08 June 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

June 8th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT)
2. NIL GST Return through SMS
3. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
4. MoU between India and Denmark
5. Bharat Stage VI Norms

1. Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT)

Context:

Indian Air Force inducts indigenous Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT).

Background:

• Requirement of an air evacuation system with facility to prevent spread of infectious aerosol from a COVID-19 patient during air travel was felt by IAF when COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic.
• The first prototype was developed at 3 BRD AF and has undergone various modifications.

About ARPIT:

• The Indian Air Force has designed, developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT).
• This pod will be utilised for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude areas, isolated and remote places.
• Only indigenous materials have been used to fabricate this pod.
• This indigenously designed system has been developed at a cost of Rs Sixty Thousand only, which is very less as compared to the imported systems costing up to Rs Sixty Lakh.
• The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material.
  • It has a transparent and durable cast Perspex for enhanced patient visibility which is larger, higher and wider than the existing models.
  • The isolation system caters for suitable number of air exchanges, integration of medical monitoring instruments, and ventilation to an intubated patient.
  • In addition, it generates high constant negative pressure in the isolation chamber for prevention of infection risk to aircrew, ground crew and health care workers involved in air transportation.
  • The ARPIT utilises High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) H-13 class filters and supports invasive ventilation using Transport Ventilator.
  • The design integrates life support and monitoring instruments (defibrillator with multipara monitor, pulse oximeter, infusion pumps, etc.), long arm gloves for use by health care professionals and power pack with high endurance.
• The IAF is inducting a total of 7 ARPITS as of now.

2. NIL GST Return through SMS

Context:

Government rolls out facility for filing of NIL GST Return through SMS.

Details:

• The Government has allowed filing of nil GST monthly return in FORM GSTR-3B through SMS.
• This would substantially improve ease of GST compliance for over 22 lakh registered taxpayers who would have had to otherwise log into their account on the common portal and then file their returns every month.
• Now, these taxpayers with NIL liability need not log on to the GST Portal and may file their NIL returns through an SMS.

Also read: Goods and Services Tax (GST)

3. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)

Context:

Union Minister inaugurates CAT Bench at Jammu.

To know more about Central Administrative Tribunal, click on the linked article.

4. MoU between India and Denmark

Context:

India and Denmark sign MOU for developing cooperation between two countries in the power sector.

Details:

• An MoU was signed between India’s Power Ministry and Denmark’s Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation.
• This MoU is expected to develop a strong, deep and long-term cooperation between two countries in the power sector on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
• The MoU provides for collaboration in areas like offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, consolidation of grid codes to integrate and operate efficiently variable generation options, flexibility in the power purchase agreements, incentivize power plant flexibility, variability in renewable energy production, etc.
• For implementation of the identified areas, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be established under the MoU.
  • The JWG will be co-chaired by Joint Secretary level officials and will report to a Steering Committee, jointly chaired by the Secretary level officer from both the sides.

5. Bharat Stage VI Norms

Context:

Distinct colour band for number plate sticker for BS-6 four-wheel vehicles.

Details:

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated a strip of green colour of 1 cm width on top of the existing sticker carrying details of registration for BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type i.e., for petrol or CNG which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour.
• These stickers will now have a green strip of 1 cm on top for BS VI, as mandated.
• The BS-VI emission standards, which have been mandated w.e.f. 1^st April, 2020, provide for stricter and cleaner emission norms and are at par with the emission standards being followed across the world.
• Such distinct identification of vehicles for such emissions standard is also being followed in other countries.

Know more about Bharat Stage VI Norms at the linked article.

June 8th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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