The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), now known as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is the primary organization that assesses projects and conducts e-readiness assessments of states and union territories.
Role of MeitY:
MeitY, particularly through its National e-Governance Division (NeGD), oversees the entire e-governance ecosystem. Its key functions in this context are:
Project Assessment: MeitY technically appraises and provides approval for e-governance projects proposed by central and state government departments. It ensures the projects meet the necessary technical standards and are aligned with the overall NeGP strategy.
E-Readiness Assessments: MeitY, often in collaboration with research organizations like the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), periodically assesses the "e-readiness" of states and union territories. These assessments measure a state's ability to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver public services. The assessments help to:
Benchmark states against each other. 📊
Identify strengths and weaknesses in their e-governance infrastructure.
Guide policy-making and resource allocation to improve digital governance.
In simpler terms, MeitY acts as the central technical body, ensuring that all e-governance projects are well-planned and that states are equipped to implement them effectively.
