Dayanidhi Maran presents ‘.in’ domain name registration certificates to leading industry names

January 6, 2005; 06:05 AM

The Registration process for the official Internet domain of the country being ‘.in' has already commenced with effect from 1st January, 2005. ‘.in' Domain names are now available online to everyone who wants to have the same.

At a function held here today, Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Minister of Communications & Information Technology presented the Registration Certificates to the leading industrial organisations who have registered their names with ‘.in' extension. Speaking on the occasion Shri Maran said that ‘.in' reflects the patriotism and it will definitely be a successful one. He further said that initially the registered companies and registered mark owners are given time till January 21, 2005, technically known as the sunrise applicants, to select their addresses in their names, after which a silent period will prevail. From February 16, 2005 open-registration will start for the General Public. However, those entering for registration after the stipulated period of 15th February will have to choose from the ‘left-over' names only, Shri Maran said.

‘.in' Registry has been created by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) promoted by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), as a ‘not-for-profit' company in association with the Internet Service Providers Association of India. The registry has formulated new policies for the registration and administration of ‘.in' domain names. These include the ‘.in Sunrise Policy' and the ‘.in Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP)'. With a view to make ‘.in' domain name registrations easier, faster and more transparent so as to make the internet available to more Indian population and thus reflect India's global dominance in the field of Information Technology the above policies were framed.

For the first time, domains are available at the second level - easy to use and easy to remember domains such as "mydomain.in" Registrations at the third level in the globally popular zones of domain registration like ‘.co.in' and ‘.org.in' are also available. The entire process of registration will be online and is expected to be completed in less than 24 hours from the receipt of the request from a registrant. The minimum fee charged by the ‘.in' Registry will be Rs. 250 and Rs. 500 per year for registrations at 3rd and 2nd levels respectively, which are the lowest rates.

The following registrars are accredited to submit applications for ‘.in Sunrise' domain names:

v Direct 1

v Good Luck Domains

v Net4India Limited, dba Net4 Domains

v Online NIC