In an attempt to monitor the implementation of the policy for preference to domestically manufactured electronics goods in procurement by central ministries, a meeting was held by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY). The meeting was chaired by Dr Ajay Kumar, JS, DeitY on 20 February, 2013. It was decided that all tenders for eGovernance projects, including eDistrict project, for which tenders are expected shortly, would invariably include clause for providing preference to domestic manufactures as per policy.
According to information revealed in the DeitY newsletter, representatives from DGS&D, NICSI, and over twelve different Central Ministries/Departments participated in the meeting.
It is worth mentioning here that the Department of Telecom (DOT) has so far notified 23 telecom items and DeitY has notified 5 IT items for which preference needs to be provided to domestic manufacturers, when the Central Ministries/Departments and agencies make procurement of these items.
The items notified by DeitY so far include laptops, desktop PCs, tablets, inkjet printers and smart cards. The list of telecom items notified by DoT is available on their website . The value-addition norms, which are required to be met to qualify industry to be eligible as domestic manufacturer is also been specified in the said notifications.
DGS&D informed that they have already initiated steps to suitably amend their procurement processes to provide for separate identity of domestic manufacturers of notified electronic goods as per value addition norms specified by DOT and DeitY, said the newsletter.
NICSI is also working in the direction to complete suitable empanelment of vendors for procuring notified electronic products from domestic vendors.
