Upgraded Sindhurakshak Handed Over To India

An upgraded and refitted diesel-electric submarine from the Indian Navy fleet was handed back to India by Russia after over two years of overhaul and refurbishing works.

The major refit of the Russian-origin INS Sindurakshak (S63) was carried out at Russia's Zvezdochka shipyard.

The upgrade and modernisation of Sindhurakshak, a Project 877 EKM NATO Kilo-class submarine, was done under a contract signed in June 201.

Under the refit programme, the submarine got Klub-S 3M54E1 anti-ship and 3M14E land attack 200-km-range cruise missiles systems retrofitted. It also got another 10-odd Indian and foreign-made systems such as the USHUS hydro-acoustic sonar system and CSS-MK-2 radio communication system newly integrated.

The Sindhurakshak upgrade programme cost India $80 million and it will include a complete overhaul of the vessel's hull structures. The programme also included improved electronic warfare systems, control systems and integrated weapon control system.

The vessel's cooling system too underwent modifications, apart from a 'Porpoise' radio-locator fitted and more works carried out to enhance its capabilities, safety and security.

The submarine will leave the Russian shipyard and sailed for Mumbai, taking the North Sea route off United Kingdom.

A Russian ice-breaker ship will accompany the submarine, which is the first Indian vessel to be handed over after a refit programme in icy winter season.

Zvezdochka shipyard specialises in overhaul and dismantling of nuclear-powered submarines and since 1997, it had upgraded four Indian conventional submarines of Russian origin INS Sindhuvir, Sindhuratna, Sindhughosh and Sindhuvijay.

This class of submarines are designed and built for anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, defence of naval bases, securing of coasts and sea lanes of communication, reconnaissance and maritime patrol operations

Advancing Cheminformatics for Novel Drugs

In pursuit of common aims and to raise awareness of the importance of Cheminformatics to accelerate the discovery of novel therapies for neglected diseases like TB and Malaria, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which provides scientific and industrial R&D that maximises the economic, environmental and societal benefits for the people of India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between its Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) initiative and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the largest European organisation for advancing chemical sciences in its headquarter here in New Delhi.

The MoU, spanning three years, aims to address the objective of finding novel, faster-acting, and more effective regimens for TB and Malaria by advancing the discipline of Cheminformatics. The collaboration envisions conducting workshops and conferences to build links between experts and leaders in the coming years and will focus on jointly building an online repository of real and virtual molecular structures along with developing free-to -use software tools for drug discovery and development. The partnership also aims at exploring the possibility of advancing OSDD’s e-learning program for students.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has undoubted strength in the field of chemistry. This strength will now be coupled with the strengths of the OSDD programme, deployed to improve the innovation for neglected diseases”.

The importance of scientific institutions to work towards finding solutions for problems that predominantly affect the poorer sections of the society, like the need for new drugs for Tuberculosis, Malaria and Kala-Azar (Leishmaniasis).

The importance of this collaboration for finding new drugs for neglected diseases like tuberculosis (TB). “What we cannot do alone, we with complementary skills, need to work together. Finding new drugs for TB is a major challenge. We are joining hands to find New Chemical Entities which could be potential anti-TB drugs.”

Through this agreement, the CSIR and RSC are responding to the challenge of ‘lost data’ – that is the 90% of research output that never gets published.He said “That data, that information, that knowledge, is lost to society. But it has enormous value to the chemical science research community and by using new tools and new disciplines, like Cheminformatics or e-Science, we can recapture that lost information. The importance of Cheminformatics in addressing this challenge cannot be underestimated.”

 The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is an autonomous society whose President is the Prime Minister of India. CSIR is an ensemble of 37 laboratories in engineering, physical, biological, chemical and information science clusters, funded chiefly by the government of India. CSIR laboratories engage about 5000 scientists and almost 10000 students pursuing higher degrees. CSIR provides scientific and industrial R&D that maximizes the economic, environmental and societal benefits for the people of India.

Open Source Drug Discovery (OSDD) is an initiative funded and led by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. OSDD is a team India consortium with global partnership with a vision to provide affordable healthcare to the developing world to solve the complex problems associated with discovering novel therapies for diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria and Leishmaniasis.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is the largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences. Supported by a worldwide network of members and an international publishing business, RSC’s activities span education, conferences, science policy, development of chemical applications and the promotion of chemistry to the public.

Cheminformatics

Cheminformatics

Cheminformatics is a cross between Computer Science and Chemistry: the process of storing and retrieving information about chemical compounds.

Information Systems are concerned with storing, retrieving, and searching information, and with storing relationships between bits of data.

Cheminformatics (also known as chemoinformatics and chemical informatics) is the use of computer and informational techniques, applied to a range of problems in the field of chemistry.  These in silico techniques are used in pharmaceutical companies in the process of drug discovery. These methods can also be used in chemical and allied industries in various other forms.

Cheminformatics Background

In the past few decades, the drug design field has extensively used computational tools to accelerate the development of new and improved therapeutics. Researchers have recognized the urgent need to establish relationships between chemical structures and their properties. Quantitative Structure Property Relationships (QSPR) along with Linear Gibbs Free Energy Relationships (LFER) and Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships (QSAR) have been established for a wide variety of chemical molecules.

Cheminformatics analysis tools are gaining in sophistication, and are earning increasing respect as tools crucial for the rapid development of new therapeutics. One factor driving the need for effective chemical data analysis is the tremendous growth of molecular databases as a result of automated combinatorial synthesis techniques and high through put assay systems. Cheminformatics techniques facilitate the analysis and interpretation of the chemical information contained within these sets of complex and high-dimensional molecular data.

IT-proficient scientists and chemists are now able to generate, retrieve and analyse scientific information that is more accurate and useful by making use of specialised software for analysis of their vast data. It is difficult to imagine a chemical research laboratory or company without the application of computers in the development and testing of drugs, storage or analysis of data.

Cheminformatics is a fast growing field and there is a lack of qualified scientific professionals who can use computers and databases for chemical compounds or drug development. Realising its immense potential, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are now going in for qualified and trained staff in cheminformatics. New career avenues have also opened up for IT as well as computer-proficient science graduates for acquiring, managing, or utilising chemical information with the help of computer software or hardware. These professionals are essential to develop and maintain programs for specific scientific applications.

With the exponentially growing and highly competitive drug and pharmaceutical market, cheminformatics professionals thus have immense importance in the drug development process as they implement IT tools to replace traditional processes. The demand for such IT – chemical professionals is also growing substantially. These professionals are expected to contribute in bringing new products to the market quickly and economically. In the years to come cheminformatics shall play a vital role in new drug discovery programs and candidates with professional experience are bound to have a good job market.

Expert Committee to Review Functioning of Prasar Bharti

         The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has constituted an Expert Committee for the purpose of reviewing the institutional frame work of Prasar Bharati including its relationship with Government, its continuing role as a public broadcaster and measures needed to ensure technical up gradation of the organization. The composition of the Expert Committee is as under:-

         i)          Sh. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister of India on Public

                     Information Infrastructure & Innovations - Chairman

         ii)         Smt. Asha Swaroop, IAS(Retd) and former Secretary to the Govt. of

                     India - Member

         iii)        Dr. B.K. Gairola, Mission Director (e-Governance) - Member

         iv)        Sh. Shekhar Kapur, Member of the National Innovation Council -

                     Member.

         v)         Prof. M.P. Gupta, IIT Delhi - Member

         vi)        Sh. Jitendra Shankar Mathur, Additional Secretary and nominated

                     member on Prasar Bharati Board.

         vii)       Shri Jawhar Sircar, Chief Executive, Prasar Bharati - Member

                     (Convenor)

         The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:-

·                           To suggest measures to sustain, strengthen and amplify Prasar Bharati's role as a Public Broadcaster with special reference to its relationship with Government in the emerging context.

·                           To review the status of implementation of the recommendations made by various committees that have undertaken study of Prasar Bharati, namely, the Sengupta committee, the Bakshi Committee and the Narayanamurthy committee and suggest a road map ahead for enhancing the reach and potential of Prasar Bharati.

·                           To suggest measures to digitize the archival material in the possession of Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) including material from Independence Movement era, and develop enabling infrastructure, in the form of data digitalization systems, data centers and networks etc.

·                           To suggest ways of using the new media to deliver digital content - both in broadcast mode (DTH) and in a demand-based mode (Free on social media like You-Tube, and on payment through IPTV).

·                           To suggest a strategy for creating a network of domestic and overseas business partners for ensuring wider reach to a worldwide audience including creating an exclusive overseas service.

·                           Any other statutory issue that the Committee may like to consider.

Indian scientists map Chickpea genome

Scientists have mapped the genome of chickpea, which may lead to the development of high-yielding varieties of this food legume consumed widely in India.

The genome mapping by a team of 23 academic institutes including three Indian farm research centres and Hyderabad-based International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has led to discovery of 28,269 genes in the chickpea genome, some of which can be exploited to develop improved varieties.

“Currently chickpea yield is stagnated between 700-900 kg per hectare. But it can go quite high. Proper identification of genes from the genome map may lead to faster breeding of new varieties,”

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is the world's second most widely grown legume crop after soybean, accounting for a substantial proportion of human dietary nitrogen intake. With more than 85 lakh tonnes of annual production, India is the world's highest producer of chickpea that supplies protein to the poor.

The candidate genes were identified after the draft genome sequence was compared with known genes from 90 cultivated and wild types of chickpeas from 10 countries.

The genetic diversity of chickpea is so narrow from other legume species, we could not undertake any crop development programme for chickpea. The new knowledge would help in creating better varieties either by the molecular breeding or transgenic route,.

In India though the area under chickpea increased from 6.45 million ha in 1992-93 to 8.56 million ha in 2009-10 with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka accounting for 95 per cent area, India still imports chickpea from Australia and Canada to meet the growing national demand.

In much of the world, chickpea is cultivated in semi-arid environments and on soils of poor agricultural quality.

Combined with its susceptibility to drought and debilitating fungal diseases this have restricted yields to less than one ton per ha, which is considerably below the theoretical potential.

The draft genome sequence of a Canadian kabuli chickpea variety, widely cultivated and resistant to several important fungal diseases, including Ascochyta blight, and insects like pod borer will eventually aid in improving the livelihood and productivity of chickpea farmers particularly in the resource-poor environments of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

As majority of chickpea production is done in semi-arid tropic regions, we have major emphasis to improve drought tolerance in chickpea. We would like to have higher yield under drought conditions We are in process of developing superior lines through molecular breeding.

Apart from ICRISAT, other Indian institutes in the team was Indian Agriculture Research Institute and National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, both in Delhi, and Indian Institute of Pulses Research in Kanpur.

This is the second food legume genome sequenced in India after pigeon pea.

What are legumes?

Legumes are plants that are members of the Leguminosae family. They have "fruits" which consist of a pod that opens on two sides down its length to reveal the seed. Legume crops are also capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen, an essential plant nutrient, in the soil. It does this with the help of root nodules, which usually contain a beneficial fungus (various Rhizobia species). Some examples of legumes are peanuts, beans, peas, alfalfa, clover, lentils and cashews.

eBiz Mission Mode Project

Portal to Provide Secure one Stop Shop for all Investment and Business Related Information and Services 24X7

The Ministry for Commerce, Industry & Textiles  launched an eBiz portal at the CII Partnership Summit. The portal is India’s Government-to-Business (G2B) portal developed by Infosys in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model. “This Mission Mode Project will mark a paradigm shift in the Government’s approach to providing Government-to-Business (G2B) services for India’s investor and business communities,”

In order to enable businesses and investors to save time and costs and in order to improve the business environment in the country, an online single window was conceptualised in the form of the eBiz Mission Mode Project under the National eGovernance Plan. The “project aims to create a business and investor friendly ecosystem in India by making all business and investment related regulatory services across Central, State and local governments available on a single portal, thereby obviating the need for an investor or a business to visit multiple offices or a plethora of websites.”

The core value of the transformational project lies in a shift in the Governments’ service delivery approach from being department-centric to customer-centric. “eBiz will create a 24x7 facility for information and services and will also offer joined-up services where a single application submitted by a customer, for a number of permissions, clearances, approvals and registrations, will be routed automatically across multiple governmental agencies in a logical manner.” “An inbuilt payment gateway will also add value by allowing all payments to be collected at one point and then apportioned, split and routed to the respective heads of account of Central / State / Para-statal agencies along with generation of challans and MIS reports. This payment gateway is the first of its kind designed in India and can become a universal payment gateway for all eGovernance applications

The Department of Industrial Promotion & Policy, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, is the Nodal Government Agency responsible for the implementation of the eBiz Project. Infosys Technologies Ltd. has been selected as the Concessionaire/ Project Implementation Partner and is responsible for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of the eBiz Solution.

The government is “firmly committed to wide-ranging initiatives aimed at fostering the business environment in the country in a holistic manner. Our approach includes leveraging technology to bring transparency, improve efficiency and promote convenience. eBiz is an important step in this direction and we are pleased to work in partnership with Infosys on this project, which we hope will become a benchmark for successful Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the country.”

eBiz Project is the first of its kind ever implemented in the country. It marks the highest level of maturity in web-based eGovernance applications as it strives to achieve horizontal integration across various verticals of Central government, State governments and Para-statal agencies”.

The first phase of the project, provides an interactive tool that helps investors assess the Licenses and Permits requirements while setting up and operating a business in India. The License & Permit Information wizard will provide authentic information 24X7 to investors and businesses by providing answers to questions in an interview style format.

Objective

Like any other technology driven project, e-Biz too has a clear mandate of addressing several issues that will result in making the industry interactions with the government smooth-seeking approvals and permissions, reducing the points of contact between the business entities and the Government agencies, standardization of information, and reducing the burden of compliance.

Services

The services provided by e-Biz are:

• Issue of Name Availability Letter
• Issue of Director Identification Number
• Issue of Certificate for Corporation
• Issue of Certificate for Commencement of Business
• Issue of Permanent Account Number
• Filing of Returns by Companies (Form 1)
• Tax Deduction Account Number of Income Tax Dept
• Excise Tax Registration (Form R-1)
• Filing monthly returns for production and removal of goods (Form E.R 1)
• Service Tax Registration (Form ST-1)
• Filing Half-yearly Service Tax Returns
• Issue of Industrial Entrepreneur Memoranda
• Issue of Industrial License (DIPP)
• Issue of Importer Exporter Code
• Application for Environmental Clearance
• Filing of FC-GPR (Reporting of Forex Transaction)
• Filing for Employees State Insurance Corporation
• Filing for Employees Provident Fund Organization
• Issue of Registration Certificate under Value Added Tax
• Filing of Returns by Dealers
• Registration of SSI unit under the Industries Development and Regulation Act
• Registration under Shops and Establishment Act
• Issue of license under Factories Act, 1948
• Filing of Annual Returns under Factories Act, 1948
• Payment of Property Tax
• Application for power connection from DISCOM
• Permission to Charge the Line
• No Objection Certificate from
• Registration for Profession Tax

K-15, India’s underwater ballistic missile

India test fired its K-15 ballistic missile to join a select league of nations with the capability of firing nuclear-tipped missiles from land, air and sea.

The K-15 ballistic missile was fired from an underwater platform in Bay of Bengal. The missile met every mission objective, announced the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Some of the facts about K-15:

*The K-15 has a strike range of around 1500 kilometres.

* Sunday's launch was the 11th launch of the missile from underwater. In addition, K-15 has also been test fired from land on three occasions. Though the results were successful, the DRDO kept it a closely guarded secret.

*K-15 was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation for the Indian strategic forces’ underwater platforms.

*This missile will help India to achieve the capability of launching nuclear warheads from underwater facilities.

* With the successful test of K-15, India joins the USA, France, Russia and China in the elite group of countries that have submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). India was developing K-15 for the better part of the last decade as a reliable second strike capability in case of a nuclear attack.

National Communal Harmony Award 2012

The Foundation for Amity & National Solidarity, Delhi has been selected for the National Communal Harmony Award for the year 2012 by the Jury headed by the Vice-President of India.

Formed in 1984, the Foundation for Amity & National Solidarity (FANS) is a Delhi based Trust which works for spreading amity and communal harmony. It has organized numerous seminars, workshops, symposiums, inter-religious meets, youth camps, sadbhavana sabhas and rallies to promote social amity. The Foundation has instituted 'National Amity Award', which is given every year to an eminent personality. A serial 'Yeh Gulistan Hamara' produced by the Foundation on national integration was telecast on Doordarshan. It has awarded numerous scholarships under its Amity Scholarship Scheme to promote education amongst the economically backward students. It has extensively contributed for promoting solidarity and communal harmony.

The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organization set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, for promoting communal harmony and national integration. The ward has been instituted with a view to demonstrating due appreciation and recognition of the efforts of individuals and organisations for promotion of communal harmony and national integration in a sustained manner over a sufficiently long period of time. In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash prize of Rupees five lakh for the Organisation.

3rd National Voters’ Day Celebrated Across the Country

2.32 Crore New Electors Registered and Handed over Voter ID Cards  National Awards Presented for best Electoral Practices

The Election Commission of India celebrated the 3rd National Voters’ Day across the country today. The theme for the 3rd NVD is ‘Inclusion’.

NVD functions were held at more than 6.5 lakh locations across the country covering nearly all 8.5 lakh Polling Stations. Around 46,000 Educational Institutions also celebrated National Voters’ Day. Around 4,867 Youth Voter Festivals have been held across the states to engage youth in the registration process.

The National Function to mark the 3rd National Voters’ Day was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Hon’ble Vice President, Shri M Hamid Ansari who was the Chief Guest, gave away the National Awards for the Best Electoral Practices. The Award comprises three awards for District Election officers and Superintendent of Police of district and one Special Award for Officers outside the district machinery. Best State Awards for 2012 was also given away to Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Media Awards for the Best Campaign on Voter Education and Awareness was also given away.

The Chief Guest also gave EPIC (Voter ID card) to 10 new voters of Delhi (those who attained the age of 18 years – with 1st January every year as the qualifying date) and a badge with the slogan “Proud to be a Voter – Ready to Vote”.

Chief Election Commissioner, Shri V S Sampath congratulated the election machinery for the new enrolment of about 2.32 crore citizens in the recently concluded roll revision which included around 93 lakh newly eligible electors in the 18-19 yr age group. With this, he said, the country’s electorate now stands at 77.78 crore. He also pointed to the record turnout of voters particularly of women, in the recent general elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh through concerted efforts of all, including Central and State Govt departments, educational institutions, civil society, corporate sector and the media. Shri Sampath welcomed Olympics medallists Ms Saina Nehwal and Ms Mary Kom as the Commission’s new national icons on voter participation.

NVD is now the flagship programme of the Election Commission of India not only in terms of the large-scale empowerment of citizens through enrolment but also for the country-wide undertaken for spreading voter education and awareness.

Introducing the National Awards, Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi, said that the objective of the awards was to encourage innovation, efficiency and contribution in the exclusive field of election management.

25th January is also the foundation day of the Commission, which came into being on this day in 1950. The Commission’s objective through NVD is to increase enrolment of voters, especially of the newly eligible ones, to make universal adult suffrage a complete reality. The National Voters’ Day is also utilized to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process.  

NATIONAL AWARDS 2012

A. NATIONAL AWARDS FOR BEST ELECTORAL PRACTICES

First Award jointly to Ms Kamini Chauhan Ratan, DEO Bulandshahr, UP and Shri Surendra Singh, DEO Firozabad, UP

Second Award jointly to Ms Avantika Aulakh, DEO Bharuch, Gujarat & Shri Pravin Bakshi, DEO West Garo Hills, Meghalaya

Third Award jointly to Ms Jayshri Kiyawat, DEO Jhabua, MP & Shri Ram Krishna Bhardwaj, SP Barabanki, UP

Special Award to Shri Ajit K Shrivastava, Addl Commissioner of Income Tax, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Best State Award to Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal; Chief Electoral officers to receive the Award

B. NATIONAL MEDIA AWARDS

National Media Award for the Campaign on Voters’ Education and Awareness to Zee News

Special Media Award for the Campaign on Voters’ Education and Awareness to Amar Ujala

Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs)

Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) Allowed to Directly Invest in Indian Equity Market Scheme to Help Increase the Depth of the Indian Market and in Combating Volatility Beside Increasing Foreign Inflows into the County

In a major policy decision, the Central Government has decided to allow Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) to directly invest in Indian equity market in order to widen the class of investors, attract more foreign funds, and reduce market volatility and to deepen the Indian capital market. QFIs have been already permitted to have direct access to Indian Mutual Funds schemes pursuant to the Budget announcement 2011-12.

Foreign Capital inflows to India have significantly grown in importance over the years. These flows have been influenced by strong domestic fundamentals and buoyant yields reflecting robust corporate sector performance.

In the present arrangement relating to foreign portfolio investments, only FIIs/sub-accounts and NRIs are allowed to directly invest in Indian equity market. In this arrangement, a large number of Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs), in particular, a large set of diversified individual foreign nationals who are desirous of investing in Indian equity market do not have direct access to Indian equity market. In the absence of availability of direct route, many QFIs find difficulties in investing in Indian equity market.

As a first step in this direction, QFIs have been permitted direct access to Indian Mutual Funds schemes pursuant to the Budget announcement 2011-12. As a next logical step, it has now been decided to allow QFIs to directly invest in Indian equity market in order to widen the class of investors, attract more foreign funds, and reduce market volatility and to deepen the Indian capital market.

The QFIs shall include individuals, groups or associations, resident in a foreign country which is compliant with FATF and that is a signatory to IOSCO’s multilateral MoU. QFIs do not include FII/sub-accounts.

Salient Features of the Scheme:

· RBI would grant general permission to QFIs for investment under Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS) route similar to FIIs.

· The individual and aggregate investment limit for QFIs shall be 5% and 10% respectively of the paid up capital of Indian company. These limits shall be over and above the FII and NRI investment ceilings prescribed under the PIS route for foreign investment in India.

· QFIs shall be allowed to invest through SEBI registered Qualified Depository Participant (DP). A QFI shall open only one demat account and a trading account with any of the qualified DP. The QFI shall make purchase and sale of equities through that DP only.

· DP shall ensure that QFIs meet all KYC and other regulatory requirements, as per the relevant regulations issued by SEBI from time to time. QFIs shall remit money through normal banking channel in any permitted currency (freely convertible) directly to the single rupee pool bank account of the DP maintained with a designated AD category - I bank. Upon receipt of instructions from QFI, DP shall carry out the transactions (purchase/sale of equity).

· DP shall be responsible for deduction of applicable tax at source out of the redemption proceeds before making redemption payments to QFIs.

· Risk management, margins and taxation on such trades by QFIs may be on lines similar to the facility available to the other investors.

The scheme is expected to help increase the depth of the Indian market and in combating volatility beside increasing foreign inflows into the county.

National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020

The NEMMP 2020 is a detailed plan based on an in-depth primary data study conducted jointly by government, automotive industry and academia/research institutes. The NEMMP is vital for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, 80% of which is imported leading to massive foreign exchange deficit.

Here is our ‘In a Nutshell’ version of India’s plans to become a global leader in EVs by 2020 -

Target

• To put 6-7 million EVs on road by 2020; 4-5 million are expected to be two-wheelers.
• Reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• To promote cleaner technologies.

Why do it?

• India’s excessive appetite for fossil fuel has an adverse impact on the environment and even on our foreign exchange reserves.
• Successful implementation of NEMMP will result in 2.2 – 2.5 million tones of fossil fuel savings by 2020, that’s a monetary saving of Rs 30,000 crore.
• It will also lower vehicular emissions and decrease carbon di-oxide emissions by 1.3% to 1.5% by 2020.
• The production of hybrid and electric vehicles in India is an investment that will deliver economic growth, quality jobs and a cleaner future.

How will we do it?

• Both the government and the automotive industry will jointly invest Rs 23,000 crores to develop the EV eco-system in India.
• The government will invest close to Rs 14,000 crores over the next 5-6 years. The automakers will invest close to Rs 8,000 crores.
• India will deploy support measures that will quicken up the process of consumer acceptance of EVs.

Who is helping us?

Germany is going to help India achieve its target and we couldn’t have found a better partner.

The Germans are a strong supporters of electric mobility. Currently, Germany has about 1,500 EVs operating on German roads. By 2020, Germany aims to put at least one million electric vehicles on their roads. Thanks to these efforts, German cities are among the greenest in Europe.

An Indo-German Joint Working Group (JWG) on Automotive Sector has been established to intensify cooperation in the development of efficient automotive technologies and alternate fuels and drives.

The Challenge ahead

India‘s electric auto industry is really very small. The only manufacturer in India that produces EV is Mahindra REVA. There are a few makers in the two wheeler segment such as Yo Bykes, Hero Electric, Ampere and Lohia Auto.

The biggest challenge to the manufacturers is to convince an Indian consumer to pay a premium to go electric. On the other hand, the biggest challenge to the government will be to provide the necessary infrastructure to support EVs like charging stations that are spread across the country.

Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) - ARC

Background

The Indian Ocean Rim defines a distinctive area in international politics consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean. It is a r

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egion of much diversity, in culture, race, religion, economic development, and strategic interests. The countries vary in the size of their populations, economies, trade, and technological development and in the composition of their GDP. A number of sub-regions are evident, for example Southern and Eastern Africa, Gulf of Aden, Oman Sea, South-Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. It also includes a number of regional organisations, such as ASEAN, GCC, SAARC, and SADCC.

An Economic Community of Nations

For many centuries, the countries, economies and peoples of the Indian Ocean have been bound together in an informal, cooperative economic community. Traders, seamen, fishermen, and pilgrims traversed the Indian Ocean and its numerous ports, enabling a vibrant trading network to emerge.

Impact of De-Colonisation

After the Second World War, the decolonisation process ended British hegemony in the Indian Ocean. Superpower rivalry in the region escalated, due to the strategic importance of the area. The common historical experience of European imperialism had left a lasting impression on the leaders of states in the Indian Ocean region - of a sense of shared identity. The rediscovery of the past littoral economic, social and cultural community, of an ocean-centric regional co-operative grouping serving as a bridgehead between Africa, Asia and Australasia, therefore seemed only natural.

In 1995, during a visit to India, President Nelson Mandela stated that "the natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic co-operation and other peaceful endeavors. Recent changes in the international system demand that the countries of the Indian Ocean shall become a single platform."

The Mighty Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the world's third largest Ocean. It carries half of the world's container ships, one third of the bulk cargo traffic, two-thirds of the world's oil shipments. It is a lifeline of international trade and economy. The region is woven together by trade routes and commands control of the major sea-lanes. The Indian Ocean Rim constitutes between a quarter and a third of the world's population (close to two billion) which makes it a massive market. It is rich in strategic and precious minerals and metals and other natural resources, valuable marine resources ranging from food fisheries to raw material and energy for industries. It has abundant agricultural wealth in terms of the variety and mass of arable land and has significant human resources and technological capabilities. Many countries of the Rim are becoming globally competitive and are developing new capacities, which can be jointly harnessed through regional co-operation efforts.

Formation

On 29-31 March 1995, the Mauritius Government convened a meeting to discuss the enhancement of economic co-operation among countries of the Indian Ocean Rim. Representatives from the government, business sectors and academia, from Australia, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Sultanate of Oman, Singapore and South Africa, known as the "CoreGroupStates" or M-7, attended the meeting. In a joint statement issued at the end of the meeting, the participants declared that they had agreed on "Principles of Open Regionalism and Inclusivity of Membership, with the objectives of Trade Liberalization and Promoting Trade Co-operation. Activities would focus on Trade Facilitation, Investment Promotion and Economic Co-operation."

A tripartite Working Group (Government, Academic and Private Sector) met in Mauritius on 15 -17 August of 1995. This meeting decided to create a "Second Track" process as complimentary to an Inter-Governmental Movement. A later meeting during September 1996 in Mauritius finalised a Charter for the creation of the IOR-ARC, and expanded the membership to include Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Yemen,Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique- known as the M-14.

Scope of Work

OPEN REGIONALISM

The IOR-ARC is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.  It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

The open regionalism, which is more member-friendly than other neo-liberal regional arrangements, includes three key components namely,

(a) the Trade Liberalisation

(b) Trade and Investment Facilitation 

(c) Economic and Technical Cooperation.

MEMBER DRIVEN APPROACH

IOR-ARC seeks to build and expand understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through an evolutionary and non-intrusive approach.  A member driven approach is followed by Member States to achieve the goals and objectives of the Association.

GROUPINGS

It promotes a principle of good governance which enables smooth implementation of its work programmes through its three separate Working Groups, namely the Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI), the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), and the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG).

PRIORITY AREAS

The priority areas identified for the Association in medium to long term, in the Charter include (i) Poverty Alleviation, (ii) Promotion of Maritime Transport and related matters, (iii) Cooperation in the fields of Fisheries Trade, (iv) Research and Management, (v) Aquaculture, (vi) Education and Training, (vii) Energy, (viii) Information Technology, (ix) Health, (x) Protection of the Environment, (xi) Agriculture, (xii) Disaster Management.

Membership

IOR-ARC Membership

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, is an International/Diplomatic Organization with 20 Member States. It was first established in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched on 6-7 March 1997.

Members

Date of Joining

Australia	07 March 1997
Bangladesh	31 March 1999
Union of the Comoros	02 November 2012
India	07 March 1997
Indonesia	07 March 1997
Iran	31 March 1999
Kenya	07 March 1997
Madagascar	07 March 1997
Malaysia	07 March 1997
Mauritius	07 March 1997
Mozambique	07 March 1997
Oman	07 March 1997
Seychelles	15 November 2011
Singapore	07 March 1997
South Africa	07 March 1997
Sri Lanka	07 March 1997
Tanzania	07 March 1997
Thailand	31 March 1999
The United Arab Emirates	31 March 1999
Yemen	07 March 1997

Countries with the status of Dialogue Partners are:

Dialogue Partners

China	23 January 2000
Egypt	31 March 1999
France	08 April 2001
Japan	31 March 1999
United Kingdom	23 January 2000
United States of America	02 November 2012

Indian Roads Congress (IRC)

The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is the premier technical body of Highway Engineers in the country. The IRC was set up in December, 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road Development Committee best known as Jayakar Committee set up by the Govt. of India with the objective of Road Development in India. As the activities of the IRC expanded, it was formally registered as a Society in 1937 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Over the years Congress has burgeoned and grown into a multi -dimensional many faceted organisation, devoted to the cause of better roads & better bridges in the country.

The Congress provides a National forum for sharing of knowledge and pooling of experience on the entire range of subjects dealing with the construction & maintenance of roads and bridges, including technology, equipment, research, planning, finance, taxation, organisation and all connected policy issues. In more specific terms the objectives of the Congress are:

• To promote and encourage the science and practice of building and maintenance of roads;
• To provide a channel for the expression of collective opinion of its members regarding roads;
• To promote the use of standard specifications and to propose specifications;
• To advise regarding education, experiment and research connected with roads;
• To hold periodical meetings, to discuss technical questions regarding roads;
• To suggest legislation for the development, improvement and protection of roads;
• To suggest improved methods of administration, planning design, construction, operation, use and maintenance of roads;
• To establish, furnish and maintain libraries and museums for furthering the science of road making;
• To publish, or arrange for the publication of proceedings, journals, periodicals and other literature for the promotion of the objects of the Society;
• To accept subscriptions, subsidies, donations, endowments and gifts in furtherance of the objects of the Society;
• To invest and deal with the funds of the Society or entrusted to the Society, to acquire and hold any movable or immovable property, and to borrow or raise money for the furtherance of the objects of the Society and to sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise deal with the same;
• To grant pay, prizes, honoraria, or scholarships (including traveling scholarships) for meritorious work in furtherance of the objects of the Society;
• To do all such other lawful things as may be, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects;

Income and Property: The income and property of the Society, whensoever and howsoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as herein set forth and no portion thereof shall be paid, or transferred or distributed, directly, by way of dividend, bonus, interest, or otherwise howsoever, by way of profit to the members of the Society; Provided that this shall not prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officer or servant of the Society or other persons in return for services rendered. The Congress has relentlessly strived to achieve these objectives and full fill its charter.

Introduction

The India Roads Congress (IRC) is the oldest and most important representative technical body of highway engineers in India. The growth of highway engineering as a profession owes much to the IRC which has completed seventy three years of its existence. It can be claimed that the development of roads in the country has been significantly influenced by the wise counsels given by the IRC and has progressed according to the policies enunciated by it.

The Origin

The origin of the IRC can be traced back to the Indian Road Development committee (the Jayakar Committee) appointed by the Government of India in November, 1927. One of the recommendations of this committee was that road conferences should be held periodically to discuss among other things, questions relating to road construction and maintenance. The Central Government, after consulting the state Governments, convened an inaugural meeting of highway engineers at New Delhi in December, 1934. This meeting was attended by 73 Engineers from all parts of the then India. This marked the birth of the Indian Roads Congress. When the activities of the IRC expanded, it was registered as a society in 1937 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Starting with a modest membership of 73 in 1934, the IRC has now about 13,500 members comprising of engineers of all ranks from Central and State Governments, Engineering Services of Army, Border Roads Organization, Road Research Institutes, Engineering Colleges, Local Bodies and private enterprises.

Objectives

The IRC provides a National forum for sharing of knowledge and pooling of experience on the entire range of subjects dealing with the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, including technology, equipment, research, planning, finance, taxation, organization and all connected policy issues. In more specific terms, the objectives of the IRC are:

• to promote and encourage the science and practice of building, operation and maintenance of roads.
• to provide a channel for the expression of collective opinion of its members regarding roads.
• to promote the use of standard specifications and to propose specifications.
• to advise regarding education, experiment and research connected with roads.
• to hold periodical meetings to discuss technical questions regarding roads and thus disseminate technical knowledge of experiences amongst highway engineers
• to suggest legislation for the development, improvement and protections of roads.
• to suggest improved methods of administration, planning, design, construction, operation, use and maintenance of roads.
• to establish, furnish and maintain libraries and museums for furthering the science of road making.
• to publish, or arrange for the publication of proceedings, journals, periodicals, and other literature for the promotion of the objectives of the IRC

The IRC has relentlessly strived to achieve these objectives and fulfill its charter.

Activities:

Before the birth of Indian Roads Congress there were no generally accepted bridge standard, specifications, codes of practice or road standards of any kind. There was no forum in India for discussion of road engineering problems. There was no organised method of co-relating experimental and testing work carried out in various States. No mechanism was therefore disseminating the results of road research nor any mean by which the Central and State Governments could obtain the collective opinion of road engineers in the country.The Indian Roads Congress has largely fulfilled these needs.

The following is a glimpse of its multi-faceted activities:

• Conceptualisation and formulation of the Road Development Plans in the country.So far 4 historic documents have been prepared which have laid the foundation for the growth and development of road and road transport in the country over the last 60 years.They are:
  1. Nagpur Plan (1941-61)
  2. Bombay Plan (1961-1981)
  3. Road Development Plan (1981-2001)
  4. Road Development Plan (2001-2021):Vision 2021
• Publication of Standards relating to roads, viz. survey, investigation, equipment, design, construction, environment, maintenance, geometrics, safety, road signage & technology.
• Publication of Standards, Specification and Codes of Practice on Bridges and also Guidelines for their inspection, maintenance, testing and rating.
• Publication of Standards Plans and specifications of Ministry of Surface Transport (now Ministry of Road Transport & Highways).
• Holding Annual Sessions, mid-term Council Meetings in order to discuss the road problems and to take policy decisions.
• Convening meeting of Chief Engineers and Engineers-in-Chiefs of the country dealing with roads and to discuss and resolve the problems of baffling the road sector and to monitor and review the progress of the urgent programmes; Co-ordination of road research across the length and breadth of the country and publishing research bulletins highway research bulletins and highway research records.
• Publication of technical Papers on various aspects of road and bridge development which are discussed at the Annual Sessions.
• Publication of state-of-the-Art-reports on important topics. These reports are treasures of information on the subject they deal with.
• Holding National and International Seminars and Workshops on topical subjects.
• Organising debate in the form of Panel Discussion on various aspects of Highway Engineering.
• Inter-acting with the Ministry of RT&H, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Science and Technology and other nodal ministries in the Govt. of India on policy issues.
• Liaison with other Institutions and professional bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards, Central Road Research Institute, National Highways Authority of india, National Institute for Training of Highway Engineers,Indian Geotechnical Society, International Road Federation(IRF),Permanent International Association of Road Congresses(PIARC) and International Labour Organisation(ILO).

Pune telescope spots Jekyll & Hyde puzzle in sky

A giant radio telescope in India has helped discover dramatic behavioural changes in a dead star that have so baffled astronomers that they are calling it a “chameleon” or a “Jekyll-and-Hyde” star.

The star is a pulsar, or a neutron star — a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed under its own gravitation to the size of a small city — that rapidly spins around itself, emitting periodic pulses of radio waves and X-rays.

Pulsars were first spotted more than 45 years ago and this one has been known since the 1970s, but this is the first pulsar seen to abruptly flip between two extreme states —one dominated by steady, organised radio pulses, the other by X-ray pulses.

“We’re calling this Jekyll-and-Hyde behaviour,” said Dipanjan Mitra, a scientist at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics in Pune and member of an international team that studied the pulsar.

“The radio pulses are regular and controlled for some time, like Jekyll, then the pulses become erratic and in disciplined — you can call it the Hyde avatar.

Astronomers who studied the pulsar, named PSR B0943+10, say the flip from one state to another occurs in a second and challenges all known pulsar emission theories.

“No one really understands what we’re seeing — this is a challenge for theoretical astrophysicists,” Wim Hermsen, an astronomer at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands who led the research, told this newspaper.

The scientists observed the pulsar through two astronomical satellites and two radio telescopes: the Low Frequency Array in the Netherlands, and India’s Giant Metre wave Radio Telescope — a Y-shaped array of 30 giant dish antennas at Khoddad near Pune.

Mitra, collaborating with Joanna Rankin at the University of Vermont in the US, first began observing the pulsar in 2009 and detected what he says were subtle changes in its behaviour followed by a dramatic transformation to a weak, disorganised state.

The pulsar, located about 3,500 light years away in the direction of the constellation Leo, changes its state every few hours, the flip occurring unpredictably within a second. “I’ve likened the changes in the pulsar to a chameleon,” Ben Stappers, an astronomer at the University of Manchester who co-led the research, said in a media release issued by the university.

The star, like the chameleon, seems to change in reaction to its environment such as a change in the temperature.

The National Centre for Radio Astronomy, too, contributed to the efforts at observing the pulsar, which had to be tracked simultaneously with the radio telescopes in India and the Netherlands for several days to identify the exact moments of the flips.

Urea Policy - New Investment Policy-2012

The Department of Fertilizers has notified New Investment Policy- 2012 on 2nd January, 2013 in order to facilitate fresh investment in urea sector. It is expected that the demand of urea in the country by the end of 12th Five Year Plan will be around 360 lakh MT. With the approval of this policy, it is expected that nearly 100 lakh MT of additional urea capacity will be added in the country to an already existing indigenous capacity of 220 LMT and 20 LMT from OMIFCO Oman, with an investment of nearly Rs. 35,000 crores during 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17). This will make country self reliant in urea by end of 12th Five Year Plan.

Fertilizer Subsidy in P&K fertilizers

With a view to ensure balanced use of fertilizers and to promote investment in fertilizer sector, the Department of Fertilizers is implementing the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy for decontrolled Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers w.e.f. 1.4.2010. Under the NBS policy, a fixed rate of subsidy (in Rs. per Kg. basis) decided on annual basis is provided to each grade of subsidized P&K fertilizers depending upon its nutrient content. Any variant of the fertilizers under the NBS fortified with micronutrient Boron and Zinc, as provided under the FCO, is eligible for a separate additional fixed subsidy. Under the Policy the prices are allowed to be fixed by the fertilizer companies at reasonable level.

At present 21 grades of P&K fertilizers, namely, DAP, MAP, TSP, MOP, Ammonium Sulphate, SSP and 15 grade of NPKS complex fertilizers are covered under the NBS Policy. The subsidized fertilizers are allowed for use in manufacturing of mixture and customised fertilizers. With the implementation of NBS for P&K fertilizers, the availability of the fertilizers during the last three years has been in plenty.

Revival of the closed units of HFCL and FCIL

There are five closed units of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) at Sindri, Talcher, Ramagundam, Gorakhpur & Kobra and three closed units of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Ltd. (HFCL) at Durgapur, Haldia and Barauni.

The cabinet had in 2008 approved revival of FCIL and HFCL units subject to non recourse to Government funding and to consider write off of GoI Loan and interest to the extent required, subject to submission of fully tied up proposals for final decision on waiver and constitution of an ECOS. The ECOS recommended revival of Sindri, Talcher and Ramagundam Units of FCIL on ‘nomination basis’ by the nominated PSUs and Gorakhpur & Kobra units of FCIL and Durgapur, Haldia, Barauni of HFCL through bidding route. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in 2011 approved the recommendations of ECOS with the stipulation that Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) proceedings be expedited and thereafter, the matter including changes, if any, required in bid parameters, be placed before the Committee for a final decision.

        The matter is in the BIFR. The BIFR has taken up the matter on priority basis and held many hearings. In a recent hearing, BIFR suggested that the revival on nomination is not as per BIFR rules and even floating of EOI for revival through bidding route has to go through BIFR procedure which are time taking and the whole process may get stuck up in the procedural issues. BIFR suggested that Government should look for suitable option of taking the companies out of the purview of BIFR. A meeting of ECOS is being convened shortly for getting their recommendation on the matter and further submission to CCEA.

Movement and Distribution of Fertilizers 

The cumulative availability and Sales of Urea during the year 2012 (April’12 to December’12) is 224.78 LMT and 220.03 LMT respectively as compared to corresponding period April’11 to December’11 was 221.10 LMT and 218.79 LMT respectively, and there is no shortage of DAP, MOP and NPK in the country.

Implementation of e- Office

        The Department is in the process of implementing e-Office in all its divisions and Subordinate Offices. With the implementation of e-Office, the physical movement of office files/papers in some of the divisions has shown decreasing trend.

Direct Transfer of subsidy Project

        Currently, the direct transfer of subsidy is in the 1st stage of implementation where in the fertilizer movement from the production/import to the retailers which is the last point of sales to the farmer n next stage, the sale of subsidized fertilizers from retailers to farmers will be captured on real time basis. In this phase, the identity of farmers, linked to Aadhar enabled core banking account, will also be captured.  This phase will be implemented in 11 districts across the country on pilot basis. After successful implementation of this phase, the same will be rolled out in other districts wherever Aadhar penetration is more than 90%. Simultaneously, cash transfer to farmers would also be done in same 11 districts after successful implementation of the pilots to track sale of fertilizers to farmers in these districts.

Census 2011

The Census in India is conducted in two phases. The first phase known as House listing & Housing Census was conducted during April-September, 2010 and the Population Enumerations throughout the country were conducted between 9th February to 28th February, 2011 through State Governments/Union Territories Administrations.

Census taking in India is a very challenging task, in view of its multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-level society. The complexity of the exercise can be visualized from the fact that Census Schedules were canvassed in 16 languages and the training given in 18 languages. About 5.4 million Instruction manuals and 340 million Census Schedules were printed. 2.7 million Enumerators and Supervisors were engaged in the task of Census taking across 35 States, 640 districts, 5924 sub-districts, 7936 towns and 6.41 lakh villages. The task of these functionaries is quite strenuous and entails great responsibility. As such, the Census Operations depend heavily on the intelligence and diligence of various functionaries in States/UTs.

ICGS Rajkamal

Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘ICGS-Rajkamal’, the fourth in the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) designed and built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, was commissioned at Chennai.

The 50 meter indigenous IPV displaces 300 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 knots, with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 16 knots. Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment, it makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close-coast missions such as surveillance, interdiction, Search and Rescue, and medical evacuation. The special features of the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) and an integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control system (FCS).

ICGS "Rajkamal", literally meaning "Royal Lotus", will be based at Chennai and will be under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region(East)..

The ship will enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to undertake operations to further Maritime Safety and Security and Coastal Security on the Eastern Seaboard.

With the commissioning of ICGS Rajkamal, the force level of ICG has gone up to 77 ships and boats and with the planned inductions the force level would be doubling by 2018.

UIDAI Data Center

Chief Minister of Haryana laid the foundation stone of Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) Data Centre at Manesar, Haryana in the presence of Shri Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of UIDAI, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh. The Data Centre is estimated to be completed by June 2014. The facility will come up on five acres and will be a state-of-the-art, energy efficient, captive “Green Data Center” as per global standards and guidelines. The Data Center would be equipped to provide 24X7 Monitoring and Operation Support. The Data Centre will be reviewed by Uptime Institute, USA for a Tier III certification, while the Indian Green Building Council will review the facility for purpose of awarding a Gold Rating LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for green building. The average annual Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of the Data Center is estimated to be less than  1.6, making it one of the most ‘Green’ and ‘Energy efficient’ Data Centers in the country. Further to ensure utmost security, the data centre is housed in a blast proof concrete structure adhering to the respective IS code and design as per Seismic Zone-IV compliance requirements. To ensure uninterrupted operations of the Data Center, modular & scalable systems will be designed that would provide seamless integration to support future load expansion, even supporting 1.6 billion enrolments that are estimated by 2030. Also, the Data Centre complex shall house a building to accommodate UIDAI Biometric Centre of Competence (UBCC) and National Training Facilities of UIDAI. This building is expected to be completed by October 2014.

Other key features that distinguish this Green Data Center are its adherence to the latest design guidelines such as ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) for cooling compliance, NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) for Fire and Security compliances, TIA 942 (Telecommunication Industry Association) for Data Centers and SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association) guidelines for improved indoor air quality. Being a Green Data Center, the design of the building emphasises on 100% treatment of waste water for effective utilization in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), horticulture & flushing and rainwater harvesting. Double Glazed Unit and insulated roofing make the building ‘energy efficient’. Lighting integrated motion sensors, use of LED fittings, variable speed fans on AHU, Heat Recovery, Free cooling, efficient chillers, efficient cooling solutions and UPS, zero use of CFC based refrigerant, use of low VOC materials in interiors & finishes etc. are the some of the other key features of the Data Centre complex. In the future, UIDAI will also look at the possibility of using renewable sources of energy such as Solar energy.

Road Transport Scenario in India

About 60 per cent of freight and 87 per cent passenger traffic is carried by road. Although National Highways constitute only about 2 per cent of the road network, it carries 40 per cent of the total road traffic. Easy availability, adaptability to individual needs and cost savings are some of the factors which go in favour of road transport.  Road transport also acts as a feeder service to railway, shipping and air traffic.  The number of vehicles has been growing at an average pace of around 10 per cent per annum.  The share of road traffic in total traffic has grown from 13.8 per cent of freight traffic and 15.4 per cent of passenger traffic in 1950-51 to an estimated 62.9 per cent of freight traffic and 90.2 per cent of passenger traffic by the end of 2009-10.  The rapid expansion and strengthening of the road network, therefore, is imperative, to provide for both present and future traffic and for improved accessibility to the hinterland.  In addition, road transport needs to be regulated for better energy efficiency; less pollution and enhanced road safety. The Ministry also recognizes the need for improving the country’s road safety scenario.  There are four aspects of road safety, viz. Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency care which are also known as four Es of Road Safety.  Necessary actions on these aspects are being taken in consultation with States /UTs and organizations under MORTH.

2.NATIONAL HIGHWAYS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (NHDP)

The National Highways have a total length of 79,243 km to serve as the arterial network of the country. The development of National Highways is the responsibility of the Government of India. The Government of India has launched major initiatives to upgrade and strengthen National Highways through various phases of National Highways Development project (NHDP).

3. NON-NHDP ROAD DEVELOPMENT

Improvement of road connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas: Government has approved a scheme for development of about 1,126 km of National Highways (NH) and 4,351 km of State Roads in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas as a special project, estimated to cost about Rs. 7,300 crore. During the calendar year 2012, works in a length of 701 km costing Rs 1411 crore have been awarded and 1080 km length have been completed upto November, 2012.

Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East region (SARDP-NE): The scheme has been envisaged to be taken up under three parts /phases.

4.USER FEE

Consequent upon Government's decision to implement Electronic Toll Collection [ETC] on National Highways a pilot project on ETC is inaugurated on section of NH-5 at Delhi to Parwanoo on 19/4/2012. The concessionaires have been requested to work out necessary modalities among themselves and the ETC solution providers/Banks for setting up of Central Clearing House for the pilot project without any cost implication to MoRT&H/NHAI. Few more stretches were also selected for ETC implementation at initial stage. They are Mumbai -Ahmedabad, Chennai- Bangalore and Gurgaon – Jaipur – Biawar. NHAI is asked to explore the possibility of executing supplementary agreement with concessionaires for implementing ETC especially in view of the fact that receipt of user fee deposited earlier in an escrow account directly by the concessionaire whereas with implementation of ETC part of the amount collected will be routed through Central Clearing House. Funds are being sought in BE 2013-14 for implementing ETC departmentally on fifty Toll Plazas on public funded projects. Necessary order is already issued to incorporate ETC Centres as a mandatory clause in the contracts awarded for all the Highways projects in future. For implementing ETC on Pan India basis, NHAI is incorporating a new Company under company's act 1956,  with equity participation from NHAI (25%), Concessionaires (50%) and Financial Institutions (25%). Name of the proposed new Company has been approved by the ROC, Ministry of Corporate Affairs as “Indian Highways Management Company Limited”.

The objectives of the proposed new Company are collection of toll through Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and to manage the project strategically, administratively, legally, technically, commercially and to provide services of central ETC system which includes toll transaction clearing house operations, helpdesk support and setting up of call centres for Incident Management, Road Intelligent Transport Systems among others. Process for amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 for fitment of RFID tag on vehicles for ETC is initiated.

5.OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND TRANSFER (OMT) MECHANISM OF TOLLING OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Presently, maintenance of stretches implemented through public funds is being done separately through short term Operation and Maintenance Contracts funded from budgetary resources. User fee is being collected through different agencies on annual contract basis. It consumes considerable time in change of maintenance or toll contracts. The proposal is to undertake all sections of Highways on OMT basis for their Operation and Maintenance, whether publicly funded or under PPP mode with private funds, whose concession period have expired and which are not likely to qualify for further lane up gradation. Under the OMT basis of PPP, the operation and maintenance of roads is outsourced to a private entity for a definite time period (4 to 9 years). The Cabinet note for OMT has been approved by the CCI in its meeting held on 17.08.2012. It is proposed to award approximately 2998 kms of length under OMT during 2012-13, to ensure the robust maintenance of road assets.

6.SMART CARDS FOR REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE (Vahan) & DRIVING LICENCE (Sarathi) UNDER NATIONAL e-GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

As part of the National  e-Governance Programme, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has taken up a Mission Mode Project which aims at computerization of all the RTOs/DTOs across the country, their inter-connectivity as well as establishment of State and National Register of motor vehicles. 100% connectivity has been achieved in 32 States/UTs and 966 RTOs are connected. Vehicles on the Vahan register crossed the 100 million mark on the 5th November, 2012. State Transport Departments officials as well as enforcement authorities have been provided access to the data on the National Register to facilitate instant verification of all DLs/RCs which have been digitized by sending SMS from their registered mobile number. At present, VAHAN (for Registration Certificate) and SARATHI (for Driving License) operation in 33 States/UTs. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched the national Register, and released the National Transport Portal in July, 2011.  It also inaugurated the smart for Driving License and Registration Certificate designed by National Institute of Design. The ‘Vahan’ vehicle registration and permit system was awarded the “Platinum Icon- Web Ratna Award 2012” for the best citizen centric service.

7. NEW NATIONAL PERMIT SCHEME

In order to facilitate inter-state movement of goods carriages, a new national permit system has been implemented in all States/Union Territories with effect from 08.05.2010. As per the new arrangement, national permit can be granted by the home State on payment of Rs. 1,000/- as home State authorization fee and Rs. 16,500/- per annum per truck towards consolidated fee authorizing the permit holder to operate throughout the country. The consolidated national permit fee is being distributed among the States/Union Territories on the basis of an agreed formula. Monthly share to States up to October, 2012 have been distributed among States/UTs on pro rata basis.

8.ROAD SAFETY SCENARIO IN INDIA

Road safety is a health, development as well as a complex issue of concern, considering its magnitude and gravity and the consequent negative impacts on the economy, public health and the general welfare of the people, particularly those with low income. The safety of road users is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government.  However, this Ministry has taken several steps during the year to improve road safety for road users which are as under:

Ø  It is ensured that road safety is the integral part of road design at planning stage.

Ø  Various steps to enhance road safety such as road furniture, road markings/road signs, introduction of Highway Traffic Management System using Intelligent Transport System, enhancement of discipline among contractors during construction, road safety audit on selected stretches, have been undertaken by National Highways Authority of India.

Ø  Refresher training to Heavy Motor Vehicle drivers in the unorganized sector being implemented by the Ministry since 1997-98 under plan activities.

Ø  Setting up of Driving Training School in the States by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Ø  A massive public awareness campaign was carried out in the electronic/print media through the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), Doordarshan and All India Radio.  Publicity material like calendars, posters, book on road signs, children activity book and mouse-pad etc. were also supplied to Transport and Police Authorities in States/Union Territories and Schools for widespread distribution.

Ø  Providing cranes and ambulances to various State Governments/NGOs under National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme. So far, 347 cranes, 106 small/medium sized cranes and 579 ambulances have been sanctioned.   140 ambulances are also being provided to the hospitals along National Highways identified by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.

Ø  The first National Workshop on road safety was held at New Delhi on 03.04.2012. The theme was “improving the safety of most vulnerable road users”.  The meeting was attended by the Transport Ministers from the States, Pr. Secretaries/Secretaries/Commissioners of Transport and DG/IG of Police of States/UTs.

As per the deliberations in the 12th meeting of the National Road Safety Council held on 25th March, 2011, the Ministry   formed five separate working groups on four E’s of Road Safety viz

(i) Education (ii) Enforcement (iii) Engineering (road as well as vehicles) and (iv) Emergence care to deliberate in detail and submit their recommendations on short term and long term measures for immediate implementation so as to curb road accident in the country.  NRSC in its 13th meeting held on 29th February, 2012 deliberated on the recommendations of all the five working groups. A synthesis report containing all the major recommendations of five Working Groups has been uploaded on the Ministry’s website.

9.International Co-operation

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also signed Memorandums of Understanding /Agreement with other countries for bilateral cooperation on Road Infrastructure and Road Transportation Technology.

Phase 'A' of SARDP-NE approved by the Government envisages improvement of about 4,099 km length of roads (2041 km of NH and 2058 km of State roads). The SARDP-NE Phase-A is targeted for completion by March,2015. Length sanctioned & awarded during the calendar year up to November,2012 is 21 km. Length completed during the calendar year up to November, 2012 is 114 km. Work in progress as on 30th November, 2012 is  1494 km.

Phase 'B' of SARDP-NE, covering 3723 km (1285 km NHs and 2438 km of State roads) has been approved for DPR preparation only and so far, DPRs for about 521 km have been completed (up to 30th November, 2012).

Special Package for Arunachal Pradesh: The Arunachal Pradesh Package for Road & Highways involving development of about 2319 km length of road (1,472 km of NHs & 847 km of State / General Staff! Strategic Roads) has also been approved by the Government. Projects on 776 km are to be taken up on BOT (Annuity) mode and the balance 1,543 km is to be developed on EPC basis. The entire Arunachal package is targeted for completion by June, 2016. Length sanctioned & awarded during the calendar year and work in progress as on 301h November, 2012 is 120 km. Length completed as on 30th November, 2012 is 40 km. Length in progress as on 30th November, 2012 is 1283 km.

46th meeting of the Council of IITs

The 46th meeting of Council of IITs took a number of decisions on measures to take IITs to excellence and greater relevance.

Peer Review of IITs

The Council of IITs decided that the Peer Review of each Institute would be carried out on a periodic basis, once in every five years. The Review Committee would consist of five eminent persons from Industry and Academia. The Committee members would be selected by the Chairman of the Council of IITs from a panel of 10 names given by the Board of Governors of respective Institutes. For the new IITs, similar exercise will be carried out on completion of five years. The Peer Review will be based on similar well-established review systems in world-class institutions and would be rigorous and forward-looking.   Besides periodic review of the institution, each IIT will similarly undertake, an in-house, department-wise review before any external Peer Review is carried out.

The process, results and the follow-up on Peer Review would be uploaded on Institute/IIT Council’s website as a mechanism to foster a culture of transparency and accountability.

Revision of Fee for UG Students

At present, the Undergraduate students pay an annual tuition fee of Rs. 50,000/-. The fee was last revised from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- per annum from academic session 2008-09. No tuition fee is charged from the students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. A number of other facilities like free mess, free hostel facility and free book bank facilities are available to SC and ST students. Besides this, 25 percent of total students, whose parental income is less than 4.5 lakh per year, are given 100 percent scholarships.

The Council of IITs approved the recommendation of the Group of Directors of IITs and Empowered Task Force for revision of fee for UG students from the existing Rs. 50,000/- to Rs. 90,000/- per annum from the year, 2013. The revised rates will, however, be applicable for the new entrants to the UG programs and the fee may be revised periodically. Members of Council of IITs stressed that easy loan facility is available to students and no student, who has qualified the JEE, is denied entry into IITs due to financial constraints.

One of the key recommendations of the Kakodkar Committee was that the IITs become financially independent of non-plan (operational) budgetary support to meet their operating expenditure, while the capital, students scholarships, support and infrastructure expenditure continue to be met fully under plan (capital budget support) by the government. The Kakodkar Committee had in fact recommended fee for UG, Masters and Ph.DProgrammes to the order of Rs. 2 - 2.5 lacs per annum, which was revised downwards by Director of IITs and the Empowered Task Force.

Boost to Ph.D. Programs

With a view to increase the number of Ph.D.s from 3000 at present to 10,000 by 2020, the Council of IITs approved the recommendation of the Empowered Task Force headed by Dr. Anil Kakodkar for “strengthening the Ph.D. Programme in the IITs”. This provides for relaxed conditions for enrolment into Ph.D. program in IITs. The admission would be given without GATE score to students with CGPA of more than 7.0 at the end of the 3rd year but GATE score would be required for scholarship. However, students from Centrally Financed Technical Institutions (CFTIs) with CGPA of more than 7.0 would be eligible for Ph.D. programs and also assistantship/fellowships without requirement of GATE scores. All others will have to appear for GATE to get into M. Tech. and Ph.D. programs in IITs.

A Ph.D. programme for persons working in industry and teachers in Engineering Colleges will be introduced in all IITs wherein the course requirement would be fulfilled through courses to be delivered remotely using the National Knowledge Network (NKN).

Joint IIT-NIT Trainee Teacher Scheme

The Council of IITs approved the Trainee Teacher Award NIT / IIT Joint Scheme with an aim to enhance the teaching quality and to address the faculty shortage issue. This scheme is open to all graduating candidates who are in top 15% in the Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs).  All other candidates who are in top 15% from other AICTE/UGC approved institutions / universities (non-CFTIs) and having a valid GATE score would also be eligible. The concerned NITs would identify and implement initial screening criteria for the selection of potential candidates.

They would be engaged as trainee teachers at NITs. While initially they would assist in teaching, they would simultaneously go through part-time M.Tech and PhD programs of IITs to acquire higher academic qualifications, which is a prerequisite for faculty at NITs.

Green Initiatives

The Council of IITs decided that each IIT would establish a Green Office, which would carry out Green Audit and ensure inclusion of green technology related topics/courses in the curriculum. The Kakodkar Committee Report also emphasizes the need for IITs to be in the forefront of development of technology for sustainable growth. Most of the education and research institutions in Europe and America have adopted Sustainability Agenda and are implementing programs to reduce their Caron footprint, recycle the resources, adopt energy efficiency measures and include sustainability issues in the teaching programs. As part of this, every student will be required to complete at least one project of technology application relevant to local neighbourhood development relevant to his/her area of expertise/concern.

The Council of IITs also decided to have greater community engagement and transparency in processes for projects and procurement along with exemplary labour practices.