03 May 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PM pays tributes to Jagadguru Basaveshwara on Basava Jayanthi
2. India and Germany to work together on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Start-Ups 
and AI research
3. Operation Satark
4. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)

1. PM pays tributes to Jagadguru Basaveshwara on Basava Jayanthi

Context: 

The Prime Minister of India paid tributes to Jagadguru Basaveshwara on the sacred occasion of Basava Jayanthi.

Jagadguru Basaveshwara

• Basaveshwara was a 12th-century socio-religious reformer of Karnataka who also was the founding saint of the Lingayat sect.
• Basava Jayanthi marks the birthday of Basavanna.
• Basavanna believed in a society free of the caste system, with equal opportunity for all. 
• He founded Anubhava Mantapa, an academy which included Lingayat mystics, saints, and philosophers.

Know more about Jagadguru Basaveshwara.

2. India and Germany to work together on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Start-Ups and AI research

Context: India and Germany have agreed to work together with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) StartUps as well as AI research and its application in sustainability and healthcare.

India-Germany Science & Technology Cooperation

• Science & Technology Cooperation between India and Germany is one of the strategic pillars of a strong bilateral relationship. 
• Two countries have already started mapping each other’s strengths in areas like the application of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability and Healthcare. In 2019, Germany and India had agreed to establish a joint research programme in Artificial Intelligence. 
• Both countries are working in frontier areas of science & technology, including Electric Mobility, Cyber-Physical System, Quantum Technologies, Future Manufacturing, Green Hydrogen Fuel, Deep Ocean research and proposed to develop joint cooperation in these areas. 
• The MOU between the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India and the German Research Foundation (DFG) to support the International Research Training Groups (IRTG) program would further boost the cooperation towards capacity building targeting the training of Indian and German students for pursuing the PhD program. 
• Recent initiatives for human capacity development includes: 
  • Women Involvement in Science and Engineering Research (WISER) to facilitate lateral entry of women researchers into ongoing S&T projects
  • Paired Early Career Fellowships created an inclusive ecosystem for the Indo-German S&T cooperation with the exchange of young researchers on both sides.

3. Operation Satark

Context: The Railway Protection Force has recently started “Operation Satark”.

Operation Satark

• Operation Satark was launched by the  Railway Protection Force (RPF) to prevent the transport of illegal items to different parts of the country.
  • The Railway Protection Force is an armed force of the Union entrusted with the security of railway property, passenger areas and passengers. 
  • It is the lead security agency in the field of railway security having a pan India reach.
• Objective: 
  • To take action against illicit liquor/FICN/illegal tobacco products/unaccounted gold/cash/precious items/ any other items being transported through the railway network for the purpose of tax evasion/smuggling/commission of crime/acts of terror.

4. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)

Context: 

The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation inaugurated the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) Bengaluru premises.

National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID):

• NATGRID is envisioned as a seamless and secure database for information on terrorists, economic crimes, and other incidents.
• Its goal is to provide cutting-edge technology to India in order to improve its counter-terrorism capabilities.
• With real-time data and access to classified information such as immigration, banking, individual taxpayers, and air and train travels, it is envisioned as a robust mechanism to track suspects and prevent terrorist attacks.

Know more about NATGRID.

Read previous PIB here.

May 3rd, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here