GS -3 Paper
Topic covered- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
ISRO Technical Liaison Unit at Moscow
Context
The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow, Russia.
About
- ISRO Technical Liaison Unit in Moscow has been set up to enable effective technical coordination for timely interventions on diversified matters with Russia and other neighbouring countries.
- The step comes amid the India Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) cooperation with Russia on the Gaganyaan project–India’s human space mission programme.
- ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme requires the development of some of the key technologies and establishment of specialised facilities, which are essential to support life in space.
- The Department of Space has instituted technical liaison units like ITLU at Washington and Paris with the prime objective to liaise with various government and space agencies in the USA and Europe, respectively.
- Space cooperation has been one of the major links between India and Russia almost from the beginning of the space era and currently, both sides are actively pursuing interactions in diversified areas of the space programme.
Benefits:
- ISRO will be able to collaborate with Space agencies/industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
- ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme requires development of some of the key technologies and establishment of specialized facilities, which are essential to support life in space.
- For realization of the Gaganyaan human space programme by 15thAugust, 2022, it is prudent to avail technical cooperation from International space agencies, who have already demonstrated their technical capabilities in specific areas.
- Russia, being one of the space faring nations, it is envisaged to collaborate with Russia extensively in various fields of relevance.
Implementation Strategy
- The ITLU Moscow office would be managed by an ISRO Scientist/Engineer designated as “Counsellor (Space)” on deputation, deputed from ISRO and supported by astaff locally sourced.
Significance
- The Liaison Officers provides technical information about the developments in research and technology and inputs arising from their meetings with researchers, government agencies and industries in the respective countries.
- They also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO on the matters referred.
Gaganyaan Programme
About
- Gaganyaan Mission is India’s maiden human spaceflight programme, scheduled for 2022.
- Gaganyaan Programme will establish a broader framework for collaboration between ISRO, academia, industry, national agencies and other scientific organizations.
- It will allow pooling in of diverse technological and industrial capabilities and enable broader participation in research opportunities and technology development benefitting large number of students and researchers.
- The flight system realization will be through Industry.
- It is expected to generate employment and train human resources in advanced technologies.
- It will inspire large number of young students to take up science and technology careers for national development.
- Gaganyaan Programme is a national effort and will involve the participation of the Industry, Academia and National Agencies spread across the length and breadth of the country.
Significance
- The programme is expected to spur research and development within the country in niche science and technology domains.
- Huge potential for technology spinoffs in areas such as medicine, agriculture, industrial safety, pollution, waste management, water and food resource management etc.
- Human spaceflight programme will provide a unique micro-gravity platform in space for conducting experiments and test bed for future technologies.
- The programme is expected to give impetus to economic activities within the country in terms of employment generation, human resource development and enhanced industrial capabilities.
- Human Spaceflight capability will enable India to participate as collaborating partner in future global space exploration initiatives with long term national benefits.
GS- 2 Paper
Topic covered– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements
Context
The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements (UNISA) resulting from mediation by the Republic of India scheduled to be held at Singapore or at United Nations Headquarters.
What is UNISA?
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (“the Convention”) on 20th December 2018.
- The General Assembly authorized that the Convention will open for signature at a signing ceremony to be held on 7thAugust 2019 in Singapore and will be known as the “Singapore Convention on Mediation” .
- The Convention provides a uniform and efficient framework for the enforcement of international settlement agreements resulting from mediation.
- The Convention defines two additional grounds upon which a court may, on its own motion, refuse to grant relief.
- Those grounds relate to the fact that a dispute would not be capable of settlement by mediation or would be contrary to public policy.
Benefit
- Signing of the Convention will boost the confidence of the investors and shall provide a positive signal to foreign investors about India’s commitment to adhere to international practice on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Initiatives to promote ADR Mechanisms
- New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) is being set up as a statutory body.
- It will encourage international commercial arbitration in India, to evolve a comprehensive ecosystem of arbitration.
- The Commercial Courts Act, 2015, has been further amended and legislative exercise to further amend the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, is currently underway.
- These initiatives are being taken with a view to encourage the settlement of commercial disputes, domestic and international, in India through ADR Mechanism of Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation.
- A new Chapter (IIIA) has been inserted in the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, for mandatory pre-institution mediation and settlement in certain category of cases.
- Therefore, the provisions of the ‘Convention’ are in line with the domestic laws and the efforts made to strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.
GS- 2 Paper
Topic covered– Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019
Context
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Rajya Sabha.
About the Bill
- The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide for road safety.
- The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.
Key provisions of the Bill
Compensation for road accident victims
- The central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during golden hour.
- The Bill defines golden hour as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
- The central government may also make a scheme for providing interim relief to claimants seeking compensation under third party insurance.
- The Bill increases the minimum compensation for hit and run cases as follows-
- in case of death, from Rs 25,000 to two lakh rupees,
- In case of grievous injury, from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000.
Compulsory insurance
- The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India.
- It will be utilised for-
- treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme.
- compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident,
- compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident,
- compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government.
- This Fund will be credited through
- Payment of a nature notified by the central government,
- A grant or loan made by the central government,
- Balance of the Solatium Fund (existing fund under the Act to provide compensation for hit and run accidents),
- Any other source as prescribed the central government.
Good Samaritans
- The Bill defines a good samaritan as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident.
- The assistance must have been
- In good faith,
- Voluntary,
- Without the expectation of any reward.
- Such a person will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim.
Recall of vehicles
- The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.
- The manufacturer of the recalled vehicle will be required to-
- Reimburse the buyers for the full cost of the vehicle,
- Replace the defective vehicle with another vehicle with similar or better specifications.
National Transportation Policy
- The central government may develop a National Transportation Policy, in consultation with state governments.
- The Policy will
- Establish a planning framework for road transport,
- Develop a framework for grant of permits,
- Specify priorities for the transport system, among other things.
Road Safety Board
- The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification.
- The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management including:
- Standards of motor vehicles,
- Registration and licensing of vehicles
- Standards for road safety,
- Promotion of new vehicle technology.
Offences and penalties
- The Bill increases penalties for several offences under the Act.
- If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to Rs 100 crore, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.
- If a contractor fails to comply with road design standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to one lakh rupees.
- The central government may increase fines mentioned under the Act every year by up to 10%.
Taxi aggregators
- The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services).
- These aggregators will be issued licenses by state Further, they must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000.
For Prelims-
PRAGATI
Context
The Prime Minister chaired his thirtieth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
About PRAGATI
- PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform.
- It is a unique integrating and interactive platform.
- The platform is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
- It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
Features
- It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).
- Prime Minister will hold a monthly programme where he will interact with the Government of India Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals.
- The PRAGATI platform accumulates three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology.
- It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
- The first such programme was launched on 25th March, 2015.
- Issues to be flagged before the PM are picked up from the available database regarding Public Grievances, on-going Programmes and pending Projects.
- These issues can be viewed by the Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries after entering into the application.
- The system has been designed in-house by the PMO team with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC).
Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates
Highlights
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2019-20.
- The approved rates for NBS effective from the date of notification will be as under-
- For N (Nitrogen)- 18.901 per kg. subsidy
- For P (Phosphorus) – 216 per kg. subsidy
- For K (Potash)- 124 per kg. subsidy
- For S (Sulphur) – 562 per kg. subsidy
-
- This will enable the manufacturers and importers to formalize supply contracts for fertilizers and fertilizer inputs and make fertilizers available to the farmers in the year 2019-20.
- Government is making available fertilizers, Urea and 21 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers.
- The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f 01.04.2010.
