M Sivasankar, the Information Technology Secretary, made this announcement explaining that the state needed to get ahead by ensuring they had the right manpower. Sivasankar noted:
“The coming two years are crucial for us as we plan to produce 20,000 blockchain experts. The emphasis is on enhancing the quality of manpower steered by young startup companies. This is a great opportunity for us to build expertise in next-generation technology and knowledge sharing.”
This initiative is likely to put the state and the country as a whole ahead of many other countries across the world. While the technology has been around for over ten years, it remains largely vague to many. Furthermore, its application has not reached its peak with its potential growth unhindered.
India joins the likes of leaders like China and the U.S who have fully embraced the technology. And looking to further its development. But unlike the U.S, India, and China seem to take the same approach to cryptocurrencies. Despite the fact that cryptocurrencies were the first application that shed a light to blockchain technology, India seems totally against them.
Everyone who has heard about blockchain technology has heard about Bitcoin or one of the thousands of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies were the first successful application of the technology and have since created a buzz. One would then be excused for thinking that a country that embraces blockchain technology embraces cryptocurrencies.
This is not the case in India. In fact, as we have reported, the country has on several occasions threatened to ban cryptocurrencies. There is yet to be a final word on this but it has been all too clear that the government is not a fan of Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.
Despite its stance on cryptocurrencies, its embrace of the underlying technology is a welcome one. It will further the growth of the entire industry and see new innovative projects come up in the years to come.