The United Nations Millennium Summit identified eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) like halving the number of people living in hunger and poverty; achieving universal primary education; reducing by two-thirds the mortality rate among children under 5, etc. In the fight against hunger, poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, environmental degradation, etc. New technologies especially Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been identified as a tool to meet these goals. ICTs have the potential to not only improve government service delivery but also enhance development outcomes through greater transparency, ease of access, people's participation and cost reduction. ICT facilitates e-governance which goes much beyond efficiency in providing government services to include people's participation in public affairs. An important component of governance is equity to ensure that the marginalized sections of society are not excluded.

Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as radio, television, video, computers, internet and mobile phones are effective instruments to empower people, improve lives and reduce poverty. Through the ICT for Development (ICTD) project  NISG has used ICTs in a creative manner to provide services for the deprived sections in areas of socio-economic development, livelihoods, governance, health and education.

The ICT for Development (ICTD) project was conceptualized by UNDP and Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT), laying emphasis on the vital role ICTs can play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. NISG provided the essential expertise in project conceptualization and management, monitoring & evaluation using Results Based Management, and capacity building.

The pilot projects fall under four themes - Governance, Rural Livelihoods, Women Empowerment and Integrated Citizen Services. Eighteen pilot initiatives have been selected for implementation in 9 different states of the country. These projects have been implemented across India by various state governments and development organizations and are now on the verge of being upscaled and replicated.