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January 17th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. India’s communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully 2. GeM Samvaad Roundtable with Ministries/Departments and CPSEs 3. DGTR initiates 34 anti-dumping, 6 safeguard investigations in 2019-20 4. “Make Innovation a national movement”: Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad 5. Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology 6. Novel coronavirus outbreak in China: Travel advisory to travelers visiting China 7. Sardar Patel National Unity Award-2020
1. India’s communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully
What’s in News?
India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana.
Details:
- It was launched on-board Ariane 5 VA-251.
- It had a lift-off mass of 3357 kg.
- GSAT-30 derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series and will replace INSAT-4A in
Functions:
- GSAT-30 is an operational communication satellite with a mission life of 15 years.
- It will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.
- GSAT-30 has a unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage.
- The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands through Ku-band and wide coverage covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia through C-band.
- GSAT-30 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock-exchange, Television uplinking and Teleport Services, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunications applications.
2. GeM Samvaad Roundtable with Ministries/Departments and CPSEs
What’s in News?
GeM Samvaad, a two-month-long national outreach programme has been launched.
Details:
- The outreach programme will take place with stakeholders across the country and with local sellers to facilitate on-boarding of local sellers on the marketplace.
- GeM Samvaad, at the same time, aims to cater to specific requirements and procurement needs of buyers.
- GeM Samvaad is being conducted in all States and Union Territories.
GeM:
- GeM is the Government e-commerce portal.
- It has more than 15 lakh products and around 20,000 services, more than 3 lakh registered sellers and service providers and more than 40,000 Government buyer organizations.
3. DGTR initiates 34 anti-dumping, 6 safeguard investigations in 2019-20
What’s in News?
Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) initiated 34 anti-dumping (AD) investigations (both fresh and review), 4 countervailing duty investigations, and 6 safeguard investigations during 2019-20.
Various initiatives by DGTR:
- DGTR has also started using all available options for providing relief against unfair trade practices.
- The first ever Safeguard Quantitative Restrictions investigation on imports of Iso-propyl Alcohol initiated under the FTDR Act, 2002
- Three Bilateral Safeguard Investigations were initiated (Refined Bleached Deodrized Palmolien against Malaysia; Phthalic Anhydride and Polybutadiene Rubber against Korea);
- Two global Safeguard investigations initiated under the Custom Tariff Act, 1997 (Phenol and Single Mode Optical Fibre)
- Nine Countervailing Duty investigations completed and five are underway.
- Anti-circumvention provision was introduced in Customs Tariff Act, 1975 for Counter-vailing Duty (CVD) investigations.
- Rules of circumvention for AD and CVD are being simplified for providing relief to the domestic industry so that increased instances of circumvention in AD/CVD can be addressed.
- DGTR has initiated outreach programmes to sensitize stakeholders about the available trade remedy measures
ARTIS:
- DGTR has launched an online portal – ARTIS (Application for Remedies in Trade for Indian industry and other Stakeholders.
- Its aim is to enhance transparency, efficiency and provide expedited relief to the domestic producers for different trade remedies like anti-dumping duty, safeguard duty and countervailing duty.
- Applicants can also monitor the current status of their applications through this portal.
The portal will further be improvised to bring about transformative change in the process of filing, tracking and monitoring the Trade Remedy applications.
4. “Make Innovation a national movement”: Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad
What’s in News?
The Minister for Electronics & IT, Communications and Law & Justice, inaugurated the National Showcase and Felicitation Ceremony as a part of the National Challenge titled ‘Ideate for India – Creative Solutions using Technology,’ organised by Ministry of Electronics & IT.
Details:
- The government is promoting Start-ups in a significant way.
- Ministry of Electronics and IT has recently initiated MeitY’s Start-up Hub programme, wherein support to 51 Incubators and 2,000 Technology Start-ups are envisaged.
- The main aim of the National Challenge was to give school students across the country an opportunity to translate their ideas to a working solution or prototype.
- The theme areas included healthcare services, education services, digital services, environment, women safety, traffic, infrastructure, agriculture, social welfare, disability and tourism.
- The Challenge was designed and launched by the National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology in collaboration with Intel India, with support from the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), and Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Click on the link to read more about the E-Governance and its Significance.
5. Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology
What’s in News?
National Informatics Centre (NIC) has set up the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Details:
- CoE in Blockchain Technology aims to provide Blockchain as a service and allowing all stakeholders to benefit from shared learning, experiences and resources.
- The CoE has developed Blockchain-based Proof of Concepts (PoCs) for select government use cases to understand the potential benefits provided by this emerging technology.
- The Centre of Excellence will facilitate the Government Departments in building proof of concepts for use of Blockchain technology in different dimensions of governance leading to large scale deployment of some such applications.
- With National Informatics Centre (NIC) providing a robust and agile infrastructure, the CoE shall also provide Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) for efficient hosting of Blockchain network.
National Informatics Centre:
- National Informatics Centre (NIC) as a premier technology advisor and ICT solution provider to Government at all levels, has always taken the first step to introduce the latest technologies and services in government, be it the introduction of ICT in Government, establishment of NICNET or National Knowledge Network (NKN), development of critical e-Governance solutions and a host of other services required by the Government.
Blockchain Technology:
- A blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks that are linked using cryptography.
- It is an upcoming & niche technology.
- Adoption of the same in sectors such as health, finance, agriculture and various other sectors would aid the government in implementing various programmes and provide trust and immutability to the assets.
New and previously unforeseen applications of Blockchain in the Government are expected to enhance transparency, traceability and trust in e-governance systems.
6. Novel coronavirus outbreak in China: Travel advisory to travellers visiting China
What’s in News?
An infection with a novel coronavirus has been reported from China.
Coronavirus:
- Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
- Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.
- Rarely, animal coronaviruses can also evolve and infect people.
- A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Precautions are taken by India:
- The Ministry of Health has instructed screening of international travellers from China at designated airports i.e, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata through thermal scanners.
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) is geared up for community surveillance and contact tracing.
The Health Ministry has issued necessary directions to all concerned on laboratory diagnosis, surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC) and risk communication.
7. Sardar Patel National Unity Award-2020
- Sardar Patel National Unity Award is the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India.
- The Centre has instituted the award in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister.
- The Award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.
January 17th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here
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