19 Apr 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Quantum Mission
2. Metrology Conclave under ‘One Week One Lab’ Program
3. Marketing & Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from NorthEastern
 Region (PTP-NER)
4. Launch of SATHI Portal and Mobile App
5. Digital Highways
6. Parvatmala Pariyojana
7. India-U.K Second Financial Markets Dialogue
8. Launch of SATHI Portal and Mobile App

1. National Quantum Mission

Syllabus – GS3, Science & Technology: Developing New Technology.

Prelims – National Quantum Mission

Context – The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission at a total cost of Rs 6003.65 cr. from 2023-24 to 2030-31.

Details –

• The National Quantum Mission aims to seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant and innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). The mission will make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies and Applications (QTA).
• It will target developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in eight years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
• The mission will help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation.
• It will also support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices. Single photon sources/detectors, and entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.
• Under the mission, four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) will be established in top academic and national R&D institutes on domains –
  • Quantum Computing
  • Quantum Communications
  • Quantum Sensing and Metrology
  • Quantum Materials and Devices.
• The mission would greatly benefit health, communication, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design and space applications.

2. Metrology Conclave under ‘One Week One Lab’ Program

Syllabus – GS3, Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology.

Prelims – Metrology Conclave

Context – CSIR-NPL (National Physical Laboratory) organised Metrology Conclave under the ‘One Week One Lab’ (OWOL) programme.

Details –

• CSIR-NPL is celebrating the ‘One Week One Lab’ programme (17-21 April 2023) which was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. A one-day event, Metrology Conclave highlighted the core aspects of CSIR-NPL i.e., metrology.
  • CSIR-NPL, New Delhi, is one of the few premier laboratories established under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) before independence on January 04, 1947. It is the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of India.
• The ‘Metrology Conclave’ aims to create awareness among the masses about precise and accurate measurement and its importance for a nation to achieve prosperity.
• The aim of the One Week One Lab program is to create awareness about the available technologies and services present at NPL among potential stakeholders, to provide solutions to societal problems, to sensitise the masses about the importance of precise measurements, and to develop scientific temperament among masses, especially among students.
• One of the major highlights of the Metrology Conclave was the “NPL” Waste to Wealth policy aimed at dealing with silicon waste that is being generated on a large scale based on increasing demand for the same in the country. Emphasis was laid on establishing secondary standards metrology laboratories in association with CSIR Laboratories, BIS and QCI.

Also read – BIS Act, 2016.

3. Marketing & Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from NorthEastern Region (PTP-NER)

Syllabus – GS2, Government Policies and Interventions.

Prelims – PTP-NER

Context – PTP-NER is a scheme aimed at improving the lives of talented artisans belonging to the northeast.

Details –

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) is a great scheme, aimed at improving the lives of the talented artisans belonging to the Northeast. This scheme will also ensure great visibility for products from the Northeast.
• The scheme was launched by  Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda, on 18 April 2023.
• The scheme has the vision to strengthen livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans through increased efficiency in procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products from North Eastern States.
•  The scheme will apply to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.

4. Launch of SATHI Portal and Mobile App

Syllabus – GS2, Government Policies and Interventions for development in various sectors.

Prelims – SATHI Portal and Mobile App.

Context – Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched SATHI Portal and Mobile App.

Details –

• Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare launched SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App. It is a centralised online system for seed traceability, authentication and inventory designed to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification.
• It has been developed by NIC in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on the theme of ‘Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan’. The portal aims to curb the sale of spurious seeds and ensure quality seeds reach farmers. There will be a QR code under this system through which seeds can be traced. 
• Seeds with valid certification will only be sold by licensed dealers to centrally registered farmers who will receive subsidies through DBT directly.

Also read – Direct Benefit Transfer

5. Digital Highways

Syllabus – GS3, Infrastructure: Roads.

Prelims – Digital Highways.

Context – NHAI is working towards the development of around 10,000 km of Digital Highways by FY 2024-25.

Details –

• State-owned NHAI is working towards the development of around 10,000 kilometres of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across the country by FY2024-25.
• The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) of NHAI, will implement the network of “digital highways” by developing integrated utility corridors along the national highways to develop OFC infrastructure.
• Around 1,367 kilometres on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and 512 km on the Hyderabad-Bangalore corridor have been identified as pilot routes for digital highway development.
• The creation of Digital Highways will not only have a catalytic impact on the growth and development but will also contribute to the digital transformation of our country.

6. Parvatmala Pariyojana

Syllabus – GS3, Infrastructure

Prelims – Parvatmala Pariyojana

Context – Under Parvatmala Pariyojana GoI is planning to develop more than 250 projects with a ropeway length of over 1200 km in five years.

Details –  

• Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Roads and Highways said that the government is planning to develop more than 250 projects with a ropeway length of more than 1200 km under Parvatmala Pariyojana in the next five years. He was addressing the INTERALPIN 2023 Fair,  in Austria.
  • INTERALPIN 2023 fair brings together key industry players, service providers and decision-makers from the Cable Car Industry.
• The GoI is promoting the manufacturing of ropeway components under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Also read – Parvatmala – National Ropeways Development Programme.

7. India-U.K Second Financial Markets Dialogue

Syllabus – GS2, International relations: Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Prelims -India-U.K Second Financial Markets Dialogue

Context – India & U.K held the second meeting of the Indian – UK Financial Markets Dialogue in London.

Details –

• India and the UK held the second meeting of the India-UK Financial Markets Dialogue in London. The dialogue was led by senior officials from the Indian Ministry of Finance and HM Treasury, RBI, SEBI, International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), IRDAI, the Bank of England, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
• The dialogue focussed on six themes-
  • Banking
  • Payments and Cryptoassets
  • Capital Markets
  • Insurance and Reinsurance
  • Asset Management
  • Sustainable Finance
• The discussions also included the possibilities of augmenting knowledge on Central Banking Digital Currency (CBDC) and crypto assets and harped on the importance of robust global approaches, and progress in delivering the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments.
• Financial Cooperation is one of the key elements of the 2030 Roadmap adopted during the 2021 meeting of the two Prime Ministers. Both countries agreed there is significant scope for strengthened financial services cooperation between India and the UK, and agreed to hold the next Financial Markets Dialogue in India in 2024.

Related links – India-UK Relations.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

April 19th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here