INTRODUCTION

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "The study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based informationsystems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect process, transmit, and securely retrieve information. When computer and communications technologies are combined, the result is information technology, or "INFOTECH". Information Technology (IT) is a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information. Today, the term information technology has ballooned to encompass many aspects of computing and technology. IT professionals perform a variety of duties that range from installing applications to designing complex computer networks and information databases. A few of the duties that IT professionals perform may include data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, database and software design, as well as the management and administration of entire systems. Owing to its easy accessibility and the wide range of IT products available, the demand for IT services has increased substantially over the years. The IT sector has emerged as a major global source of both growth andemployment.
ROLE OF IT INDUSTRY The IT industry can serve as a medium of e-governance, as it assures easy accessibility to information. The use of information technology in the service sector improves operational efficiency and adds to transparency. It also serves as a medium of skill formation. Economies of scale for the information technology industry are high. The marginal cost of each unit of additional software or hardware is insignificant compared

to the value addition that results from it. Unlike other common industries, the IT industry is knowledge-based. Efficient utilization of skilled labor forces in the IT sector can help an economy achieve a rapid pace of economic growth. The IT industry helps many other sectors in the growth process of the economy including the services and manufacturing sectors.