20 June 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

20 June 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment
2. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
3. Bharat 6G Alliance
4. Sangam-Digital Twin Initiative
5. Additive Manufacturing
6. A new freshwater diatom genus discovered
7. Draft Mining Plan Guidelines 2024
8. INS Rajali

1. India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Mains: India’s relations with southeast Asian nations, India – Cambodia relations

Context:

2nd meeting of India-Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment held in New Delhi.

Details:

• The meeting deliberated on cooperation in Traditional Medicine and e-governance, diversification of the trade basket between India and Cambodia by identifying new products, Bilateral Investment Treaty, recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia and collaboration in the pharmaceutical sector.
• The meeting discussed the progress of the ongoing efforts for collaboration in Unified Payment Interface (UPI) based digital payment to promote trade and tourism.
• The first Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment (JWGTI) between India and Cambodia was held virtually in 2022.
• The JWGTI discussed various measures to improve the value and the quantum of trade to facilitate the expansion of trade and to promote investment. Both sides were unanimous on the need for more interaction for concrete mutual benefits.

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2. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) 

Context: 

DGFT implements system-driven rule-based Faceless Automation for ad-hoc Input Output Norms Fixation.

Details:

• In line with ongoing efforts to modernise and streamline foreign trade procedures, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has decided that ad-hoc Input Output Norms will be determined through a rule-based, system-driven process.
• This decision aims to improve the ease of doing business for exporters while reducing time and effort for both DGFT and the exporters concerned.
• DGFT had previously announced an amendment to its procedures in March 2024 to enhance the ease of business and trade facilitation. This was done to streamline further and automate the process of establishing ad-hoc norms and notifying new Standard Input-Output Norms (SION) under the Advance Authorisation scheme.
• DGFT is also actively pursuing similar automation initiatives for other Foreign Trade Policy processes and procedures.

Background:

• Since the announcement of the new Foreign Trade Policy in April 2023, DGFT has been actively revamping its systems to expand automated, rule-based processes under the FTP framework. 
• These improvements encompass post-issuance audit capabilities and risk mitigation functions.

Advance Authorisation Scheme:

• The DGFT implements the Advance Authorisation Scheme under the Foreign Trade Policy, which allows the duty-free import of inputs for export purposes. 
• The eligibility of inputs is determined by Sector-specific Norms Committees based on input-output norms.
• Advance Authorisation Scheme allows the duty-free import of inputs, which are physically incorporated in an export product. 
• In addition to any inputs, packaging material, fuel, oil, and catalyst consumed/utilised in the production process of export product production, are also allowed.
• The quantity of inputs allowed for a given product is based on specific norms defined for that export product, which considers the wastage generated in the manufacturing process.
• Advance Authorisation covers manufacturer exporters or merchant exporters tied to supporting manufacturer(s).

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3. Bharat 6G Alliance

Syllabus: GS-3, Telecommunications, IT

Prelims: Bharat 6G Alliance, 6G

Mains: 6G Implementation

Context:

Bharat 6G Alliance formed a Strategic Partnership with 6G IA of Europe and 6G Flagship of Oulu University, Finland to drive 6G innovations.

Details:

• The Bharat 6G Alliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G IA) and 6G Flagship – Oulu University. 
• This is in continuation of the already concluded MoU with NextG Alliance of USA. 
• These MoUs with 6G IA and Oulu University will further enable the development of secure and trusted telecommunication technology including resilient supply chains.
• The MoU will give India the opportunity to:
  • Connect EU and Indian R&D companies, academia, and research institutions,
  • Align research and development efforts in 6G and related technologies,
  • Promote joint research initiatives,
  • Conduct pilots of 6G technologies and use cases,
  • Collaborate on 6G technology development and contribute to standardisation efforts at global forums.

Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA):

• It is a collaborative platform consisting of public and private companies, academia, research institutions, and standards development organisations.
• B6GA will forge coalitions and synergies with other 6G global alliances, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• The primary objective of B6GA is to understand the business and societal needs of 6G beyond technology requirements, foster consensus on these needs, and promote high-impact open research and development (R&D) initiatives.
• B6GA aims to bring together Indian startups, companies, and the manufacturing ecosystem to establish consortia that drive the design, development and deployment of 6G technologies in India. 
• By accelerating standards-related patent creation within the country and actively contributing to international standardisation organisations such as 3GPP and ITU, B6GA seeks to position India at the forefront of 6G innovation.
• One of the key goals of B6GA is to facilitate market access for Indian telecom technology products and services, enabling the country to emerge as a global leader in 6G technology. 

6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA):

• The 6G-IA carries out a wide range of activities in strategic areas including standardisation, frequency spectrum, R&D projects, technology skills, collaboration with key vertical industry sectors, notably for the development of trials, and international cooperation.
• It is the voice of the European Industry and Research for next-generation networks and services.

6G Flagship:

• The 6G Flagship programme is a world-leading research initiative funded by the University of Oulu and the Research Council of Finland. It aims to develop key 6G technology components, establish a comprehensive 6G Test Centre, and drive the societal digitisation of the 2030s through ground-breaking 6G research and innovation.

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4. Sangam-Digital Twin Initiative

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology

Prelims: Digital Twin Technology

Context:

DoT held the 1st Networking Event of the Sangam-Digital Twin Initiative at IIT Delhi.

Details of the event:

• The first Networking Event of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)’s Sangam – Digital Twin initiative, was successfully hosted by IIT Delhi, on June 18-19 2024. 
• The event brought together over 100 participants, including representatives from leading companies to discuss innovative digital solutions across various sectors.

Topics of discussion:

• Multimodal Transport Planning
• Enhancing Healthcare Access and Service
• Assessment of Environmental Quality
• Disaster Response System Management
• Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs)
• Data Provider and AI Governance Framework
• Virtual World Creation and Interaction Capabilities
• Mathematical Modelling and Physics-Based Simulations

What is the Sangam Initiative?

• The Sangam initiative, which aims at revolutionising infrastructure planning and design through cutting-edge technologies and collective intelligence, has garnered significant attention since its unveiling. 
• It represents a collaborative effort to harness the power of technology and collective intelligence for sustainable and efficient infrastructure solutions.

Know what is the digital twin technology in the linked article.

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5. Additive Manufacturing

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and technology

Prelims: Additive Manufacturing

Context:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) held the first National Additive Manufacturing Symposium (NAMS) – 2024 in New Delhi.

Details:

• The symposium aimed to provide an overview of the Additive Manufacturing (AM) ecosystem in India. 
• The event featured the release of the Additive Manufacturing Landscape Report and unveiled an indigenously developed additive manufacturing machine.  
• The event saw participation from industry associations, national and international companies and central ministries.

National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM):

• The National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM), released in 2022, embodies a comprehensive vision aimed at harnessing the full potential of this transformative technology to drive industrial growth, innovation, and inclusive development. 
• Currently, there are seven centres dedicated to the deployment and development of AM technologies.
• These centres are involved in the advancement of pioneering technologies in manufacturing like optical chip packaging, optical computing chips, electronics components, medical devices, food 3D printing & renewal energy products, etc.

What is additive manufacturing?

• Additive manufacturing is the process of creating an object by building it one layer at a time. 
• It is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, in which an object is created by cutting away at a solid block of material until the final product is complete.
• Technically, additive manufacturing can refer to any process where a product is created by building something up, such as moulding, but it typically refers to 3-D printing.

Advantages of additive manufacturing:

• Speeds up prototyping – AM allows for the quick and cost-effective production of prototypes directly from a digital design. 
• Provides greater accuracy – Instead of relying on humans to manually shape or build something, additive manufacturing relies on machines that follow precise instructions. 
• Generates very little waste material. 
• The additive manufacturing process builds objects by adding layers of material, which consumes less energy overall.

Disadvantages of additive manufacturing:

• It is limited to certain materials and not suitable for materials like wood and glass.
• The additive manufacturing process requires specialised raw materials, which can be costly to produce.
• It is generally not very suitable for small businesses.

 

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6. A new freshwater diatom genus discovered

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment and Ecology

Prelims: Indiconema

Context:

A new freshwater diatom genus was discovered from the Eastern and Western Ghats.

Details:

• Researchers have discovered a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom found in the clean water river of the Eastern Ghats. 
• The genus has been named Indiconema to value its restricted distribution in the country. 
• The genus distinguishes from the other members in the group Gomphonemoid in terms of valve symmetry and other certain valve features.
• The research published in the journal Phycologia, reports one species of Indiconema from the Eastern Ghats and another from the Western Ghats.

Diatoms:

• Diatoms are microscopic algae that play a crucial role in our everyday lives by producing 25 per cent of global oxygen. 
• They serve as a base of the aquatic food chain. Due to their sensitivity towards any water chemistry changes, they are excellent indicators of aquatic health.
• Diatoms are the first recorded microorganisms in India, with Ehrenberg’s first report in 1845 in his publication Mikrogeologie.
• A rough estimate counts that there are nearly 6,500 diatom taxa, of which 30 per cent are endemic (restricted to a particular region) to India.

Indiconema:

• Indiconema discovered by scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, differs in having a pore field at both the head and foot pole rather than having only at the foot pole.
• Based on the morphological features of this group, the researchers have suggested that Indiconema is a sister to Afrocymbella, a genus endemic to East Africa.

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7. Draft Mining Plan Guidelines 2024

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims/Mains: Draft Mining Plan Guidelines 2024

Context:

Major reforms made in Draft Mining Plan Guidelines 2024 issued by the Ministry of Coal. 

Background:

• The start of commercial coal mining has led to impressive production levels, with captive and commercial mines producing over 100 million tons of coal in the financial year 2023.
• This number is expected to double by 2026. 
• Outsourcing models like Mine Developer and Operators (MDOs) have become popular, involving many contractors and service providers. 
• Additionally, abandoned coal mines are now being auctioned under a revenue-sharing model.

Responsible Mining:

• There has been a shift towards responsible mining which involves support for affected workers, community development, environmental clean-up, and policy reforms.
• It also indicates a shift from coal-dependent economies to sustainable alternatives.

Reforms in the mining plan:

• The guidelines serve as a strategic plan for coal mining companies to plan, execute, and monitor their activities while maintaining high environmental, social, and safety standards.
• The goal is to optimise coal extraction through sustainable practices that reduce waste and improve efficiency. 
• This also entails using advanced technology to streamline operations, aiming for environmental and economic sustainability.
• The reforms ensure the protection of mining personnel and local communities with robust safety protocols and infrastructure.
• The reforms also emphasise sustainable practices such as mandatory restoration, remediation, and regeneration measures in mining plans to ensure sustainable natural resource management.
• The guidelines aim to reduce environmental impacts and continuously improve water quality monitoring.
• Some of the reforms include:
  • Enhanced flexibility for minor modifications in Mining Plans, with major changes requiring approval from the Coal Controller Organization (CCO).
  • Provision for calendar plan flexibility to accommodate increased annual coal production beyond scheduled targets.
  • Mandatory reporting of other commercially valuable minerals found within leasehold areas to State Governments.
  • Preference for blast-free and continuous coal-cutting technologies in mining methods.
  • Implementation of comprehensive Safety Management Plans as per Coal Mines Regulations, 2017, including mandatory safety audits.
  • Integration of fly ash filling protocols into mining plans to address related environmental concerns.
  • Requirement for drone surveys and processed outputs for comprehensive five-year compliance reports of Mining Plans.
  • Inclusion of sand for stowing in mines within revised guidelines.
  • Provision for extraction of barrier coal in adjacent mines to conserve coal reserves.
  • Facilitation of mine amalgamation for safer and more efficient operations, including the use of decoaled voids for overburden dumping.
  • Permission for project proponents to exclude non-viable areas within allocated blocks with detailed justifications.
  • Guidelines for dumping overburden in areas outside coal blocks.
  • Certification of project boundaries based on DGPS surveys for coal blocks allocated through auction or allotment.
  • Standardization of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) specifications to ensure safety, efficiency, and interoperability in coal mining operations.
  • Mandatory adoption of conveyor belts or railway transport for coal evacuation, promoting environmental sustainability.
  • Requirement for mechanized loading to optimize coal movement from siding to end-users, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental protection.
  • Mandatory preparation of Temporary and Final Mine Closure Plans for abandoned or discontinued mines post-2009.
• The Ministry has requested the stakeholders to submit their comments by 1st July 2024.

8. INS Rajali

Syllabus: GS-3, Defence & Security

Prelims: INS Rajali

About INS Rajali:

• Indian Naval Air Station INS Rajali was commissioned in 1992. 
• It was named ‘Rajali’, after an aggressive bird of the Hawk family, predominant in the Tamil Nadu coastal belt. 
• The air station is spread over 2,200 acres and is located near Arakkonam, 80 km west of Chennai.
• Today, INS Rajali is the most modern and largest Naval Air Station, with a garrison strength of 4,700 personnel which functions under the Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command. 
• It contributes towards two very distinct tasks – Operations and Training.

Read previous PIB articles here.

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