturing of semiconductor devices in the country excluding all matters relating to Semiconductor Complex Limited Mohali; the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000 (37 of 2000)
• Interaction in IT-related matters with international agencies and bodies, e. g., Internet for Business Limited, Institute for Education in Information Society and International Code Council-on line
• Initiative on bridging the Digital Divide: matters relating to Media Lab Asia
• Promotion of standardization, testing and quality in IT and standardization of procedures for IT applications and tasks
• Electronics Export and Computer Software Promotion Council
• National Informatics Centre
• Initiatives for development of hardware and software industries including knowledge-based enterprises, measures for promoting IT exports and competitiveness of the industry
• Efforts for increasing the acceptance of FOSS at a national level (NRCFOSS)
• Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)

Education

• National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology

All Government Services to be At Your Mouse-tip

Citizens across 28 states of Indian Union will be able to avail all government services,including payment of utility bills and applying for a driving license,through common internet portals being developed as part of a Rs 2,000-Cr portal project. The government plans to develop portals for at least 10 states by October 2010 and the rest will follow .These state portals' services will range from getting a domicile or residence certificate all online. The forms will be available electronically. Citizen service center kiosks in rural areas will help the technological- challenged submit these forms online. The government plans to roll out almost 10,000 more CSC kiosks by December 2010, taking the total to 90,000.

Department of Posts

Further information: Indian Postal Service

The Department of Posts (DoP) operates one of the oldest and most extensive mail services in the world, with about 26,000 full time and 1,300,000 part time post offices. It offers a whole range of products under posts, remittance, savings, insurance and philately. While the Director General is the head of operations, the Secretary is an adviser to the Minister. Both responsibilities are undertaken by one officer.

The DG is assisted by the Postal Services Board with three members: Member (Operations and Marketing), Member (Infrastructure and Financial Services) and Member (Personnel). Radhika Doraiswamy is the Secretary (Posts) and DG Posts as also the Chairman of the Postal Services Board. K. Noorjehan is the Member (O&M), Anju Dasgupta is the Member (I&FS), and R. K. Singh is the Member (Personnel). The national headquarters are at Delhi and functions from Dak Bhavan located at the junction of Parliament Street and Ashoka Road.

The annual revenue is around Rs. 4,500 Crores and expenditure is Rs. 5,800 Crores. Lack of proper investment in infrastructure and technology is the reason for such low revenue. The present top management has already started investing in latest technology to improve the infrastructure. Quality of service is being improved and new products are being offered to meet the competition.

The field services are managed by Postal Circles—generally conforming to each State—except for the North Eastern States. Army Postal Services (APS) is a unique arrangement to take care of the postal requirement of soldiers posted across the country. Department of Posts personnel are commissioned into the army to take care of APS.

The DoP is governed by the Indian Post Office Acts, 1898.

Other than the traditional postage service in order to keep up with the age many new services have been introduced by the department:

• e-Post - Delivery of email through post man where email service is not available
• e-BillPost - Convenient way to pay bills under one roof
• Postal Life insurance
• International money transfers
• Mutual funds
• Banking

External links

• Official website