19 Mar 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Startup Mahakumbh
2. Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) Airstrip on National Highway
3. MoU Between NCW and RPF
4. National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT)

1. Startup Mahakumbh

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: Startup Mahakumbh

Context:

Startup Mahakumbh registered record participation.

Details:

• The event serves as a platform for all stakeholders in the Indian startup ecosystem.
• The event is hosting over 2000 startups, 1000+ investors, 100+ unicorns, 300+ incubators & accelerators, 3,000+ conference delegates, 10+ country delegations, 3000+ future entrepreneurs and 50,000+ business visitors from across the country. 
• The event has witnessed vibrant discussions on the way forward and networking between all the stakeholders.

Learn more about the event in PIB dated Feb 27, 2024.

2. Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) Airstrip on National Highway

Syllabus: GS-3, Infrastructure

Prelims: Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway

Context:

Activation of Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway.

Details:

• Indian Air Force fighter and transport aircraft carried out operations on an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway 16 near Addanki in Bapatla district, Andhra Pradesh. 
• Su-30 and Hawk fighters successfully carried out overshoots during the activation, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft landed and subsequently took off from the strip. 
• The activation showcased the high level of synergy and liaison between civil agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), district administration, state police and the IAF towards conducting complex multifaceted activities.

Significance: ELF highway airstrips enhance the flexibility of air operations during contingencies and are invaluable assets during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in far-flung areas.

3. MoU Between NCW and RPF

Syllabus: GS-1, Social Issues

Mains: Trafficking of women – Related issues

Context:

The National Commission for Women (NCW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in a move towards combating women trafficking in the country.

Details:

• The key objectives of the MOU encompass collaborative efforts to prevent human trafficking and conduct the rescue of trafficked women. 
• This involves conducting sensitization workshops and training sessions for RPF personnel to enhance their awareness and prompt response to human trafficking incidents. 
• Additionally, awareness campaigns will be launched targeting frontline railway staff and the general public to educate them about the signs of human trafficking and how to report such cases effectively.

Background:

• The Indian Railways, spanning over 65,000 km and 7,500 stations, unfortunately, serves as a conduit for traffickers.
• RPF personnel stationed at railway stations play a pivotal role in preventing human trafficking and can act as the eyes and ears of the commission in addressing crimes against women.
• 70% of trafficked victims are women, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action to protect them.

4. National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT)

Context:

National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT) has concluded fund-raising through ’InvIT Round-3’ for National Highway stretches of an aggregate length of 889 km at an Enterprise Value of over Rs. 16,000 crore.

Details:

• This is the largest monetization by NHAI and one of the largest transactions in the history of the Indian road sector.
• In the third round of monetization, NHIT has raised unit capital of around Rs. 7,272 crores from marquee domestic and international investors and debt of around Rs. 9,000 crores from Indian lenders, to fund the acquisition of National Highway stretches, at a base concession fee of around Rs. 15,625 crore, and additional concessional fees of Rs.75 crore. 

About NHIT:

The National Highways Infra Trust (NHIT) is the Infrastructure Investment Trust sponsored by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and was set up in 2021 to support the Government of India’s National Monetization Pipeline.

Read previous PIB articles here.