IT share in GDP pegged at 5.2 per cent

New Delhi, Apr 21: The share of Information Technology (IT) industry in India's GDP was 5.2 per cent or 48.1 billion dollars in 2006-07, the government today said, quoting a NASSCOM report.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari said of the 48.1 billion dollars, hardware and software products comprised 11.5 billion dollars and IT services 36.6 billion dollars. The NASSCOM report also pointed out that around 16.30 lakh people were employed in the IT sector during 2006-07 and 3.75 lakh more jobs were expected to be added in this sector in 2007-08.

The Minister said as per projections of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), there would not be any shortage of engineers in the country in view of the present rate of increase in enrolment in engineering colleges.

''However, NASSCOM has raised the issue of employability of engineering graduates in India,'' she informed the Upper House. Ms Purandeswari said a working group was constituted by the HRD ministry to examine the issues raised by NASSCOM.

The working group has recommended, among other things, 'Finishing Schools' for engineering graduates to enhance their employability and changes in the syllabi of various engineering colleges to make them compatible with the needs of the industry. The minister said Finishing Schools were already being organised for the IT sector.

UNI