New Delhi: Emerging technologies including drone applications, Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity are playing a crucial role in generating employment and expanding India’s technology workforce, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said on Sunday.
Addressing the Technology and Skill Development Conference at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee NIELIT Extension Centre in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, the minister said technology-led skill development is central to the government’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. He stressed that aligning training programmes with industry requirements will be key to positioning India as a global technology leader.
Prasada highlighted the role of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) in bridging policy and implementation by extending advanced technical education and skill development to remote and semi-urban regions. He said such institutions are critical to ensuring that the benefits of technological growth translate into employability for youth across the country.
A key feature of the conference was a technology exhibition by startups working in drone technologies, showcasing applications ranging from agriculture and land surveying to disaster management, surveillance and logistics. The exhibition underscored the growing role of startups in driving innovation and creating new job avenues.
The minister also inaugurated a state-of-the-art IoT laboratory at NIELIT Pilibhit, aimed at providing hands-on, industry-oriented training in areas such as smart sensors, automation and embedded systems. Officials said the facility is expected to strengthen academia-industry linkages and support local innovation and entrepreneurship.
The conference also hosted workshops on cybersecurity, focusing on cybercrime awareness, data privacy and digital safety, as part of broader efforts to build a skilled and security-aware digital workforce.