Is India Set to Establish an Inclusive Electronic Toy Industry?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's toy industry is shifting from imports to domestic production.
- The government is focusing on electronics and IT for industry growth.
- A new 'Electronic Toys Lab' has been established at C-DAC, Noida.
- Young engineers are being trained to design and create electronic toys.
- The initiative promotes inclusivity by engaging underrepresented communities.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) India is witnessing the emergence of a robust market for electronic toys. To nurture the country's toy industry ecosystem, electronics and IT will play a pivotal role, according to a senior official from the government.
Amitesh Kumar Sinha, the Additional Secretary of MeitY, expressed his satisfaction with the foundational elements being established and noted that the upcoming generation of engineers is actively contributing to this development.
The Indian toy industry, once reliant on imports, is now increasingly focused on domestic manufacturing and exports to 153 nations.
As part of efforts to enhance the industry, MeitY, C-DAC, Indian Toy Industries, and LEGO Group recently celebrated the graduation ceremony for the second cohort of engineering graduates trained under the initiative ‘Development of Electronics and IT-based Control and Automation Solutions for Consumer Electronic Goods (Toy Industry).’
This project, specially designed by the R&D group of the Ministry, aims to promote the growth of the Indian electronic toys sector by developing prototypes and empowering young engineers, including those from underrepresented communities, with essential skills to design such toys.
Sinha inaugurated the ‘Electronic Toys Lab’ at C-DAC in Noida, stating that this program could be expanded to accommodate more students and significantly impact the toy industry’s overall growth.
“The CoE established at CDAC-Noida for electronic toys will collaborate with NIELIT, MSH, and other institutions focusing on electronic toys. It will facilitate entrepreneurship and startup opportunities,” Sinha added.
Under this MeitY initiative, young engineers from various regions, particularly from SC/ST and NER backgrounds, were selected to engage in R&D activities for a year. They gained practical experience in designing and developing electronic toys, with the first six months dedicated to working and learning in the e-toys lab at C-DAC-Noida, followed by six months of industry training to create toy prototypes based on market demands.
Participants received a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000 throughout the year.