29 Sep 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. NavIC
2. Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA)
3. Project Udbhav
4. National Service Scheme (NSS)

1. ​​NavIC

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology

Prelims: NavIC

Context:

India’s NavIC will now be supported by ‘Made in India’ chipsets.

Details:

• The satellite-based navigation system developed by ISRO, NavIC is set to receive chipsets or microchips designed and manufactured in India by an Indian company for the first time.
• NavIC enables users to determine their precise geographic location and track their movements anywhere in India and 1500 km beyond India’s territorial boundary. Learn more about NavIC in the link.
• Only those navigating gadgets that have a NavIC-compatible chipset or microchip incorporated inside them can use and decode NavIC signals.
• The receivers of NavIC signals like NavIC-compatible smartphones and other navigators, typically incorporate these chipsets or microchips which are designed to decode and process the signals coming from the seven Indian satellites.  
• Currently, such devices use chipsets or microchips imported from the US or Taiwan.
• The Science & Technology Ministry and the MeIT are collaborating with a Hyderabad-based firm Manjeera Digital Systems to design and produce these chipsets in India commercially.
• Manjeera Digital Systems is a fabless semiconductor company with a patented High-Performance Computing (HPC) processor called UMA. This home-grown product enables navigation as well as tracking and can be used for both commercial and civilian purposes.

2. Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA)

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority, e-NWR

Context:

WDRA signed an MoU with the Bank of India to facilitate low-interest-rate loans to farmers.

Details:

• The MoU was signed with the intent of promoting awareness to fund against e-NWRs (electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts).
• The MoU also aims to provide information to depositors about the benefits, besides doing further outreach activities to improve agricultural pledge finance in India.

About Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA):

• WDRA regulates and ensures the implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007 for the development and regulation of warehouses, Regulations of Negotiability of Warehouse Receipts and promotes the orderly growth of the warehousing business.
• The WDRA is a Statutory Authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
• It was constituted in 2010 as per the provisions of the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.

3. Project Udbhav

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: Project Udbhav

Context:

The Indian Army in collaboration with the United Service Institution of India (USI), concluded a hybrid-panel discussion under Project Udbhav.

Project Udbhav:

• Project Udbhav is an initiative set in motion by the Indian Army to rediscover the profound Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thoughts derived from ancient Indian texts of statecraft, warcraft, diplomacy and grand strategy. 
• The project endeavours to explore India’s rich historical narratives in the realms of statecraft and strategic thoughts. 
• It focuses on a broad spectrum including Indigenous Military Systems, Historical Texts, Regional Texts and Kingdoms, Thematic Studies, and intricate Kautilya Studies.
• The goal is to understand the profound depths of indigenous military systems, their evolution, strategies that have been passed down through the ages, and the strategic thought processes that have governed the land for millennia.
• The aim of Project Udbhav is not limited to just rediscovering these narratives but also to develop an indigenous strategic vocabulary, which is deeply rooted in India’s multifaceted philosophical and cultural tapestry. 
• The overall aim is to integrate age-old wisdom with modern military pedagogy.

4. National Service Scheme (NSS)

Prelims Facts:

• The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. 
• It provides an opportunity to the student youth of classes 11 & 12 and student youth of Technical Institutions, Graduate & Post Graduate students at colleges to take part in various government-led community service activities & programmes.
• The sole aim of the NSS is to provide hands-on experience to young students in delivering community service.
• Launched in 1969, NSS is now spread over 657 Universities and 51 +2 Councils/Directorates, covering 20,669 Colleges/Technical Institutions and 11,988 Senior Secondary Schools.
• NSS motto: “Not me but you”. 
• The NSS awards, instituted in 1993-94, are given away every year to recognise the work of NSS volunteers.

Read the previous PIB articles here.