The Hindu Business Line : New policy unveiled for .in domain registration

WITH a view to establishing an Indian identity in the Internet space and ensure greater circulation of traffic within the country, the Government today announced a new policy for `.in' domain name registration focusing on hassle-free online procedure and reduced pricing.

Come January 1, Internet users and companies would be able to register .in domain names online, paving the way for increased traffic circulation within the country, cheaper tariffs and faster download speeds, according to the Minister for IT and Communications, Mr Dayanidhi Maran.

Speaking to newspersons, he said: "My secretary is writing to companies and Government services requesting them to migrate to the .in domain."

As part of the initiative, unlimited generic .in registrations would be offered at second level of domain name and also at the third level in globally popular zones of domain registrations (like .co.in, .net.in and .org.in).

Registrations would be carried out by Registrars following competitive pricing policy and best market practices. The minimum fee charged by the .in registry will be Rs 250 and Rs 500 per year for registrations at the third and the second level, compared to the prevailing rate of Rs 750 and Rs 1,500.

The .in registry would adopt Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and would be assisted by a Dispute Resolution Committee to resolve disputes involving the registry.

It would also appoint arbitrators to address disputes involving registrars and registrants.

The entire process of registration would be online and should be completed in less than 24 hours of the receipt of the request from a registrant.

The .in registry would announce a sunrise period of 90 days to enable registered trademark owners, registered companies and owners of intellectual property having a legitimate interest in protecting their brands to secure registration of their domain names after verification.

The .IN Network Information Centre (INNIC) under National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) would function as an autonomous body with the primary responsibility of maintaining the .in domain and ensuring its operational stability, reliability and security. It will implement the various elements of new policy set out by the Government.

The move to revamp the .in domain registry assumes significance as the number of .in Domain names registered so far does not truly represent the penetration of IT in India.

An overcautious registration policy and absence of infrastructure for registration have also hindered the growth of the .in domain.

A proactive policy for .in domain proliferation can help establish it as a globally recognised symbol of India's growth in IT.