Blog Archive

Sunday, September 09, 2012

September 9, 2012 - Special Feature




Press Information Bureau – Features Section
for the month of AUGUST
Note: This is just an extract of the important features released by the Govt of India through the Press Information Bureau for the month of August. It is merely a pointer to students to read additional material on these topics and gain some useful tips from the perspective of the Govt.

NATIONAL – SOCIAL SECTOR RELATED FEATURES
  • Mainstreaming the Marginals - NSKFDC
    • The government has taken steps to address this issue and mainstream manual scavengers. Apart from reservation in education, jobs and political representation for the scheduled caste to which they belong provided for in our constitution, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) was set up in 1997 to help them become economically independent;
    • The NSKFDC is under the Central Government has an authorised share capital of 200 crore rupees. The main function of the NSKFDC is to act as an apex body for all round Socio-economic upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis and their dependents throughout India. The mission of NSKFDC is to empower the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependents to break away from their traditional occupation, depressed social conditions and poverty and help them to work their own way up the social and economic ladder, with dignity and pride;
    • Financial assistance is provided in the form of 100 per cent grants to the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) and Central and State Government and their training agencies. These agencies provide skills and entrepreneurial development of Safai Karamcharis and their dependants for taking up income generating activities in industry, service and business sector. Grants are provided upto Rs.1 lakh per project for:
      • Institutional Linkages Programme (lLP)
      • Skill up-gradation Training Programme (STP)
      • Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP)
    • The main features of the NSKFDC are:
      • Term loan for starting business – for projects costing 5 lakhs at 6% interest
      • Micro finance credit – credit upto Rs.25,000 per borrower at 5% interest and 4% interest for women
      • Education loan – for students for technical and professional courses at Rs.3lakhs per student or Rs.75,000 per year at the rate of 6% p.a.
      • Sanitation related economic activities – Loan for Rs10 lakhs for starting business for scientific and hygienic approach to removal and disposal of garbage so that there is no direct contact with garbage and unhygienic substances thereby lowering the exposure of the sanitation worker to hazardous and unhealthy conditions
      • Training programmes – Since many of the people do not have other skills sets they are given training in new trades, skills and jobs.
  • Utilisation of Postal Network for wage disbursal under MGNREGA
    • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was notified in the remaining 274 districts of India from 1st April, 2008. The Act is now effective in the entire rural areas of the country covering 638 districts and has been renamed “The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)”;
    • The scheme of disbursement of NREGS wages through post offices is operational in 19 postal Circles of the country (except Delhi, J&K and Tamilnadu Circles). Till 31st March, 2012, 5.59 crore MGNREGS accounts have been opened in post offices and wages amounting to Rs. 7,860 crore have been disbursed to MGNREGS beneficiaries during 2011-12 through 98,491 post offices across the country;
    • Main Features of Payment of Wages through the Post Offices:
      • Payment to be made through Savings Bank accounts of post offices (zero balance workers wage account)
      • Disbursement of wages within the prescribed time frame
      • Provision for advance deposit of one month’s wage in the Head Post office of the District Headquarter
      • Co-ordination meetings between Department and State Government authorities
    • Data collection for Rural Consumer Price Index - A mechanism has been worked out to calculate and disseminate the consumer price index with the help of data being collected for 1,181 villages through selected post offices throughout India. The first set of consumer price indices was brought out in February 2011. India Post is thus playing a crucial role in providing Infrastructural support to enable the concerned government departments to design and implement policies to improve the well being of all the citizens of India;
    • Mail Network Optimisation Project - Department of Post had initiated Mail Network Optimization Project in March 2010 with a view to streamline mail operations and to improve the quality of mail related services offered to the people. It involved optimization of the erstwhile mail network, standardization of processes and development of an effective performance monitoring system. As part of this project, the operational network for Speed Post and other categories of mail has been restructured leading to optimized network and simplified operations.
  • Implementation of the recommendations of the Sachar Committee
    • Inclusive growth being the basic mantra of the Government policies at the Centre, a number of steps have been taken by the Government at various levels to ensure that the benefits of development and economic resurgence reach all sections of the society including Minorities. It was in this very context that the Prime Minister had constituted a High Level Committee on Social, Economic and Educational status of the Muslim Community, popularly known as the Sachar Committee, so as to suggest ways to ameliorate the condition of the Muslim Community as a whole. In tune with this policy perspective a large number of measures have been adopted to ensure that the development deficit that exists with respect to the Muslim Community gradually disappears and the Community is able to march ahead on the path of development alongside other communities
    • Major recommendations of the Sachar Committee accepted by the Government include the following
      • Access to Education – Providing free and high quality education to children up to the age of 14, opening government schools in Muslim concentration areas, awarding scholarships, modernising Madrasas, etc
      • Access to Credit – Promoting and enhancing access to Muslims in Priority Sector lending, open more branches in Muslim concentration areas, promote micro finance among women, etc
      • Skill Development – Opening ITIs and Polytechnics to focus on high growth potential in the Muslim concentration areas
      • Special Area Development Initiatives -Villages/towns/habitations to be provided with basic amenities, good quality government schools, health facilities, etc. for all poor including Muslims.
      • Waqf – better utilization of waqf properties, etc.
      • Measures for Affirmative Action – Setting up of Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC), National Data Bank (NDB) and Assessment and Monitory Authority (AMA)
  • Indira Awaas Yojana
    • The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in the rural areas for construction of dwelling units. It has been in operation since 1985-86;
    • The funding of IAY is shared between the Centre and States in the ratio of 75:25. In the case of Union Territories, entire funds of IAY are provided by the Centre. In case of North East States, the funding ratio between the Centre and States is 90:10. The ceiling on construction assistance under IAY is Rs. 45,000 per unit in the plain areas and Rs. 48,500 in hilly/difficult areas/IAP districts. For upgradation of kutcha house, the financial assistance is Rs. 15,000 per unit. In addition to the unit assistance availed, a beneficiary can also borrow a top-up loan upto Rs. 20,000/- from any nationalized Bank at 4% interest per annum under Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme;
    • The criteria for allocation of IAY funds to the States and UTs involve assigning 75% weightage to housing shortage and 25% to poverty ratio. The allocation amongst districts is based on 75% weightage to housing shortage and 25% weightage to SC/ST component. Further, 60% of the IAY allocation is meant for benefiting SC/ST families, 3% for physically handicapped and 15% for minorities. Also the IAY houses are expected to be invariably allotted in the name of women. In addition, 5% of the central allocation can be utilized for meeting exigencies arising out of natural calamities and other emergent situations like riot, arson, fire, rehabilitation etc;
    • In order to introduce transparency in selection of beneficiaries, permanent IAY waitlists have to be prepared gram panchayat wise by the States/UTs. These lists contain the name of deserving BPL families who need IAY houses in order of their poverty status based on the BPL list 2002. Gram Sabha select the beneficiaries from the list of eligible BPL households/Permanent IAY waitlist wherever it has been prepared;
    • Construction of an IAY house is the sole responsibility of the beneficiary. Engagement of contractors is prohibited and no specific type, design has been stipulated for an IAY house. However, sanitary latrine and smokless chullah are required to be constructed alongwith each IAY house. For construction of a sanitary latrine, the beneficiary can avail of financial assistance as admissible under the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC);
    • Bharat Nirman Programme - Rural Housing is one of the six components of Bharat Nirman Programme. Under Bharat Nirman Programme Phase-I, 60 lakh houses were envisaged to be constructed through Indira Awaas Yojana all over the country during the four years i.e. from 2005-06 to 2008-2009. Against this target, 71.76 lakh houses were constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 21720.39 crore. The target for the next five years period starting from the year 2009-10, has been doubled to 120 lakh houses. During the last three years of the Bharat Nirman Programme Period-Phase-II approximate 85 lakh houses have already been constructed. Since inception of the IAY scheme about 286.88 lakh houses have been constructed with an expenditure of Rs. 85141.13 crore;
    • Monitoring - The Indira Awaas Yojana is being continuously reviewed through Monthly and Annual Reports received from the States/UTs. Senior officers at the level of Deputy Secretaries and above in the Ministry are appointed as Area Officers for different States/UTs. These Area Officers visit the allotted States/UTs from time to time and inspect the actual implementation of the programme in the field. They also participate in the State Level Coordination Committee Meetings providing thereby, a source of effective link between the policy makers, i.e., the Government and the implementing agencies (States /UT Governments). The programme is also reviewed at the meeting with the State Secretaries of Rural Development and with the Project Directors of DRDAs in the workshops held every year. From April 2007 onwards, an online monitoring mechanism has been put in place to enable DRDAs to upload their monthly progress reports into the website of the Ministry. The web-based local language MIS Programme ‘AWAASsoft’ was launched, this software captures beneficiary-wise data and is accessible to all the stake holders, beneficiaries and citizens at large.
NATIONAL – GENERAL FEATURES
  • India's Gems & Jewellery Industry – A Dazzling success story
    • India’s gems and jewellery industry is a bright star of the economy, and one of the important foundations of the country’s export-led growth. It is a leading foreign exchange earner and one of the fastest growing sectors, which accounted for 14 per cent of India’s total merchandise exports during FY 2011-12. The industry has registered a remarkable growth over the last four decades, with exports growing from US$ 28 million in 1966-67 when the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council was established, to US$ 42.84 billion in FY 2011-12;
    • Diamonds account for 54 per cent of the total export basket of the industry, with gold jewellery contributing 38 per cent and coloured gemstones and others contributing 1 per cent each, whereas rough diamond contributes 4 per cent of the total share. The industry is a truly global one, with both suppliers and buyers from many different countries. The UAE ( 44 per cent), Hong Kong ( 25 per cent) and USA ( 12 per cent) are among the major buyers, while Belgium, which accounts for 21.55 per cent of all imports of raw materials, is by far the major supplier;
    • A major contributor to the creditable performance of the industry is the massive diamond manufacturing sector, which employs nearly one million people across the country. India exported cut and polished diamonds worth US$ 23.30 billion in 2011-12;
    • The industry has grown from its small origins in the ‘50s and has established itself as the world’s largest manufacturing centre of cut and polished diamonds for the last many years, contributing 60 per cent of the world’s supply in terms of value, 85 per cent in terms of volume. Eleven out of every 12 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide, are processed in India, mainly around Mumbai, Surat and Jaipur. This feat has been possible due to various factors.  At the forefront is the skill of the Indian artisan.  The relentless efforts of Indian entrepreneurs, who took on the daunting task of setting up this industry, has contributed to its growth in no small measure. Indian diamantaires have gone on to create a marketing network worldwide, which is truly mind-boggling.  Added to this is the strong financial base of the industry and support of financial institutions of the country;
    • The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1966, has played a significant role in the evolution of the industry to its present stature by effectively moulding the scattered efforts of individual exporters into a powerful engine driving the country’s export-led growth.  Today, the Council has 5,300 members spread all over the country;
    • The Council undertakes direct promotional activities such as organizing joint participation in international jewellery shows, sending and hosting trade delegations, and sustained image building exercise through advertisements abroad, publications, audio visuals/corporate literature, members’ directory, etc;
    • It also directly aids intra-regional investments by encouraging co-operation and joint ventures in jewellery manufacturing, especially in the various EPZs/SEZs created by the Ministry of Commerce which offer special facilities for Foreign Direct Investments in Jewellery units through foreign collaborations and partnerships;
    • The global market for Gems and Jewellery today is over USD 100 billion with jewellery manufacturing dominated by a handful of countries, namely- Italy, China, Thailand, USA and India. Although India is the global factory of cutting and polishing diamonds, the trading hubs are located in the bye lanes of Antwerp and Belgium where this trade is shared by Jews and Gujarati’s. The setting up of the Diamond Bourse in Mumbai –amongst the largest bourses in the world, at par with international standards is expected to ensure India’s strategic shift as a leading diamond trading market in Asia.  The vision is to make India the Global Jewellery Hub and world’s one stop destination for diamonds, gems, gold and jewellery, in the years to come.
  • Dealing with High Sea Piracy
    • Till date India did not have any law to deal with the ticklish problem of piracy in high seas.  In the absence of a specific law to counter piracy, prosecuting the arrested pirates had also become a legal problem. On 24th April, 2012, the long-awaited Piracy Bill was introduced in Parliament. The Standing Committee on External Affairs is in the process of finalizing the Bill. The Bill proposed to hand out death penalty for committing piracy on the high seas or in ’s Exclusive Economic Zone which stretches to 200 nautical miles from the coast
    • The Piracy Bill, 2012, inter alia, provides for the following, namely:
      • “to define the expression “piracy” so as to include various acts, as given in 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as acts of piracy;
      • to provide punishment for an act of piracy, attempt to commit piracy and accomplice to piracy;
      • confers power on any Gazetted officer of the Central Government or of a State Government with the powers of arrest of any person, investigation and prosecution exercisable by a police officer under the Code of Criminal Procedure;
      • to specify by the Central Government after consultation with the Chief Justice of concerned High Court, by notification, one or more Court of Session in the State to be Designated Court for providing speedy trial of the offences under the proposed legislation and the territorial jurisdiction of each such Court;
      • provides for application of Code of Criminal Procedure in the proceedings before a ; provisions relating to bail of accused persons;
      • provision as to  extradition of persons involved in an act of piracy;
      • for the purpose of geographic scope, to extend the proposed legislation to the exclusive economic zone of India.”
    • Gulf of Aden has been a hot bed for Somali pirates for quite some time now.  The incidents of sea piracy especially in the have become rampant in recent times.  One is flabbergasted by the huge amount of money transacted in these piracies. According to a rough estimate, piracy is now a whopping billion dollar global business;
    • Pirates generally set to sail in small dhows and skiffs armed with archaic machine guns and pistols. There is always a possibility of attacking a ship again that has been released by a different group of pirates.  Same group of pirates generally do not re-attack the ship after getting the ransom money. Ransom money is generally paid through a private agency. If the pirates feel they are running out of their food and diesel, they mount pressure and add the cost of feeding, diesel and maintenance.  After receiving the money the pirates generally leave the hijacked ship and escape in their smaller boat / dhow. The most curious case of Somali pirates is that they need huge money to feed the hostages for months together, if not for years, when they take the hostages to the shore.  If they get a hint that the bargain is going to be tough and long-drawn, they take the hostages to land and add the cumulative expenses for keeping the hostages alive;
    • Generally, merchant ships carry nationals and crew of various countries and when a ship is hijacked the countries don’t involve in negotiations directly and the owner of the ship is asked to pay the ransom.   The owner of the ship, in most of the cases, washes his hands off by saying that he doesn’t have the amount demanded by the pirates or more conveniently, the ship itself is very old and not the ransom’s worth.   More importantly, he knows that pressure will also be mounted on all the countries whose nationals are on board
    • The Ministry of Shipping has issued Guidelines regarding deployment of armed guards in Indian Merchant Ships as a part of the various steps undertaken by the Government to combat the piracy in . The Ministry considered the fact that about 35% of the ship transiting in these waters deploy armed security guards and that the pirates generally don’t attack ships with armed guards on board;
    • The Guidelines have accordingly been issued by the Ministry of Shipping in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Revenue (CBEC), Navy and Coast Guard. As per these guidelines the ship owners are allowed to engage Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSC), who are properly selected and vetted. All Indian ships visiting Indian ports are to furnish details of security personnel on board, the fire–arms carried by them and the details of license issued etc. to the Port authority, Customs, Coast Guard and the Navy. Foreign merchant vessels visiting Indian ports with security guards are also required to follow similar procedure.
  • Dedicated Freight Corridor

    • India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and now ranks as the fourth largest economy. In 1991 India opened its economy and integrated with global powers. One of the Key drivers of the economy is the rail transportation network and Indian Railways is one of the biggest rail networks in the World under single management. The rapid economic growth averaging at 8.45% per annum for last 10 years has put huge demand on existing rail infrastructure. The core sector of Indian economy like Power, Coal mining, steel, cement production, fertilizer, petroleum have great dependence on railways and in consonance railways sets a target of 1850million tons of freight in its 2020 vision document;

    • To supplement the rapid development railways have identified its high density freight routes of golden quadrilateral for line capacity enhancement. The golden quadrilateral which is just 16% of rail network carries 58% of total freight traffic. A momentous decision was taken by the Government in 2005 to segregate freight and passenger business and to construct Dedicated Freight Corridors for movement of freight trains. In the Year 2006, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) was established and registered as a special purpose vehicle under the Companies’ Act 1957;

    • The DFC project is a marvel of Planning, engineering, design and technology. In the first phase of this mega project, DFCCIL has taken up two corridors at an estimated cost of Rs 88,000 cr. The Eastern Corridor with a route length of 1839 km  from Ludhiana (Punjab) to Dankuni (West Bengal) and The Western Corridor with a distance of 1534 km from JNPT (Mumbai) to Dadri. The Eastern corridor will ease the movement of coal to power plants, steel, petroleum, fertilizer and food grains while the Western corridor will  cater to achievement of India’s strategy of transformation to global export hub. The Western Corridor will also help in domestic movement of industrial production from western India to northern part of the country through containers. The preliminary Engineering and Traffic survey for four more corridors in the next phase has also began and is likely to be completed within two years;
    • The prime objectives for building these dedicated freight corridors are to create additional rail infrastructure to cater to increased transport demand as well as to reduce unit cost of transportation. DFC will provide seamless end to end solution to the customers and segregate freight infrastructure for focused approach on both passenger and freight business of Railways. To accrue the benefits of DFC, the Government has started Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Corporation of India which will industrialised the area along DFC and bring in $100 billion investment to the region;
    • Availability of land holds the key for faster construction of Dedicated Freight Corridors. DFC will use about 6000 hectares of available railway land and acquire 10750 hectares of land. Further the main cities and towns have been bypassed to avoid any inconvenience to the population due to land acquisition and other issues. DFCC has already acquired about 7500 hectares of land and it hopes to complete acquisition by Dec 2012. Apart from compensation, the rehabilitation package offered by DFC is unique in a way that it provides for the cost of resettlement and re-building of assets of effected people. The Eastern and the Western Freight Corridors passes through nine states, 60 districts and 2500 villages;
    • The flow of uninterrupted finance is the key for this kind of mega projects. The DFCC has made foolproof arrangement for timely and un interrupted flow of finance as the eastern corridor is financed by World bank and the entire funding for WDFC is provided by Japan (JICA).The World Bank has agreed to provide a long term loan of $ 950 million for 1190 km long Ludhiana-Mughalsarai section and the loan agreement has been signed in October 2011.The JICA IS providing a loan of 679 billion Yen for construction of entire Western Dedicated Freight Corridor;
    • The DFCC project is likely to be a key driver of Indian Economy and a game changer project. The DFC project will reduce the transit time to 1/3rd and will bring new State of Art terminals, with improved customer service. The target for completion of both Eastern and Western Corridor is 2017-18.
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
    • One of the issues marring the vision for the country’s future generations is the evil of child sexual abuse. Statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau reveal that there has been a steady increase in sexual crimes against children. According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007, over half of the children surveyed reported having faced some form of sexual abuse, with their suffering exacerbated by the lack of specific legislation to provide remedies for these crimes. While rape is considered a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code, the law was deficient in recognising and punishing other sexual offences, such as sexual harassment, stalking, and child pornography, for which prosecutors had to rely on imprecise provisions such as “outraging the modesty of a woman”;
    • The Ministry of Women and Child Development, recognising that the problem of child sexual abuse needs to be addressed through less ambiguous and more stringent legal provisions, championed the introduction of a specific law to address this offence. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 received the President’s assent on 19th June 2012 and was notified in the Gazette of India on 20th June, 2012. The Act is due to come into force shortly, along with the rules being framed under the Act;
    • The Act defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age, and regards the best interests and well being of the child as being of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child. It defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography, and deems a sexual assault to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority vis-a-vis the child, like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor. People who traffick children for sexual purposes are also punishable under the provisions relating to abetment in the Act. The Act prescribes stringent punishment graded as per the gravity of the offence, with a maximum term of rigorous imprisonment for life, and fine;
    • In keeping with the best international child protection standards, the Act also provides for mandatory reporting of sexual offences. This casts a legal duty upon a person who has knowledge that a child has been sexually abused to report the offence; if he fails to do so, he may be punished with six months’ imprisonment and/ or a fine. Thus, a teacher who is aware that one of her students has been sexually abused by a colleague is legally obliged to bring the matter to the attention of the authorities. The Act, on the other hand, also prescribes punishment for a person, if he provides false information with the intention to defame any person, including the child;
    • The Act also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process. Thus, the police personnel receiving a report of sexual abuse of a child are given the responsibility of making urgent arrangements for the care and protection of the child, such as obtaining emergency medical treatment for the child and placing the child in a shelter home, should the need arise. The police are also required to bring the matter to the attention of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) within 24 hours of receiving the report, so the CWC may then proceed where required to make further arrangements for the safety and security of the child. The Act also makes provisions for the medical examination of the child designed to cause as little distress as possible. The examination is to be carried out in the presence of the parent or other person whom the child trusts, and in the case of a female child, by a female doctor;
    • The Act further makes provisions for avoiding the re-victimisation of the child at the hands of the judicial system. It provides for special courts that conduct the trial in-camera and without revealing the identity of the child, in a manner that is as child-friendly as possible. Hence, the child may have a parent or other trusted person present at the time of testifying and can call for assistance from an interpreter, special educator, or other professional while giving evidence; further, the child is not to be called repeatedly to testify in court and may testify through video-link rather than in the intimidating environs of a courtroom. Above all, the Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported;
    • Another important provision in the Act is that it provides for the Special Court to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to a child who has been sexually abused, so that this money can then be used for the child’s medical treatment and rehabilitation;
    • The Act is a welcome piece of legislation, in that it recognises almost every known form of sexual abuse against children as punishable offences, leaving little room for ambiguity in its interpretation. Further, by providing for a child-friendly judicial process, the Act encourages children who have been victims of sexual abuse to bring their offender to book and seek redress for their suffering, as well as to obtain assistance in overcoming their trauma.  It makes the different agencies of the State, such as the police, judiciary and child protection machinery, collaborators in securing justice for a sexually abused child; working together, they can ensure that the child is given an opportunity to obtain justice for the harm suffered, and begin the process of rebuilding the child’s life and future.
  • Telecom Vision for India
    • The Indian Telecom sector has proved to be an International success story and it is the second largest in the world. The sector has witnessed a commendable grow over the past 2 years. With an overall subscriber base of 960.90 million and a teledensity of 79.28%, the sector continues to grow from strength to strength.  With the urban teledensity reaching  at 168.88, rural is the key target market likely to drive the next round of growth, particularly for voice based services. The target of  40% of rural teledensity  at the end of 2014 has already been achieved and at present it is 40.21%.  BWA and 3G spectrum will enhance the wireless broadband penetration across the country and help connect the remotest locations across .  The Government has a vision to provide telephone connection and broadband facilities on demand across the country and at an affordable price and it strives to achieve the same
    • National Optic Fibre Network - The optical fiber has predominantly reached state capitals, districts and blocks at present.  NOFN is planned to connect all the 2,50,000 Gram Panchayayts in the country through optical fiber, utilizing existing fibers of PSUs  viz BSNL, RailTel and Power Grid and laying incremental fiber where ever necessary. Dark fiber network thus created will be lit by appropriate technology creating sufficient bandwidth at Gram Panchayayts level. Non discriminatory access  to the network will be provided to all the telecom service providers.  These access providers like mobile operators, Internet Service Providers(ISPs), cable TV operators, content providers can launch various services in rural areas.  Various applications for e-health, e-education, e-governance  etc. will be provided.  The project will be funded by USOF and initial estimated cost of project is Rs. 20,000 Crore.  The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broad Band Limited(BBBL), which has been incorporated on 25th February, 2012 under Indian Companies Act, 1956
    • National Telecom Policy 2012 - National Telecom Policy-2012 (NTP-2012), approved by Union Cabinet on 31st May 2012, addresses the Vision, Strategic direction and the various Medium term and Long term issues related to Telecom sector. Some of the key features of the policy are listed below:
      • Licensing - Strive to create One Nation - One License across services and service areas. Achieve One Nation - Full Mobile Number Portability and work towards One Nation - Free Roaming
      • Convergence - To orient, review and harmonise the legal, regulatory and licensing framework in a time bound manner to enable seamless delivery of converged services in technology neutral environment such as convergence of services such as voice, data, video, internet, etc, and convergence of devices such as TV, phone, computer, etc.
      • Value added services - To put in place an appropriate regulatory framework for delivery of VAS at affordable price so as to fuel growth in entrepreneurship, innovation and provision of region specific content in regional languages
      • Spectrum Management – Delinking of spectrum from licence and having separate fees for both. Ensure adequate availability of spectrum and its allocation in a transparent manner through market related processes. Make available additional 300 MHz spectrum for IMT services by the year 2017 and another 200 MHz by 2020. To prepare a roadmap for availability of additional spectrum every 5 years
      • Broadband and Rural Telephony - Increase rural teledensity from the current level of around 39 to 70 by the year 2017 and 100 by the year 2020. To recognise telecom, including broadband connectivity as a basic necessity like education and health and work towards ‘Right to Broadband’. Provide high speed and high quality broadband access to all village panchayats through a combination of technologies by the year 2014 and progressively to all villages and habitations by 2020. Provide affordable and reliable broadband-on-demand by the year 2015 and to achieve 175 million broadband connections by the year 2017 and 600 million by the year 2020 at minimum 2 Mbps download speed and making available higher speeds of at least 100 Mbps on demand.
      • Cloud Services - To recognise that cloud computing will significantly speed up design and roll out of services, enable social networking and participative governance and e-Commerce on a scale which was not possible with traditional technology solutions.
      • New Technologies - To facilitate the role of new technologies in furthering public welfare and enhanced customer choices through affordable access and efficient service delivery. The emergence of new service formats such as Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications (e.g. remotely operated irrigation pumps, smart grid etc.) represent tremendous opportunities, especially as their roll-out becomes more widespread
      • IPV 6 Compliant networks - To recognize the importance of the new Internet Protocol IPv6 to start offering new IP based services on the new protocol and to encourage new and innovative IPv6 based applications in different sectors of the economy by enabling participatory approach of all stake holders
    • Regulator and change in regulations – The TRAI also needs to be reviewed for deficiencies in operation and a comprehensive review of the Indian Telegraph Act and its rules is expected soon to make it in line with the 2012 policy.
  • National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms
    • The National Mission for Justice Delivery and legal Reforms was set up in June, 2011 to achieve the twin goals of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears; and enhancing accountability through structural changes and by setting performance standards and capacities. The Mission has become fully functional from 2012-13 and is pursuing strategic initiatives: outlining policy and legislative changes; re-engineering of procedures and court processes; focussing on Human Resource Development; and leveraging Information and Communication Technology & tools for better justice delivery. The Mission will adopt a coordinated approach for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial administration which would, inter alia, involve better infrastructure for courts including computerisation, increase in strength of subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases
    • In short span of its existence, the Mission has taken several steps in each of the strategic areas towards fulfillment of its objectives. Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill has been prepared.  The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha and is now before the Rajya Sabha for consideration.  Constitution amendment bill for raising the retirement age of High Court Judges is also before the Parliament
    • A comprehensive proposal has been formulated for constitution of All India Judicial Service and the proposal is before Committee of Secretaries. 25 States have formulated their Litigation Policies with a view to reduce the Governmental litigation.  Litigation Policy at the national level is also on the anvil
    • An Inter-Ministerial Group has been constituted to suggest necessary amendments to the Negotiable Instruments Act along with other policy and administrative measures to check increasing litigation relating to cheque bounce cases. First meeting of IMG was held on 30th, May 2012 and decisions taken in the meeting are being pursued for follow up action with Department of Financial Services, Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks Association for reducing the burden of cheque bouncing cases on our criminal justice system
    • A Sub Group on improving the court procedure and court processes for better criminal justice system has been constituted under Chairman, Law Commission to suggest necessary changes in this regard. The Commission has already prepared a Report on inordinate delays in investigation and prosecution of criminal cases against influential persons and measures needed to reform the criminal justice system
    • Infrastructure development for the subordinate judiciary is a major thrust area of the National Mission.  With a view to enhancing the resources of the State Governments, the Government has increased the central share by revising the funding pattern from 50:50 to 75:25 (for States other than North Eastern States) under modified Centrally Sponsored Scheme for development of infrastructure facilities for the judiciary from the year 2011-12 onwards.  The funding pattern for North-Eastern States has been kept as 90:10 from 2010-11.  Central assistance amounting to over ` two thousand crore has been released to States and Union Territories since inception of the scheme out of which an amount of over ` two hundred crore has been released so far during current financial year
    • The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 has been enacted for establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at the grass roots level for providing access to justice to citizens at their doorstep.The Central Government provides assistance to States for non-recurring expenses for setting up of Gram Nyayalayas and for meeting the cost of recurring expenses for running these Gram Nyayalayas for the first three years. The progress of Gram Nyayalayas have not been upto the mark.
    •  To further incentivize the State Governments for early operationalisation of Gram Nyayalayas, a comprehensive proposal for merger of Gram Nyayalayas scheme with the Centrally sponsored Scheme for development of infrastructure facilities for the subordinate judiciary has been prepared.  The norms for providing central assistance towards recurring expenditure are also proposed to be revised upwards. The proposal is presently awaiting approval of Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance
    • The Government had launched a pendency reduction drive from July 2011 to December, 2011.  Chief Justices of the High Courts were requested by the Minister of Law and Justice to initiate a campaign mode approach towards clearing long pending cases and cases relating to marginalized sections of the society.  As per feedback received from various High Courts, total pendency was reduced by over 6 lakh cases out of which about 1.36 lakh cases belonged to targeted groups such as senior citizens, disabled, minors and marginalized sections of society
    • One of the important components of pendency reduction drive related to release of under-trial prisoners from jail. In terms of the extant provisions of Criminal Procedure Code, the under-trials who have completed half of the maximum specified punishment for various offences in jail need to be released on personal bond.  As per the information received from various High Courts, around 3.16 lakh under-trial prisoners were released from the prisons during the campaign period
    • A similar drive has been launched by the Minister of Law and Justice this year as well from July, 2012 to December, 2012. The main focus of pendency reduction drive this year is to make our judicial system ‘five plus’ free. Simultaneously emphasis is being laid on increasing the number of judges in subordinate judiciary by filling the existing vacancies and creating additional posts so that disposal of cases is expedited by setting up of additional courts
  • Indian Peacekeepers in Congo
    • The Indian Army has been contributing troops to the UN since 1950 and has participated in 46 missions the world over with 1,65,000 troops till date. In keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army, 139 peacekeepers till date have laid down their lives in the line of duty, while serving under the UN Flag in various missions.  At present the Indian Army is contributing 7100 troops including Military Observers and Staff Officers to seven peacekeeping missions in Africa, the Middle East and in East Timor, with the largest participation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) was established in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999 in an attempt to bring peace and stability to the war torn country.  India is the largest troop contributor to the mission with over 3700 peacekeepers forming part of the Indian Brigade Group and as Military Observers and Staff Officers at various levels;
    • The UN, in acknowledgement of the competence and past record of Indian Peacekeepers, gave the responsibility of the province of North Kivu, one of the most challenging areas in the country, to the Indian Brigade.  Since its deployment the Indian Brigade has ensured peace in the region and was instrumental in the successful conduct of the President elections in November – December 2011;
    • With the escalation of violence between the rebels and the Congolese Armed Forces, the Indian Brigade, undertook deployment and robust defensive action against rebel attacks in the area of responsibility for the protection of civilians.  The Indian troops supported by Attack Helicopters recently fought a 20 hours long battle on 05 and 06 July 2012 to prevent rebels from capturing the population centre of Bunagana, followed by a 12 hours intensive action on 25 July 2012 against the M-23 (rebel group) attack on Kiwanja and Rutshuru in support of the government forces.  In keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army and noblest facet of peacekeeping operations, on 05 July 2012 Naik Krishan Kumar of 13 SIKH LI Battalion Group laid down his life defending the population of Bunagana.  On 25 July 2012 Naik Balwinder Ram Singh, also of 13 SIKH LI was injured in action while defending Rutshuru town.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & AGRICULTURE
  • Agripreneurs & Producer organisations
    • The concept of an “Agripreneur” is slowly gaining ground in the agriculture sector in the country. The term entrepreneur is quite familiar; so is the term agriculturist. The agripreneur is one who plays the role of an entrepreneur in the field of agriculture. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (NABARD) is in the fore front of pioneering this concept. Its Assistant General Manager at Madurai, Sankar Narayan says that NABARD is actively working with farmers federations in Usilampatti and Chellampatti to transform agriculturists into agripreneurs;
    • NABARD has floated another concept also called Producers Organizations, as a first step towards the realization of changing farmers into agricultural entrepreneurs or agripreneurs. A producer organization comprises of a group of producers who have joined hands for the purpose of either agricultural or non agricultural activities. NABARD has specified that it should be a registered legal body. It has also been specified that only actual producers – especially farmers – should be shareholders in the organization;
    • NABARD will extend support to the producers’ organizations by providing term loan and working capital, support to capacity building and help in the creation of marketing linkages. Support in terms of loan and grant is available to any registered producer company, cooperatives, registered farmers federations, etc;
    • An Organization Development Fund - a dedicated fund by the name ‘Producers Organization Development Fund (PODF) – has also been set up in this connection by NABARD. The main purpose of this fund is to support comprehensively the various producer organizations in different forms across the country.
  • Largest Solar Telescope in the World
    • The sun’s atmosphere is an ideal place to study and test many magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) processes controlling turbulent plasma. Some of the finest solar features can be resolved with state-of-the-art telescope. Ladakh will have the world’s largest state-of-the-art solar telescope on the earth soon for this purpose. This National Largest Solar Telescope (NLST) will be set up at high altitude Pongong Tso Lake Merak near Line of Actual Control on the Sino-Indian divide;
    • It will be unique globally because the largest solar telescope, the Mc-Math-Pierce Solar Telescope, in the world at present is 1.6 meters. It is situated in Kitt Peak national Observatory at Arizona in the United States. The telescope will be fitted with a 2 meter reflector which will enable scientists to carry out cutting edge research to understand the fundamental processes taking place on the earth. The NLST will have the reputation of being the world’s largest telescope till 2020. It is expected that a larger telescope may become operational in the US by 2020-2021;
    • NLST is a Gregorian multi-purpose open telescope. It will be on-axis with the provision of carrying out night time stellar observations using a spectrograph. It will be able to study particles spread across 50 kilometers of the sun. It is expected to resolve features on the sun of the size of about 0.1 arcsec. The focal plane instruments are to include a high resolution polarimetric package to measure polarization with an accuracy of 0.01 %, a high spectral resolution spectrograph to obtain spectra in 5 widely separated absorption lines simultaneously and high spatial resolution narrow band image in various lines;
    • Scientists will study the sun’s microscopic structure, and long term changes in the earth’s climate and environment. This will provide useful data to carry out research in order to minimize or remove disruptions to communication network and satellite due to periodic solar-winds;
    • The telescope will address the fundamental question about the nature of solar magnetism. It will aim to resolve flux tubes and measure their strength; address the development of magnetic fields on the sun which are responsible for almost all the observation phenomena on the sun. They include solar dynamo, solar cycle and solar variability that determine and control space weather;
    • The NLST project is a major multi-party initiative involving IIA, ISRO, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). The project will involve an investment of over Rs 250 crore, most of which will go in procuring equipment.
  • Biotechnology Information Network
    • Bioinformatics is attaining greater significance in the life sciences research and industry and hitherto unexplored areas of biology. Research in biotechnology, which is highly knowledge and capital intensive, has generated a deluge of information in this decade. To make use of this information effectively, there is a need for high speed and large bandwidth network. Towards this end, the Department of Biotechnology has successfully established a high-speed and high-bandwidth network in the form of Virtual Public Network (VPN) named as BIOGRID . Eleven nodes have been established in the first phase, which are actively pursuing bioinformatics activities such as human resource development and R&D in bioinformatics besides, dissemination of biotechnology information to researchers in the country. This resource sharing helps in enhancing the value and usefulness of the BTIS, the only true resource sharing network in India;
    • BTISnet a potential scientific network in the country comprises of more than 165 institutions having capable human resources and state of art infrastructure to carry out intensive research in bioinformatics and computational biology. More than 100 subject specific databases are currently available on the BTISnet;
    • Centres of BTISnet are networked and now some of them are being  networked through National Knowledge Commission network. Eight new centres have been added to the BTISnet. NEBInet which comprises of  27 bioinformatics  centres in North East states has opened up great opportunities in biotechnology for the North East Region of the country. Through this network it is now much simpler to generate and implement programs like biotech hubs, overseas associateship etc. Three major consortium projects on bioinformatics in TB, rice and mango have  shown excellent progress during the last year;
    • Six Centres of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology have been established as part of  BTISnet. These Centres are well equipped with state of art infrastructure to support research. Each centre is responsible for developing a database in the identified thrust areas. Some of these efforts have received international recognition. The CoE at the Bose Institute, Kolkata is specialising in the areas like genome analysis, regulatory RNA stem cells, genomics and structural bioinformatics. The CoE at JNU, is a part of the of and Integrative Sciences, with a major objective of development of human resource through teaching and research in the frontier area of computational biology, bioinformatics and systems biology. The CoE at , is specialising in the areas like structural bioinformatics, proteomics, data mining and computer aided drug design. The Centre at the of, conducts M.Sc. course in bioinformatics. The Centre has developed 3 major databases namely viral protein structural database, antigen antibody genomics and viral genome resources;
    • The Department of Biotechnology is also supporting long-term teaching programs on bioinformatics and BIOGRID will be useful in sharing teaching materials, to deliver lectures through video conferencing-virtual classrooms besides synergizing research in biotechnology and bioinformatics.
  • National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology
    • The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT; also known as the Mission) has been envisaged as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT, in teaching and learning process for the benefit of all the learners in Higher Education Institutions in any time any where mode. This is expected to be a major intervention in enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education by 5 percentage points. The has two major components - providing connectivity, along with provision for access devices, to institutions and learners; and content generation;
    • The Mission aims to extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 25000 colleges and 2000 polytechnics in the country including each of the departments of 419 universities/deemed universities and institutions of national importance as a part of its motto to provide connectivity up to last mile. LAN of up to 400 nodes on average has also been envisaged to be provided to the universities under the NMEICT scheme. The , in addition to utilize the connectivity network of service providers, shall explore the possibility to provide connectivity utilizing Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), Virtual Private Network (VPN) and EduSat channels;
    • Under the National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), web and video courses for engineering subjects and humanities streams are being developed. Over 250 courses are complete and made avialble in NPTEL phase-I and another 996 courses in various disciplines in engineering and science are getting generated in phase-II of NPTEL. E-contents for 77 Postgraduate subjects and 86 undergraduate subjects are also being developed under the Mission;
    • The aim of the is to freely make available knowledge in the form of e-content to learners across the country. To do so, in Mission Document, provision of 1000 DTH channels & other video based programme including iPTV for e-learning has been envisaged. Department of Space (DOS) has agreed to provide two Ku band transponders of 36 MHz each on GSAT-8. With this 50-60 education channels are being planned to be started immediately;
    • The Minister of Human Resource Development has also desired tht the NMEICT Mission should expand to the school education also during the XII Plan period. This ministry has suggested to Planning Commission that NMEICT scheme may be converted into Central Sector Scheme from Centrally Sponsored Scheme. For the XII Five Year Plan fund requirement of Rs. 22830 crore has been projected.
  • Science Express – Biodiversity special
    • The current decade (2011-2020) has been declared as United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification. With India hosting the 11th meeting of Conference of the Parties (CoP-11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), during 8-19 October 2012 in Hyderabad, it is an opportune time to showcase the wide array of biodiversity in the country, the threats to this rich biodiversity and the conservation measures adopted thereof;
    • This CoP-11 assumes immense importance considering that it is being held in the 40th anniversary year of Stockholm Conference, 20th anniversary year of Rio Earth Summit and 10th anniversary year of World Sustainable Summit held in 2002. This would also be the first CoP in the UN Decade on Biodiversity;
    • In an effort to create widespread awareness on the unique biodiversity of the country, Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), in a unique partnership with Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched a special exhibition train- ‘Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)’ that will cover over 100 stations in two years of running across the country in two phases;
    • ‘Science Express’, a train rake with 16 air-conditioned coaches was originally custom-made for DST by Indian Railways. Since 30 October 2007, when it was flagged off by the Prime Minister of India and German Chancellor, DST organised four tours across India, the last one culminating on 16 June 2011;
    • Of the 16 coaches of the Science Express- Biodiversity Special, eight are solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad biodiversity spread across the bio-geographical zones. These include the Trans-Himalaya & the Himalayas, the Gangetic Plains, North East India, the Desert & Semi-Arid Zone, the Western Ghats, the Deccan Peninsula, the Coasts & Islands. These eight coaches also focus on range of Biological diversity, critically endangered species (IUCN Red list), biodiversity hotspots, domesticated biodiversity (agriculture, animal husbandry), biodiversity & livelihoods, bio-culture; threats/challenges (climate change, other anthropogenic), conservation measures, success stories & unique experiences. The exhibition also covers various other facets like marine, coastal, forest, microbial, agro biodiversity and their linkage with livelihoods besides challenges of conservation;
    • In the rest of the rake, three coaches have exhibits on Climate Change, Energy and Water conservation. The legacy of ‘Science Express’ showcasing the most popular exhibits from the previous four phases has been exhibited in another coach. A conference room-cum-training facility is also provided in that coach, primarily for the purpose of capacity building of teachers;
    • It was flagged off on 5 June 2012 from Delhi Safdarjung by Smt.  Sheila Dixit, Chief Minister of Delhi and Smt. Jayanti Natarajan, Minister of State (I/C), (MoEF). The ongoing phase will culminate in Gandhinagar on 22 December 2012. During this tour, the train will be stationed at Secunderabad during 9-19 October 2012 so that the COP delegates and dignitaries from about 190 countries are able to experience the rich biodiversity of our country.
  • Conference on Chronic Hypoxia
    • A large number of native population in India live in high altitudes. Pilgrims visit different shrines located in the upper reaches of Himalayas. Besides the mountaineers and soldiers also sojourn different high altitude location as part of their duty. One common health problem that afflicts the people visiting or living in these high altitude locations are dramatic fall in blood pressure combined with physical tendencies of mental giddiness, vomiting, nausea, acute bleeding problems, insomnia etc. because of lack of sufficient supply of oxygen for cellular respiration. These high altitude illness which can be life threatening becomes more acute as one ascends to high altitude areas. Similarly, our jawans and officers who operate in different geographical and topographical areas need to be protected from these high altitude illness, which in medical parlance is called ‘Hypoxia’;
    • Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), one of the premier institute of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from its inception in 1962 is engaged in research into enhancing human capabilities and responses. It has made substantial contribution by successfully devising many pathbreaking inter-disciplinary studies/projects in different areas of life sciences in general and control of chronic hypoxia in particular;
    • DIPAS which now celebrates its golden jubilee is organizing a Global Hypoxia Summit and 4th International Conference on Chronic Hypoxia from 09-12 August, 2012 in Delhi. The summit will lead to assemblage of worldwide known experts and eminent researchers working in the field of Hypoxia/high altitude illness. The conference will provide the participants an opportunity to discuss the most recent advances in high altitude research, chronic hypoxia, oxygen sensing and transnational research. The synergy of the research efforts amongst biologist, physiologists and clinicians will provide the wind under the wings to this flight of research into the frontiers of hypoxia. Last but not the least this meeting will also provide a great opportunity for scientific exchanges, personal and institutional contacts thus, facilitating a more efficient scientific collaboration worldwide.
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