TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. MoU signed between India and Israel on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation 2. MoU between MoHUA and RITES 3. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) 4. Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme 5. TRAI released recommendations on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ 6. TRAI released Consultation Paper on Definition of International Traffic
1. MoU signed between India and Israel on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation
Syllabus: GS2, Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Prelims – MoU between India and Israel to boost cooperation in areas like innovation and start-ups.
Context – India and Israel signed an MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation with a focus on several key technologies.
Details –
- The Multi-Sectoral agreement was signed between CSIR and the Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), Ministry of Defence of the State of Israel in the presence of the Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. This MoU will enhance cooperation in areas like innovation and start-ups and will open a new phase in the India-Israel partnership.
- There will be a focus on several key technology areas like Electronic Instrumentation, Aerospace, Civil, Infrastructure and Engineering, Environment, Ecology, Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water, Mining, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Energy and Energy Devices and Agriculture.
- India and Israel are both part of the I2U2 group which comprises India, Israel, the United States of America and the U.A.E and play an important role in addressing some of the greatest challenges confronting the world through joint investments and new initiatives in the field of energy, water, space, health, transportation and food security sectors.
Also read – India-Israel Relations.
2. MoU between MoHUA and RITES
Syllabus: GS2, Health: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.
Prelims – MoU between MoHUA & RITES.
Context – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed an MoU with RITES Limited as the technical support agency for Swachhta.
Details –
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) Ltd. for technical assistance for Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Used Water Management (UWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)-U 2.0.
- The TSU (Technical Support Unit) of RITES will assist SBM-2 for a period of three years.
- Under Used Water Management, RITES will provide technical support for standards and specifications in the field of sewage and faecal sludge management and re-use, engineering design and process of wastewater treatment units.
- Under Solid Waste management, the areas of engagement will be process standardisation and engineering design of waste management facilities.
3. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
Syllabus: GS3, Economy
Prelims – 60th Foundation Day of IIFT.
Context – The IIFT celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on its 60th Foundation Day.
Details –
- The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on its 60th Foundation Day on 2nd May 2023.
- IIFT was established in 1963 and has emerged as an acknowledged centre of excellence in international trade and business. It is the premier business school in the country and has diversified its role from being a think tank institution to a key repository of knowledge in international trade.
- It has been ranked continuously amongst the top business schools, achieving AACSB accreditation and offering an impressive array of innovative MDPs (Management Development Programmes) and EDPs (Entrepreneurship Development Programmes).
- It has campuses in Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada.
Syllabus: GS2, Governance; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.
Prelims – Vivad Se Vishwas I (Relief for MSMEs).
Context – Vivad Se Vishwas I – Relief for MSMEs scheme launched to refund 95% of forfeited amount during covid.
Details –
- The Department of Expenditure (DoE) under the Ministry of Finance launched the scheme “Vivad Se Vishwas I- Relief to MSMEs” for providing relief to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for the covid-19 period.
- As per the scheme, announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2023, ministries have been asked to refund performance security, bid security and liquidated damages forfeited/deducted during the Covid pandemic from MSMEs which were unable to execute government contracts due to Covid.
- According to the scheme details, 95 per cent of the performance security, 95 per cent of the bid security, 95 per cent of the liquidated damages (LD), and 95 per cent of the risk purchase amount forfeited or deducted from MSMEs during the Covid period will be refunded.
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has developed a dedicated web page for the implementation of this scheme. The scheme commenced on 17th April 2023 and the last date for submission of claims is 30th June 2023.
5. TRAI released recommendations on ‘Ease of Doing Business’
Syllabus: GS2, Governance; Government Policies and Interventions.
Prelims – Recommendations on ease of doing business by TRAI.
Context – TRAI released recommendations on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector’.
Details –
- The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released recommendations on ‘ease of doing business in the telecom and broadcasting sector’. GoI is striving to improve the business environment at every stage across all sectors. These recommendations were made after TRAI floated a consultation paper on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector’ in December 2021.
- TRAI proposes to establish a Standing Committee with a focus on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). The recommendations strive to create a process-based approach to EoDB.
- TRAI has recommended that a user-friendly, transparent and responsive digital single window system-based portal should be established. The portal should be enabled with new digital technologies for achieving end-to-end interdepartmental online processes.
- In its recommendation on “Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting Sector”, TRAI recommended that the DoT should review and simplify the existing security conditions prescribed in the telecom licence agreement regarding maintaining command logs and supply chain documents.
- Among various measures to enhance ease of doing business, TRAI has recommended that the government should incorporate a website blocking process on a single window portal and the internet service providers only should receive the list of websites to be blocked from the portal in their secure login via an instant notification. The list of websites to be blocked should be communicated to the ISPs in their secure login via an instant notification. The provision for compliance submission by the ISPs should also be on the portal itself.
- The regulator has suggested that the process of surrender of licence, issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) and release of bank guarantees to the service providers should be made simple, online and time-bound.
- For speedy roll-out of the telecom network, TRAI has recommended that the requirement of additional Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA) clearance for the same mobile network site or tower location should be replaced with intimation only on the SaralSanchar portal.
- The regulator has suggested that telecom operators should be allowed to reinstall/deploy their wireless equipment to another circle or location after providing prior intimation to WPC (Wireless Planning Commission).
- To expedite approvals for satellite services, the regulator has recommended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and DoT portals should be end-to-end integrated with the Department of Space (DOS) and fully functional for all services requiring a space segment.
6. TRAI released Consultation Paper on Definition of International Traffic
Syllabus: GS3; Science and Technology; Indigenisation of Technology
Prelims – International Traffic.
Context – TRAI released Consultation Paper on the Definition of International Traffic
Details –
- The telecom regulator TRAI floated a consultation paper to define international traffic.
- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requested the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to provide its recommendations on the definition of international SMS and domestic SMS.
- The Authority noted that the term ‘international traffic’ has not been defined in the Unified License and that ‘international SMS’ is a type of ‘international traffic’. Therefore, the Authority is of the view that instead of defining international SMS in the Unified Licence Agreement, it would be appropriate to define the term ‘international traffic’, instead.
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