(with research inputs from Aditi Agrawal and Soumyarendra Barik) The "New Economy" based on innovation and disruption with AI, drones, 3D printing, DNA, data storage, quantum computing are rewriting the world economic order, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Union Budget Speech earlier today. "India has embraced the sharing economy with aggregator platforms" and "has harnessed new tech via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) and financial inclusion on a scale never before," she said. Here are a few of the announcements she made in this regard: Proposed to build data centre parks throughout the country to enable private sector firms "to incorporate data in every step of the value chain" FTTH connections via Bharatnet will link 1 lakh gram panchayats this year, proposes to allocate Rs 6,000 crore to BharatNet in 2020-21 Intellectual property protection is important; proposes digital platform to capture IPR, complexity and innovation in start-up economy to be protected through knowledge centres. "Also, in an Institute of Excellence, a centre would be established that would work on the complexity and innovation in the field of Intellectual Property," she said. Announced 5 new Smart Cities under PPP mode in collaboration with states Health and Wellness Centres, Anganwadis, Post Offices, Police Stations, etc. will be provided with digital connectivity More than 6 lakh Anganwadi workers are equipped with smartphones to upload the nutritional status of more than 10 crore households. https://twitter.com/IndianIdle/status/1223496003627581441 New policies and schemes announced National Policy on Statistics which will use latest technology including AI. It will…
