The rise of India as an information technology (IT) hub and challenges to governance

Abstract

Faizal bin Yahya reflects on the growth of India as an Information Technology (IT) center amidst challenges to governance. Chandrababu Naidu established a $850 million advanced software park in 1998 on the outskirts of the state capital on 158 acres of land, in which the government claimed an 11% equity stake. The area was called Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy (HITEC) City. Post-Independence India has not been able to achieve economic development and growth on the same scale as the developmental states of East Asia. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government spent approximately $20 million to air its 'India Shining' advertisements in English and then in all the major Indian languages to showcase its achievements. The 'India Shining' advertisement was conceptualized and developed in English by the advertising agency Grey Worldwide India. Naidu could not bring about a common consensus between the IT class and the agrarian class.