India should drive new standards: Secretary General ISO

BANGALORE: Given India's booming economy and the rapid strides taken by the country in the IT sector in particular, India should attempt to take a proactive stand by shifting from being a conformist of standards to driving and setting new international standards, Alan Bryden, Secretary General, ISO (International Standards Organisation), said.

India should move from just conforming to standards to makers of standards, Bryden said during a round table with various leaders of the industry here today.

Speaking on the global scenario,he said there has been a growing demand for consensus-based international standards.

The emergence of global companies, breaking down of trade barriers and the loud cry by emerging economies (like China, Brazil, India) as well as international NGOs keen on having a say in the standard making proces, are some of the key factors that were driving setting of international standards,he said.

He also emphasised on the need of collaborations to meet the challenges of convergence technologies of the new era.

Prof S Sadagopan, Director of International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore, said India should move from being led to leading others by driving, creating and influencing new standards