Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, said that emerging technologies such as drone technology, Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity are playing a significant role in creating new employment opportunities.
He was addressing the “Technology and Skill Development Conference” held at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee NIELIT Extension Centre campus in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh on 21 December 2025. Shri Jitin Prasada attended the conference as the Chief Guest. The objective of the conference was to promote technology-based skill development, innovation, and entrepreneurship among youth.
Referring to the vision of Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Minister of State said that institutions like NIELIT are acting as a bridge between policy formulation and implementation, and are playing a vital role in taking advanced technical education and skill development to remote and semi-urban areas of the country.
He also emphasized that skill development aligned with industry requirements will lead India towards global leadership in technology. The conference was attended by Members of the Legislative Assembly, senior district and administrative officials, representatives from academia and industry, startup entrepreneurs, and officials of NIELIT.
A large number of students, trainees, and local youth actively participated in the event. A key attraction of the conference was the technology exhibition by startup companies working in the field of Drone Technologies. These startups showcased innovative drone-based solutions for agriculture, crop monitoring, pesticide spraying, land surveying, mapping, disaster management, surveillance, and logistics.
The exhibition provided participants with practical insights into real-world applications of drone technology and demonstrated the growing role of startups in driving technological innovation. On this occasion, the Minister also inaugurated a state-of-the-art Internet of Things (IoT) Laboratory at NIELIT Pilibhit.
The newly established IoT Lab is aimed at providing hands-on, industry-oriented training to students from Pilibhit and surrounding regions. The laboratory will enable learners to gain practical exposure to smart sensors, embedded systems, automation, and real-time IoT applications, thereby enhancing their employability and technical competence.
The IoT Laboratory is expected to play a significant role in bridging the gap between academia and industry, promoting innovation-led learning, and encouraging entrepreneurship among local youth. The initiative will also support startups and innovators by providing access to modern infrastructure and technical guidance.
The conference also featured a special workshop on Cyber Security, wherein experts deliberated on topics such as cybercrime awareness, prevention of digital fraud, data privacy, safe use of the internet, and emerging cyber threats. The workshop proved highly informative and beneficial for students, teachers, government officials, and citizens, enhancing awareness about secure and responsible digital practices.
In addition, technical sessions, interactive discussions, and awareness programs were organized to disseminate information on emerging technologies, government skill development initiatives, and opportunities in the electronics and IT sector.
The Technology and Skill Development Conference concluded with a reaffirmation of NIELIT’s commitment to strengthening the digital and technological ecosystem in rural and semi-urban regions and empowering youth through skill development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
About NIELIT
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) is an autonomous scientific institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, playing a leading role in skill development and digital empowerment.
With a wide presence through 56 NIELIT centres, over 750 accredited institutes, and more than 8,500 facilitation centres, NIELIT has imparted skills and certified millions of students in emerging technologies in the fields of Electronics and ICT. NIELIT has been accorded the status of a “Deemed to be University” under the distinct category by the Ministry of Education.
Its main campus is located in Ropar (Punjab), with eleven constituent campuses at Aizawl, Agartala, Aurangabad, Calicut, Gorakhpur, Imphal, Itanagar, Ajmer (Kekri), Kohima, Patna, and Srinagar. The objective of NIELIT is to bring transformative changes in higher education in the field of Electronics and Information & Communication Technology through the use of digital technologies.