26 Aug 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

August 26th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. New Circles of Archaeological Survey of India
2. Armed Forces Tribunal
3. UMANG App
4. FASTag
5. Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
6. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA)

1. New Circles of Archaeological Survey of India

Context:

Ministry of Culture announces seven new circles of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Details:

• There were 29 circles of the ASI, along with 3 mini-circles at Leh, Hampi and Delhi.
• The circles are divided into sub-circles.
• Each circle is headed by a Superintending Archaeologist.
• The seven new circles announced are Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut; Hampi (Karnataka), which was a mini-circle, will now be a full-fledged ASI circle.

Read more about ASI in PIB dated June 7, 2020.

2. Armed Forces Tribunal

Context:

Principal Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal initiates hearings of matters pertaining to Regional Benches through video conferencing.

About the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT):

• The AFT was established in 2009 in accordance with the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
• It adjudicates disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, the Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.
• The AFT can further provide for appeals arising out of orders, findings or sentences of courts-martial held under the said Acts.
• This military tribunal has its Principal Bench at New Delhi.
• It has ten Regional Benches all over the country.
• Each Bench comprises a Judicial Member and an Administrative Member.
  • The Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges and Administrative Members are retired members of the Armed Forces who have held a rank of Major General/equivalent or above for a period of three years or more.
  • A Judge Advocate General (JAG), who has held the appointment for at least one year is also entitled to be appointed as an Administrative Member.

Read more on tribunals in India in the linked article.

3. UMANG App

Context:

MoU signed to make available the UMANG App to citizens through the network of 3.75 lakh CSCs.

Details:

• The MoU was signed between the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) and CSC (Common Service Centre) e-Governance Services India Limited.
• This will facilitate the delivery of UMANG services at CSCs in an assisted mode.
• The CSC operators Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) will enable citizens to avail e-Governance services of 140 Departments through the UMANG App.
• This will benefit those citizens who either do not have access to smartphones or are not comfortable accessing App-based e-services on their own.
• Common Services Centres or CSCs, set up under the CSC Scheme of MeitY, are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme and key access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India.
• UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance) is the common unified platform for delivery of services of various Government Departments through the mobile platform. The App was developed by the NeGD.

4. FASTag

Context:

FASTag made mandatory for availing all discounts on the National Highways Fee Plazas.

Details:

• The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has made FASTags mandatory for availing return journey discount or any other exemptions on Toll Fee Plazas.
• Users who wish to claim a discount for making return journey within 24 hours or any other local exemptions, shall be required to have a valid functional FASTag on the vehicle.

Read more on FASTags.

5. Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

Context:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development invites nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar-2021.

Details:

• The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awards are given by the President of India to the awardees in the week preceding the Republic Day every year.

Know more about Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in PIB dated Jan 22, 2020.

6. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA)

Context:

NITI Aayog launches the India component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) – Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA).

About NDC – Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC – TIA):

• The NDC Transport Initiative for Asia is a joint programme of seven organisations and is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
• It is a regional initiative aimed at a holistic approach to decarbonize the transport sector in China, India, Vietnam, and further Asian countries.
• This includes, for example, the development of a coherent strategy for efficient policy approaches which is coordinated between various sector ministries, civil society and the private sector.
• The NDC-TIA India Component will focus on establishing a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for decarbonizing transport in India and providing technical support on Green House Gas emission reduction measures.
• The NDC-TIA programme team will work in close cooperation and coordination with India’s government agencies, local decision-makers, researchers, industry experts, think tanks, and civil society organisations.

Also read about the Kyoto Protocol.

Read previous PIB here.

August 26th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here