I deem it a great privilege to bring to you this inaugural issue of CSI Transaction on ICT. On this momentous occasion, I would like to share the genesis of this series of transactions planned by the Computer Society of India.

Information and Communication Technology (or ICT in short), is pervasive and ubiquitous. It is touching the life of every one of us in several ways. Civil society governance is dominated by the presence of ICT in education, health and agriculture. In order to increase the quality of life of common man and to provide inclusive growth one recognizes that all round progress based on ICT is absolutely essential in Science and Technology in such a manner that the Research and Development efforts result in useable, simple and affordable devices or services. During such a whole-hearted and dedicated pursuit, generation of knowledge and deeper understanding of issues, are the natural outcome.

Obviously, the knowledge so generated should be institutionalized on an ongoing basis for sharing among peers and to leave cultural legacies for posterity. Homegrown publications of high quality are the only answer. To synergize the Indian presence in the ICT space, Computer Society of India has been working on the concept of high-quality publications with globally comparable academic content and quality, for the last three years. The deliberations in the society, in the publications committee, and the CSI Executive Committee have resulted in the definition of a series called, CSI Transactions on ICT.

The series has, at present, SIX topics that are considered relevant to cover the ICT space from concept to realization, primarily focused on what is happening in India. In fact, the creative ability, design capability, development potential, innovation in deployment across the Civil, Military, and Intelligence space, and optimal resource mobilization in the form of people, ideas, and funds have carved out a huge market for ICT in India in recent times. Phenomenal knowledge and experience gets created during such a transformation process. CSI Transaction series will strive to institutionalize this knowledge being created in India, with accuracy, authenticity, and agility.

For ICT in India, the emergence of National Knowledge Network (NKN) as the integrator of Science, Technology, and Higher Education is an important factor. All scientific laboratories and institutions of Higher Learning (including IITs, IIMs, and Universities) are in one massive multi-gigabit network by the end of 2011. Indian contributions to science, technology, and higher education have been seamlessly integrated to receive global acclaim. Efforts akin to NKN are afoot to extend such linkages and integration to schools, polytechnics, colleges, literacy missions, and skills development organizations. India is on the threshold of making history, as the country perceives NKN as a game changer.

Besides, it is widely believed (and strongly so) that India is rediscovering herself—especially in the ICT space. Accordingly, the following are identified as potential transactions to seize the enormous opportunity that beckons Computer Society of India and to respond in a professional manner to seize the opportunity.

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Systems and Architecture

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Software Design and Performance

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Cyber and Information Security

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Education, Health, and Agriculture

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Economics, Practice, and Management

  • CSI Transactions on ICT: Computing and Computational Science

On this occasion, as the Founder Chief Editor of the CSI Transaction series, I would like to recognize the Editors-in-Chief and all members of the Editorial Board for their exemplary work and contribution to the journal. We have a strong team of 45 Editors associated with the Editorial board who strong academic and technical leaders in their own right and who participate in the mammoth efforts towards knowledge institutionalization.

World-renowned publishing house Springer is our publisher. CSI Transactions on ICT has Global circulation. The current issue in your hands is the inaugural issue; subsequently, CSI Transactions will be published quarterly—March, June, September, and December—starting from March 2013. Both Online and Printed version will be part of Springer CS package distribution globally. The Editorial Board has planned SIX sections as a single book for 2013 and 2014; then move on to individual Transactions as individual books starting from March 2015. As we pick up speed and participation, it will become bi-monthly and eventually, monthly.