16 May 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Atmanirbharta in Defence
2. International Museum Expo 2023
3. Launch of Sanchar Saathi Portal
4. Sagar Parikrama - V
5. Chairman, UPSC

1. Atmanirbharta in Defence

Syllabus – GS3, Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology: Indigenisation of Technology.

Prelims – Atmanirbharta in Defence.

Context – 164 PIL (Positive Indigenisation List) successfully indigenised within the time framework.

Details –

• In alignment with the aim to achieve Atmanirbharta in Defence, 164 Positive Indigenisation List items that were to be indigenised by December 2022 have met the target within the timelines.  These items have been notified by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), MoD and have an annual import substitution value of Rs 814 crore.
• The indigenisation of PIL items has been achieved by the DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) either through industry partners, including MSMEs or in-house. These indigenised items will be procured from the Indian industry only.
• The defence ministry has issued four lists so far comprising components and subsystems which were to be procured from the domestic industry after a ban on their import kicks in under a staggered timeline spanning till December 2028. The first PIL comprised 2,851 items, the second one had 107, the third PIL comprised 780 items and the fourth one had 928.
• The department had earlier notified the successful indigenisation of 2572 items with an import substitution value of Rs 1756 crores. With the addition of 164 PIL items, the total indigenised items stand at 2736, worth an import substitution value of Rs. 2570 cr.
• The aim of the Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) is to minimise imports by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

Also read – Defence Reforms in India

2. International Museum Expo 2023

Syllabus – GS1, Culture 

Prelims – 47th International Museum Day – 18th May, International Museum Expo 2023.

Context – The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Museum Expo 2023 to celebrate IMD on 18th May 2023.

Details –

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the three-day International Museum Expo 2023 on 18th May, 2023.
• The International Museum Expo 2023 is organised as part of Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, to celebrate the 47th International Museum Day (IMD). The theme of this year’s IMD is ‘Museums, Sustainability, and Well Being’.
• The International Museum Expo 2023 has been designed to initiate a holistic conversation on museums to enable them to evolve as cultural centres that play a pivotal role in India’s cultural diplomacy, in a year where India holds the G20 Presidency.
• The Prime Minister will also unveil the Mascot of the International Museum Expo, the Directory of Indian Museums, The Graphic Novel – A Day at the Museum, the Pocket Map of Kartavya Path and the Museum Cards (a set of 75 cards with illustrated facades of iconic museums across the country).
• The Mascot of the International Museum Expo 2023 is a contemporised version of the dancing girl made of wood in the Chennapatnam art style.
• International delegations from cultural centres and museums from across the world will participate in the International Museum Expo 2023.

About International Museum Day –

• Every year since 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has organised IMD (International Museum Day) on 18th May.
• The objective of the IMD is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.

3. Launch of Sanchar Saathi Portal

Syllabus – GS3, Cyber Security

Prelims – Sanchar Saathi portal, Digital India 

Context – GoI launched Sanchar Saathi Portal, an AI-based portal to detect telecom frauds.

Details –

• The Union Minister of Communications, Railways, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw launched Sanchar Saathi, an artificial intelligence-based portal that will enable telecom users to trace and block their lost or stolen phones, even if a new SIM is inserted. 
• India has emerged as the second-largest telecom ecosystem in the world. Apart from communication purposes, mobile phones are used for banking, e-learning, entertainment, availing government services, etc. So, it becomes important to protect the users from various frauds like banking fraud, theft of mobile phones, forged KYC, etc. For this purpose, the Department of Telecom has developed a citizen-centric portal – the Sanchar Saathi portal.
• The portal has the following modules:
  • Centralised Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) – The system prevents the use of lost/stolen mobiles.
  • Know your mobile – It helps the citizens to check the genuineness of the IMEI of their mobile device.
  • Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP) – It facilitates a user to check the number of mobile connections taken in her/his name using paper-based documents.
  • ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition Powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification) – ASTR uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to find out the total number of connections each person has taken. Fraudsters often use someone else’s identity or submit different photos in order to get multiple phone connections. ASTR was developed in order to counter these fraudulent practices and it was implemented on 870 mobile phone connections. The report suggested that this led to the identification of 4 million fraudulent connections, of which 3.6 million connections have been disconnected.

Also read – Digital India – Objectives, Advantages & Challenges

4. Sagar Parikrama – V

Syllabus – GS2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.

Prelims – Sagar Parikrama 

Context – Sagar Parikrama Phase V – from Raigad, Maharashtra to Canacona, Goa (17th – 19th May).

Details –

• The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has announced the commencement of Phase V of the Sagar Parikrama Phase initiative, from Raigad Maharashtra to Canacona, Goa (17th-19th May 2023). The Sagar Parikrama journey aims to address the challenges faced by the fishermen and other stakeholders while uplifting their prospects through various fisheries schemes and programs like PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) and KCC (Kisan Credit Cards).
• India is the third-largest fish-producing and 2nd largest aquaculture-producing nation in the world. Maharashtra has an extensive coastline – 720 km and contributes 82% to the state’s fish production. Maharashtra state stands at rank 7 with about 5% share in the country’s fish production. Goa has a coastline of 104 km where fish is a staple food for over 90% of its population, making it an integral part of Goan life and culture.
• The Sagar Parikrama initiative started with the phrase “Kranti se Shanti” on 5th March 2022 from Mandvi, Gujarat. It has successfully completed four phases covering 19 locations in Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. 
• Sagar Parikrama initiative is a GoI commitment to improving the quality of life and economic well-being of coastal communities by striking a sustainable balance between the utilisation of marine fisheries resources for the nation’s food security and the protection of marine ecosystems.

5. Chairman, UPSC

Syllabus – GS2, Constitutional Bodies.

Prelims – Chairman of UPSC

Context – Dr Manoj Soni took the oath as the Chairman of UPSC.

Details –

• Dr Manoj Soni took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission. 
• Dr Soni joined the Commission as Member in 2017 and was later appointed to perform the duties of the post of Chairman, UPSC under Article 316 (A) of the Constitution of India w.e.f. 05.04.2022.
• Dr Soni has studied Political Science and has earned a doctorate in ‘Post-Cold War International Systemic Transition and Indo-US Relations’. Dr Soni has earned recognition and awards and has significant publications to his credit.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

May 16th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here