23 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Launch of Tele-Law 2.0
2. Network Planning Group Meeting - PM GatiShakti
3. Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) achieving new heights
4. Khanan Prahari App
5. India- Australia  roundtable on “Enhancing health workforce training and skill pathways”

1. Launch of Tele-Law 2.0

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Tele-Law 2.0

Context: Department of Justice (DoJ) is celebrating its Tele-Law 2.0 event on 25th August, 2023. The event commemorates the reaching of 50 Lakh milestone, that earmarks rendering of pre-litigation advice to the common citizens through the use of technology.

Details: 

• It integrates this legal advice service under Tele-Law with legal representation services under Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono) programme. 
• This would enable the common citizen to access legal advice, legal assistance and legal representation through a single registration and single gateway of Tele-Law. 
• It fulfills the Constitutional mandate of Article 39 A to ensure Access to Justice.

Read more on Tele-Law initiative.

2. Network Planning Group Meeting – PM GatiShakti

Syllabus: GS-3, Infrastructure

Prelims: PM GatiShakti

Context: The 54th Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting of PM GatiShakti was recently held. During the meeting, two projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and two projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of Rs 7, 693.17 crore were assessed.

Details:

• NPG examined four-lane Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road (ORR), under Bharatmala Pariyojana, in Kerala worth Rs 4,767.20 Crore. This project corridor is a part of Mumbai-Kanyakumari Economic Corridor. The project is essential to provide smooth and faster connectivity to Eastern Region from Northern Region and will boost the economic growth in economically backward regions. The project will reduce travel time, save vehicle operation cost, and will provide last-mile connectivity to the new international sea port in Vizhinjam.
• Another road project, Dahod-Bodeli-Vapi Corridor with a project outlay of Rs 1,179.33 Crore was assessed by the NPG. The project road starts at the junction of the new Vadodara-Delhi Expressway and ends at post Mumbai-Vadodara expressway. 
• NPG also deliberated on a new broad gauge railway Line between Pushkar – Merta in Rajasthan with a project cost of Rs 799.64 Crores. The proposed new line will provide direct connectivity from Central India to Northern India as well as to Western border.  Further, it will decongest and reduce pressure on Highways.
• Another rail project in Rajasthan, a new broad-gauge line between Merta City-Ras Railway Stations worth Rs 947 Crore was assessed by the NPG. The project holds significant importance in facilitating quicker movement of goods and promoting industrial and overall development in the region encompassing Pali and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan.

3. Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) achieving new heights

Syllabus: GS-2, Judiciary

Prelims: Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs)

Context: Under  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Department of Justice,Ministry of Law &  Justice, Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) disposed of 1.74 lakhs cases of Rape & POCSO Act as on 30.06.2023, providing speedy justice to the victims.

Details:

• Since October 2019, the Department of Justice is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, to set up 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts across the nation for expeditious trials relating to sexual offences. 
• Each court comprises 1 Judicial Officer and 7 Staff Members. Out of 31 States and UTs eligible, 28 have joined this scheme. Puducherry made a special request to join the Scheme and the one exclusive POCSO Court was operationalized in May, 2023.
• The Scheme was initially for a period of one year spread over two Financial Years 2019-20 and 2020-21 at a total outlay of Rs. 767.25 Cr. with Rs. 474 Cr. as Central Share to be met from Nirbhaya Fund. 
• The Cabinet further approved the continuation of the Scheme of FTSCs for two years i.e. up to March, 2023 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 1572.86 Cr. with Rs.971.70 Cr. as a central share. Further extension of the Scheme is under process.

4. Khanan Prahari App

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment

Prelims: Khanan Prahari App 

Context: The mobile app Khanan Prahari, which allows citizens to report incidents of illegal coal mining through geo-tagged photographs and textual information, is a significant step taken by the Ministry of Coal towards curbing illegal coal mining activities. 

Details: 

• The corresponding web portal called as Coal Mine Surveillance & Management System (CMSMS) has been developed in association with the Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application & Geoinformatics, Gandhinagar, and CMPDI, Ranchi.
• The government aims to take transparent action against illegal mining, using space technology, as an e-Governance initiative. 
• The government recognizes the importance of public participation in combating this menace. 
• The Khanan Prahari mobile app serves as a powerful tool for citizens to contribute to the fight against illegal coal mining.
• The objective of the Khanan Prahari mobile app and CMSMS web portal is to encourage public participation through reporting about illegal coal mining.

Key features of the Khanan Prahari mobile app include:

• Reporting Incidents: Users can easily report incidents of illegal mining by taking photographs and providing comments on the incident. The app allows for the geotagging of photographs by enabling the GPS location feature.
• Confidentiality: The user’s identity is kept confidential, ensuring privacy and security.
• Complaint Tracking: Complainants receive a complaint number, which they can use to easily track the status of their reported complaints on the Khanan Prahari mobile app.
• So far, the Khanan Prahari mobile app has received a significant response, with a total of 483 complaints registered. 

5. India- Australia roundtable on “Enhancing health workforce training and skill pathways”

Syllabus: GS-2, IR

Mains: India- Australia relations

Context: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, in collaboration with the Australian Government, successfully hosted a roundtable on “Enhancing Health Workforce Training and Skill Pathways” on August 21, 2023, in New Delhi.

Details:

• The roundtable featured comprehensive presentations from both India, and Australia, deliberating on the demand for healthcare and care workers in both the countries’ potential to emerge as a preferred source of skilled talent for this sector.
• During the roundtable, comprehensive strategies were discussed aiming to transform ideas into actionable outcomes. 
• These strategies included a cost-efficient testing model with expense reimbursement for international mobility, a dual language assessment approach, streamlined regulatory procedures for skill migration, a UK-Ireland-like approach to experience requirements, mapping of Job Roles with Australia for harmonization of skills, customized and tailored courses as per the need and requirement of the Australian Health Sector market & demand. 
• The dynamic opportunities for Indian professionals in the Australian healthcare sector signal a favorable juncture to elevate bilateral relations. 
• The roundtable infused momentum into this pursuit by fostering an environment for constructive and transparent exchange of ideas aimed at enhancing health workforce training and skill pathways between India and Australia. 
• The event capitalized on expert insights and experiences to chart a collaborative path forward, promising mutual growth and prosperity.

Read more on India Australia Relations.

Read the previous PIB articles here.