15 Apr 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

April 15th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)
2. OCI Cards
3. Challenges launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry

1. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)

Context:

Three new initiatives of the National Internet Exchange of India inaugurated.

The details of the three new initiatives are as below:

1. IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru): IP Guru is a group to extend support to all the Indian entities who are finding it technically challenging to migrate and adopt IPv6.
2. NIXI Academy: NIXI Academy is created to educate technical/non-technical people in India to learn and relearn technologies like IPv6 which are normally not taught in educational Institutes. The easy-to-use platform helps network operators and educators understand networking best practices, principles and techniques; manage Internet resources better; and use appropriate Internet technologies more effectively.
3. NIXI-IP-INDEX: It is an IPv6 index portal for the Internet community. The portal will showcase the IPv6 adoption rate in India and across the world. It can be used to compare IPv6 Indian adoption rate with other economies in the world.

To know more about NIXI, check PIB dated Jan 8, 2021.

2. OCI Cards

Context:

Government simplifies process for re-issue of OCI Cards.

Details:

• As per the extant law, a foreigner of Indian origin or a foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or foreign spouse of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, can be registered as an OCI cardholder. OCI card is a life-long visa for entry into and stay in India with a number of other major benefits attached to it which are not available to other foreigners.

New changes in the process:

• Presently, the OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age, in view of biological changes in the face of the applicant.
• With a view to facilitate the OCI cardholders, it has now been decided by the Government of India to dispense with this requirement.
• A person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after his/her completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his/her facial features on attaining adulthood.
• If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years, there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.
• The OCI cardholders have to upload a copy of the new passport containing their photograph and the latest photo on the online OCI portal each time a new passport is issued prior to attaining the age of 20 years and once after completing 50 years of age. They may upload the documents within three months of receipt of the new passport.
• However, those registered as OCI cardholder as foreign spouses of Indian nationals, or foreign spouses of OCI cardholders have to upload a copy of the new passport, the latest photograph along with a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting each time a new passport is issued.

Read all about the OCI card and the Overseas Citizen of India in the link.

3. Challenges launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry

Context:

The Ministry launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge.

EatSmart Cities Challenge:

• The EatSmart Cities Challenge is envisioned as a competition among cities to recognize their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India.
• This unique challenge, in partnership with Smart Cities Mission will create an environment of right food practices and habits, strengthen the food safety and regulatory environment, build awareness among the consumers and urge them to make better food choices in India’s major cities and can set an example for other cities to follow.
• The challenge is open to all Smart Cities, capital cities of States/UTs, and cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
• At the end of first phase of the challenge, 11 cities will be selected for deeper engagement for an extended period to implement their vision.

Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge

• Transport 4 All challenge has been launched in collaboration with Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
• The Challenge aims to bring together cities, citizen groups, and start-ups to develop solutions that improve public transport to better serve the needs of all citizens.
• The first edition of the Challenge focuses on digital innovation.
• Cities and start-ups will receive guidance to develop and test various solutions, learn from them, and scale them to build people’s trust in public transport and enhance their mobility.
• The solutions will make public transport—formal as well as informal— safe, convenient, and affordable for all.
• All the Smart Cities Mission cities, capitals of states and union territories (UTs), and all cities with a population of over 5 lakhs are eligible for the Challenge.
• Three stages of the challenge:
  • Stage I PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face.
  • Stage II SOLUTION GENERATION: Start-ups develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs.
  • Stage III PILOT TESTING: Cities engage start-ups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback.

Read previous PIB here.

April 15th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here