• UGI USER
  • Sep 15, 2023
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Daily News Analysis

NavIC in all Indian smartphones by 2025

News: All smartphones in India will be required to support the indigenous Navigation System, NavIC, by the end of 2025.

  • Apple has already incorporated NavIC support in some of its new iPhone 15 models.
  • 5G smartphones must support NavIC by January 1, 2025, while other phones have until December 2025 to comply.
  • The government is considering offering incentives to encourage the use of Indian-made or -designed NavIC-supporting chips in smartphone system designs.
  • These incentives could be similar to those provided under the IT hardware Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which rewards companies that source locally made components, including chips, for laptops, computers, and servers.
  • The goal is to promote the use of NavIC in smartphones and create a competitive mobile phone grid chip designed or made in India.

NavIC- Navigation with Indian Constellation.

  • An indigenous satellite-based navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • It is designed to provide accurate and reliable positioning and timing information over India and the surrounding region.
  • NavIC is similar to other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS (United States), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), and BeiDou (China).
  • The NavIC constellation consists of a group of seven satellites in geosynchronous and geostationary orbits.
  • Valuable for a wide range of applications, including transportation, agriculture, disaster management, and defense.

PMMSY: bridging gaps in fisheries sector

News: India Ranks among Top Three Nations in Global Fish and Aquaculture Production

  • In 2020, Indian fisheries sector faced a potential setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized the sector’s potential and allocated ₹20,050 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
  • Aim: To address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain, focusing on fish production, productivity, quality, technology, infrastructure, and marketing.
  • Key Priority Areas: Marine fisheries, inland fisheries, fishermen’s welfare, and post-harvest management.
  • Impact: PMMSY empowered young entrepreneurs, especially women, to venture into fisheries and adopt innovative practices.
  • It expanded fisheries to non-traditional areas and promoted aquaculture in landlocked regions.
  • Initiative supported research, genetic improvement, and domestication of shrimp.
  • India became a top global producer in fish and aquaculture, and the largest shrimp exporter.
  • The government recently announced a ₹6,000 crore investment under PMMSY, totaling over ₹38,500 crore in fisheries development over nine years.
  • Prime Minister Modi empowers fishing community with ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ vision.

Bharat Granted Internationally Accepted OIML Certificates

News: Bharat joins 12 nations issuing Internationally Accepted OIML Certificates, achieving global recognition in legal metrology.

OIML Membership and Authority

  • OIML (International Organization of Legal Metrology) established in 1955.
  • Bharat became an OIML member in 1956.
  • OIML comprises 63 Member States and 64 Corresponding Members.
  • Bharat now holds authority to issue internationally accepted OIML certificates for weights and measures globally.

Compliance and Acceptance

  • Bharat adheres to OIML recommendations and testing/calibration procedures for weights and measures.
  • Bharat can issue OIML pattern approval certificates, supporting indigenous manufacturers and enabling cost-effective exports.
  • This generates foreign exchange earnings for Bharat.

Influence and Policy Contribution

  • Bharat’s authority allows it to influence OIML policies and contribute to the OIML Strategy.
  • Bharat’s recognition as an OIML Certificates Issuing Authority reflects its commitment to quality standards and international trade facilitation. 

International Trade Facilitation

  • OIML certificates from Bharat can serve as the basis for national/regional type approvals worldwide.
  • This reduces the need for expensive test facilities in other OIML Member States.

Ponzi scheme

News: Odisha Police’s Economic Offence Wing EOW may summon actor Govinda for alleged involvement in Ponzi scheme, causing investor losses.

  • Ponzi Scheme term coined in 1919, named after Italian con-man Charles Ponzi, who arrived in the US in 1882.
  • A fraudulent investment scheme where returns are paid to earlier investors using funds from newer investors rather than legitimate profits.
  • Ponzi schemes promise high returns with no legitimate business, pay early investors to attract more, but are unsustainable without constant new investments.
  • Notable Cases: Some high-profile Ponzi schemes in India include Saradha Group, Pearl Agrotech Corporation Limited, and Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited.

Legal Regulation

  • In India, safeguards against Ponzi schemes are established through the Prize Chit and Money Circulation (Banning) Act, 1978, enforced by state governments.
  • The Enforcement Directorate, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, also handles such cases.
  • Additionally, the Banning of unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, imposes strict penalties, including imprisonment from 1 to 10 years and fines ranging from 2 lakh to 50 crore rupees.
  • This act prioritizes depositors’ claims on recovered funds and ensures disgorgement of illegal deposits.

Non-partisan civil society aids Manipur’s peace

News: The ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur has raised concerns over the role of civil society representatives in promoting peace.

  • Meira Paibi’s Involvement: The Meira Paibi, an organization of Meitei women, known for their activism against various issues, has been disrupting the operations of the Assam Rifles in the conflict areas, particularly in the “buffer zones” aimed at preventing further violence.
  • Looting of Weapons: The situation has escalated due to the looting of weapons by different ethnic groups and their use in the ongoing strife.
  • Challenges in Maintaining Peace: Both the State government and the Union government-deployed armed forces have faced challenges in maintaining peace, partly due to civil society groups supporting those engaged in violence.
  • Disputing Buffer Zones: Some Meira Paibi representatives have even disputed the legality of the buffer zones, further complicating the situation.
  • Role of Civil Society: Civil society groups like Meira Paibi have the potential to advocate for justice and reconciliation, but their involvement in promoting ethnic hatred has hindered progress.
  • Need for Non-Partisan Leadership: History shows that achieving a breakthrough in such conflicts requires non-partisan leadership and civic dialogue among different stakeholders.
  • Credible Alternative: To facilitate peace-building, there needs to be a credible alternative to the current leadership in the State that can bridge ethnic divides and promote reconciliation.

Civil Society

  • Civil society refers to organizations and individuals outside of government and business sectors who work collectively for social, political, and environmental causes.
  • Examples: Amnesty International, PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties)

Government tests emergency alert system

News: Government conducted nationwide test of emergency alert system, sending messages to smartphones for disaster preparedness.

  • The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a pan-India test of its emergency alert system today to evaluate its effectiveness and address potential issues.
  • People received flash messages on their smartphones as part of this test.
  • The NDMA intends to conduct similar tests in different regions periodically as part of its disaster management preparedness efforts.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

  • Formation: NDMA was established in 2005, following the enactment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
  • Mandate: It’s the apex body responsible for formulating policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management in India.
  • Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India serves as the ex-officio chairperson, emphasizing the highest level of political commitment to disaster management.
  • State-Level Bodies: Every state in India has a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and a District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to implement NDMA’s policies at the grassroots level.

Functions

  • Formulating National Disaster Management Plans.
  • Laying down policies, guidelines, and best practices for disaster management.
  • Capacity building and training for disaster response.
  • Promoting research and development in disaster management.
  • Coordinating disaster response and relief efforts.
  • Advising the Central Government on disaster-related matters.