The ministry would soon effect necessary transfers to redeploy manpower including that from the abolished divisions, official sources told PTI.It has also reorganised the remaining science and technology divisions into seven groups in a bid to synchronise the working to suit the changing requirements in the fast-growing IT sector.

Under its first major revamp exercise after the formation of the IT ministry in October 1999, the ministry has also set up a high-level committee for restructuring the existing autonomous societies under the administrative control of the ministry. "Consequent upon the re-organisation of various groups and divisions, the following divisions stand abolished: Computer software development division, PIU division, special IT projects division, power electronics division, rural and social applications division," an internal order of the ministry said.

Functions of the five abolished divisions would be merged with others, the order said while renaming two divisions HRD and industry policy cell as "IT manpower development and training" and "Electronics and IT policy co-ordination.

The Ministry has also set up a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), chaired by IT secretary Mr Vinay Kohli, to formulate recommendations on policy issues and fund management relating to all S&T groups.

Each group would continue to have a separate budget and coordinators would have powers to administer their funds, sources said, adding this was aimed at maintaining autonomy of these groups.

The IT ministry has retained other S&T functions under seven groups including Industrial growth (IT hardware and software) group, Industrial growth (electronics equipment) group and technology forecasting and policy co-ordination group.

Other groups include education research and training group, IT applications promotion group, international co-operation and export promotion group, and planning and co-ordination group.

Sources said the revamping exercise was aimed at streamlining the various overlapping activities and enabling the ministry to function as a more cohesive organisation with clear priorities and objectives.