27 October 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam

India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2018

• India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2018 – a marquee event which provided a peep into the exciting future in the rapidly evolving area of digital communications.

Theme:

• “New Digital Horizons – Connect. Create. Innovate.” -established the IMC as a regular platform for global and local stakeholders in the sector to collaborate in the cause of exploring opportunities and leveraging possibilities, with specific focus on South and South-East Asia.

Highlights of the Event:

• Delegations from 20 countries participated in the event, which saw more than 300 companies showcasing their latest and best technologies, products, services, and applications.
• An extremely relevant addition at this edition of the IMC was the presence of high-level ministerial delegations from several BIMSTEC and ASEAN countries.
• The presence of the high-level delegations also offered them an opportunity for bilateral meetings with their Indian counterparts, where topics of mutual interest were discussed, and possibilities of strengthening cooperation were explored.
• The exhibition stalls covered a variety of interesting possibilities, hinged around 5G, Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Smart City Solutions, Fintech, Health-Tech, Autonomous Cars, and Cyber Security, amongst others.
• An interesting feature of the IMC was the focused attention on the critical Start-ups ecosystem.
• The Government of India announced the commitment of the industry to roll out One Million WiFi Hotspots in the Country by December 2019.
• The National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) 2018 was also unveiled at the event. NFAP 2018 frees up a total of 605 MHz spectrum in the 5-GHz band for Wi-Fi services.

Electoral Bond Scheme 2018

• Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018; as per provisions of the Scheme, Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India.
• A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
• Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
• The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the Authorized Bank.
• Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period.
• The Electoral Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

72^nd Infantry Day Celebrations

Aim:

To commemorate the selfless dedication to duty by Indian Army’s gallant Infantrymen, a wreath laying ceremony was organised at ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’.

About:

• General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, along with senior officers, laid wreaths in a solemn ceremony.
• Sepoy Boota Singh, a recipient of Vir Chakra in 1971 War represented the veterans.
• Infantry celebrates 27 October each year as Infantry Day to commemorate the first Infantry action post-independence.

Background:

• In response to the threat posed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Nation, on this day in 1947, the leading elements of the Indian Army from 1^stBattalion of the SIKH Regiment air landed at Srinagar and gallantly fought the raiders aided by Pakistan Army.
• This bold action by the Indian Army and indomitable courage displayed by the Infantrymen reversed the tide of events and thwarted the adversary’s nefarious designs.

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