Dr. Piyush Singla chairs Study Group meeting on establishment of IT Park in J&K
JAMMU: Secretary, Information Technology Department, Dr. Piyush Singla today chaired a meeting of the Study Group constituted for the establishment of an IT Park in Jammu and Kashmir at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting reviewed and discussed in detail the preliminary report prepared for setting up a world-class IT Park in the Union Territory. Members deliberated on the proposed framework and implementation strategy to ensure a robust and future-ready IT infrastructure.
It was decided that the preliminary report would be revised in light of the observations and directions issued during the discussions. The updated report will incorporate all relevant suggestions and refinements provided by the Study Group.
The group further agreed that the IT Park will be developed under the aegis of IIT Jammu, to be implemented in two phases — Phase I: Development under the Higher Educational Institution (HEI) Model, and Phase II: Expansion through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Private Investment Model.
It was also decided that the incentive framework for the project will align with the Industrial Policy of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure uniformity and smooth execution. The final report will be submitted to the Government and will include:
An overview tracing the evolution of the IT/ITeS ecosystem in J&K,
Details of incubatee funds available with various Administrative Departments, and
Recommendations for creating a Unified Portal to consolidate incubatee funding opportunities across States and UTs, drawing inspiration from national models like the DoT’s Telecom Incubation Fund.
Dr. Singla directed the Planning Department to provide authentic, validated, and updated data from credible sources such as the YUVA Report, integrating both quantitative and qualitative indicators to support evidence-based planning. He stressed that all data validation points should be clearly defined and cross-verified across departments for accuracy and consistency.
The Secretary also instructed the IT Department to initiate Skill Outreach Programmes in collaboration with higher educational institutions and the Skill Development Department to enhance youth employability and prepare them for emerging opportunities in the IT/ITeS sector.
The meeting was attended by CEO, JaKeGA, Mahima Madan; DG (E&S), Ather Hussain Qadri; DG Planning, Showkat Mahmood Malik; Special Secretary, IT Department; Prof. M.T. Arvind and Prof. Anurag Misra from IIT Jammu; faculty from IIM Jammu; Senior Consultant, SeMT, and other members of the Study Group.
