New Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday took charge of the Ministry of Communications and said the telecom sector and India Post division have crucial roles to play on the global and local stage. The minister recalled his previous tenure as the Minister of State for Communications about one and half decades ago.
"It is indeed my honour that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given me responsibility of the Communications Ministry. Both the Telecom division as well as the India post division have a tremendous role to play at the global stage as well as on the local stage, to enjoin the hearts of millions of people across the country and the world," Scindia told reporters after taking charge.
The minister said there has been a revolution under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and pledged to deliver his best as per the aspirations of the PM and the people of this country. "It is also a little bit like coming full circle for me. I worked as a junior minister in this department many...years ago in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Therefore, for me, it is also a department with which I have had tremendous emotional ties," he said.
Scindia, as the new telecom minister, has his task cut out to complete the 5G spectrum auction scheduled to be held later this month. Besides the spectrum auction, where over Rs 96,000 crore worth of airwaves will be on the block, he will also have to prioritise issues like satellite broadband services, security clearance for Elon Musk-led Startlink and formulate rules for the new Telecommunications Act.
Scinida will have to set the ball rolling on a 100-day agenda that would outline clear priority areas, key deliverables, roadmaps and targets for the telecom sector. "In the continued spirit and vision, we look forward to working with Hon'ble Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to advance further policy reforms and spearhead pioneering initiatives that will elevate the digital revolution to the next level, integrating a variety of technological innovations," industry body COAI Director General SP Kochhar said.
Scindia, who takes over the baton from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, inherits a sector with improved financial metrics, lower litigations, and lesser uncertainty, following the disposal of several cases in courts. Scindia's ministerial journey started as Minister of State for telecom, Post and IT under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led UPA-1 regime. He was instrumental in driving post office modernisation with the Project Arrow scheme.
"As our new Telecom Minister has been appointed, there will be some challenges ahead to transform India's telecommunications landscape. Primary challenges would include expanding digital infrastructure to rural and underserved areas, ensuring affordable and reliable connectivity for all citizens, and fostering innovation in the sector.
"By addressing these areas head-on, India can drive economic growth, bridge the digital divide, and position India as a global leader in telecommunications technology," GX Group CEO Paritosh Prajapati said. As a minister in the Modi 3.0 government, Scindia will have the challenge of reviving state-run telecom firm BSNL and settling the debt issues of MTNL.
The new minister also has the challenge of resolving the threat posed by fraudulent calls and the persistent issue of pesky calls. Scindia, who was the aviation minister in the previous Modi government, won from Guna in Madhya Pradesh by more than 5.40 lakh votes.
