05 Oct 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Citizens can now become drone pilots
2. India - UAE

1. Citizens can now become drone pilots

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Mains: Drone rules in India

Context:

Citizens can now become drone pilots with any government-issued identity and address proof.

Details:

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation notified the new Drone (Amendment) Rules 2023 saying that any citizen can now apply to become a drone pilot with government-issued identity and address proof.
• The new rules are effective from Sep 27, 2023.
• Any government-issued proof of identity and a government-issued proof of address i.e. Voter ID, Ration Card, or Driving License can now be accepted to apply for a Remote Pilot Certificate if the drone pilot does not have a passport.
• Notably, a remote pilot certificate is required when the drone is of small to medium size – up to 2kg – for non-commercial drone use.
• The new rules aim to further liberalise, promote and facilitate drone operations across the country and make India a global drone hub by 2030.
• The prerequisite of having a passport was becoming a hurdle for aspiring drone pilots, especially in the agricultural sector across rural India. The new rules solve this problem.

Eligibility to apply for a remote pilot license:

• Individuals aged between 18 and 65 years of age.
• Should have passed class 10th or its equivalent from a recognised board. 
• Should have successfully completed training as specified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from any authorised remote pilot training organisation.
• The license issued is valid for a period of ten years.

2. India – UAE

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Mains: India – United Arab Emirates (UAE) relations

Context:

Agreements between the Indian and UAE governments.

India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments

• The 11th meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments was held in Abu Dhabi.
• The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 to promote trade, investment and economic ties between India and the UAE. 
• The Joint Task Force has provided an effective mechanism for discussion on opportunities & prospects for investments in both countries as well as the resolution of issues faced by investors of the two countries.
• During the meeting, the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries was reviewed.
  • The CEPA had come into force in May 2022.
  • It has helped reduce tariffs on more than 80 percent of product lines, eliminate barriers to trade and create new pathways for investment and joint ventures. 
• The status of negotiations for the India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty was also discussed.

MoU signed between India and the UAE

• The MoU focuses on facilitating industrial investments, technology transfer and enabling the deployment of key technologies in industries.
• It is expected to benefit both nations through joint industrial and technological developments.
• The MoU focuses on seven key areas, including supply chain resilience, renewable energy and energy efficiency, health and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0 and advanced technologies, as well as standardization and metrology.

RuPay Domestic Card Scheme Agreement between India and the UAE

• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Al Etihad Payments (AEP) for Domestic Card Scheme (DCS) Implementation in UAE. 
• As per the agreement, NIPL and AEP will work together to build, implement, and operationalize UAE’s national domestic card scheme. 
• The DCS will aim to facilitate the growth of e-commerce and digital transactions in the UAE, bolster financial inclusion, support the UAE’s digitization agenda, increase alternate payment options, reduce the cost of payments, and enhance the UAE’s competitiveness and position as a global payments leader.

Read more about RuPay in the linked article.

Read the previous PIB articles here.