The National Policy on Software Products – 2019 has been approved by the Union Cabinet on February 28, 2019 with a vision to create a robust Indian Software Product development ecosystem, thereby enabling IP-driven holistic growth of the IT industry..
The Indian Software Product industry has made historic achievements in revenue FY 2023, reaching $14.2 Bn in total revenue (As per NASSCOM estimate.). Undeniably 2022 was the year of tech start-ups growth in India. Apart from the unicorn story, the software product segment witnessed a rise in demand for collaborative applications, application platforms, security software, system and service management software, and content workflow and management applications.
The followings major programmes are being implemented under the National Policy on Software Products-2019:
Indian Software Product Registry (ISPR)
Indian Software Product Registry (ISPR) has been created to analyse numbers/statistics/database of Indian Software Product Companies (ISPC) and to bring all software products at one single platform. The ISPR ( www.ispr.gov.in) has been lunched on 21 October, 2019.
Innovation Challenge for Development of Indian Video Conferencing Solution
A programme of Innovation Challenge for development of Video Conferencing solution has been launched to develop innovative Video Conferencing solution. The initiative is an attempt to promote Indian Software products as envisaged under the National Policy on Software Products. One winner and three runner-ups have been announced under the programme.
ICT Grand Challenge (ICTGC) under National Policy on Software Products
National Policy on Software Products has a provision to conduct at least 20 Grand Challenge so as to develop a variety of software products addressing socio-economic challenges. For, this, an ICT Grand Challenge (ICTGC) programme has been launched to develop innovative software products by conducting four challenges round in the specified area.
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has concluded ICTGC to develop a ‘Smart water supply measurement and monitoring system’ via an ICT Grand Challenge. One winner and three runner-ups have been declared under the progarmme
Start-up Accelerator Programme of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH)
The SAMRIDH programme has been launched to support existing and upcoming Accelerators to select and accelerate potential product-based start-ups to scale. The program focus on accelerating the start-ups by providing customer connect, investor connect, and international immersion. The programme is being implemented by MeitY Startup Hub (MSH). Under the scheme, 22 Accelerators are being supported at present for supporting 175 startups.
iTamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub in Chennai
In order to ensure that startups participate and can take advantage of the opportunities available in Tamil Nadu, the iTamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub has been established in the Anna University campus in partnership with State Government and Industry. The primary objective of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub will be to nurture the deep tech innovation ecosystem in Tamil Nadu that can guide, develop, implement and support startups, especially in a scaling-up phase in deep tech.
