Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, on January 13, informed that Digital India Startup Hub through the Software Technology Parks of India shall set up India’s first Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming at Shillong by March 2023.

The Centre of Excellence in Shillong is expected to catalyse startups and entrepreneurs from India’s northeast to build next-gen online gaming ecosystem. “It is the vision of PM Narendra Modi that the next wave of startups and entrepreneurs must come from Shillong, Kohima and other parts of the North East India," said Chandrasekhar while interacting with journalists at a press conference in Shillong.

“We see Shillong and Meghalaya as a centre of excellence for entrepreneurs and start-ups in online gaming,” Chandrashekhar said. It is pertinent to mention that the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has recently circulated Draft amendments to the IT Rules 2021 in relation to the Online Gaming for public consultation. 

Chandrashekhar also highlighted the importance of digital skills in a post pandemic world, as the rate of digitalisation of products, services and devices continue to increase across the world. “Imparting digital skills to the youth in northeast region to enable them to grab opportunities of jobs and entrepreneurship in the fast-expanding Digital economy is an article of faith for Modi government," he said.

MeitY will also set up a state-of-the-art facility under the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) in Shillong to provide training on digital skills. A 10-acre campus shall soon be ready for this purpose.

In addition to this, the minister also informed that the government was re-launching Skill India through PMKVY 4.0 with the aim of training around 50,000 youth in Meghalaya in future ready skills with industry-backed job opportunities.

“PM Narendra Modi is building New India with re-imagined ambitions and aspirations for the young Indians. There are multiple opportunities available today and therefore skills become important to take advantage of these opportunities. Skills are the new Passport to prosperity", he added.

Image source: PIB