The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the constitution of an empowered “Technology Group”.

The Cabinet has approved constitution of a 12-Member Technology Group with the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India as its Chair. This Group is mandated to render timely policy advice on latest technologies; mapping of technology and technology products; commercialisation of dual use technologies developed in national laboratories and government R&D organisations; developing an indigenisation road map for selected key technologies; and selection of appropriate R&D programs leading to technology development.

The Technology Group will: render the best possible advice on technology to be developed for a technology supplier and the technology procurement strategy; develop in-house expertise in aspects of policy and use of emerging technologies; and ensure sustainability of public sector technology developed/being developed at PSUs, national labs and research organisations.

The overall work of the Group includes: Policy Support; Procurement Support; and Support on Research and Development proposals.

The Technology Group intends to ensure: India has appropriate policies and strategies for effective, secure and context-sensitive exploitation of the latest technologies in all sectors; advise government on priorities and strategies for research on emerging technologies across sectors; maintain an updated map of technology and technology products available, and being developed, across India; develop indigenization roadmap for selected key technologies; advise the government on its technology supplier and procurement strategy; and encourage all ministries and departments as well as state governments to develop in-house expertise in policy and use aspects of emerging technologies such as data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).