Parliament Question: Review Mechanism for Procurement of Computing Devices

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2878 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 05.08.2026 REVIEW MECHANISM FOR PROCUREMENT OF COMPUTING DEVICES 2878. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU: Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has put in place a defined periodic review mechanism for updating technical specifications and standards applicable to procurement of computing devices such as desktops, laptops and tablets by various Ministries, Departments and Public Sector Undertakings and if so, the details of the frequency and process of such review; (b) the date on which such specifications were last comprehensively revised and whether any internal assessment has been undertaken as to whether they keep pace with global advancements in device performance, energy efficiency and on-device computing capabilities; (c) whether such technical specifications are framed on a technology-neutral basis allowing transparent and competitive procurement of devices based on all processor architectures or if they include only specific processor architectures; and (d) the details of the plans and the steps, if any, being taken by the Government to institutionalise a more agile and technology-responsive review process for such specifications going forward? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) to (d): To facilitate the procurement of Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the reference Model Technical Specifications (MTS) for Desktops, Laptops and Tablets on 17.04.2021. The latest comprehensive revision of the MTS was issued on 19.08.2024, with validity up to 31.03.2027 (end of FY 2026–27). The reference MTS are technology-neutral and are intended to promote transparent, fair, and competitive procurement by prescribing performance-based requirements rather than product or brand-specific specifications. The specifications are reviewed and updated periodically in consultation with industry stakeholders, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), processor manufacturers, and testing agencies, taking into account technological developments in the sector. The review of the technical specifications are done keeping in view the development in processor technologies, device performance, energy efficiency, cybersecurity requirements and end-user requirements. *****