18 01 20 - amazon web services · daily news simplified - dns 18 01 20 notes sl. no. topics the...

Daily News Simplified - DNS

18 01 20

Notes

SL.

NO. TOPICS

THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 Govt. failed in e-mobility mission, says plea in SC 09

2 GSAT-30 gives India a communication boost 09

3 30 experts hired to curb cybercrimes across country 02

4 ‘2020 will be an important year for Indo-U.S. relations’ 13

Dated: 18-Jan-2020 DNS Notes

Title 1. Govt. failed in e-mobility mission, says plea in SC (The Hindu – Pg. 1)

Syllabus Prelims: Environment

Mains: GS Paper III – Environment

Theme National E-Mobility Mission Plan, 2020

Highlights Govt. failed in e-mobility mission, says plea in SC

The News

• The Supreme Court has sought response from central government on a petition that was filed

questioning the implementation of National E-Mobility Plan.

Need to switch to Electric Vehicle

More Efficiency

• Though batteries deliver 340 times less energy than gasoline, the battery-run vehicles have an

efficiency of nearly 85% compared to 20% of gasoline-run engines.

• This means 85% energy can be used to run the wheels and only 15% is lost as heat.

• Whereas in a gasoline engine only 20% energy of gasoline makes it to the heels; the remaining

80% is lost as heat.

Crude Oil Imports

• Nearly 80% of India’s oil requirement comes from its crude oil imports.

Coal Sector Liberalisation

• India has recently liberalized its coal sector by privatizing mining and allowing FDI in Coal

mining.

• Besides recently India has ended its captive mining regime accelerating the commercial mining of

coal in India

Safe and Clean Urban Mobility

• In the backdrop of 1st Global Mobility Summit, the PM identified the two most important

challenges in urban India today are pollution and congestion.

• Rapid urbanization has increased India’s transport demand by almost 8 times since 1980.

• Besides according to WHO, there are 14 Indian cities among the top 15 most polluted cities in the

world.

Comprehensive Action Plan

• The SC appointed EPCA has identified vehicular pollution as the main reason for pollution in

Delhi NCR.

• One of the steps recommended by EPCA under CAP is introduction of battery operated vehicles

in targeted segments of two-wheelers, three- wheelers and buses.

Steps to make the EV switch

National E-Mobility Mission Plan

• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 was launched in 2013 as a National

Mission to provide the vision and the roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their

manufacturing in India.

• Under National Electric Mobility Mission Plan launched in 2013 the government targeted to get at

least six to seven million electric vehicles on the road by 2020.

• Further in a bid to go green, the government planned to go all-electric in terms of new car sales in

the country by the year 2030. However, recently this target was reduced to 30%.

• National E-mobility Programme aims to provide an impetus to the entire e-mobility ecosystem

that includes electric vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure development companies, fleet

operators, service providers, etc.

• State-run Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is responsible for procuring electric

vehicles for the Government.

• In August 2019, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set targets for complete switch to

electric vehicles in 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler segment.

2-wheeler segment under 150cc from April 2025

3-wheeler segment from April 2023

FAME - I

• Accordingly under the NEMMP the Department of Heavy Industry formulated a Scheme called

Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India)

Scheme in the year 2015 to promote manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle technology.

• The Phase-I of this Scheme was initially launched for a period of 2 years, commencing from

1st April 2015, which was subsequently extended from time to time and the last extension was

allowed up to 31st March 2019. The 1st Phase of FAME India Scheme was implemented through

four focus areas namely (i) Demand Creation, (ii) Technology Platform, (iii) Pilot Project and (iv)


Charging Infrastructure.

• Market creation through demand incentives was aimed at incentivizing all vehicle segments i.e. 2-

Wheelers, 3-Wheelers Auto, Passenger 4-Wheeler vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles and

Buses.

• Under the NEMMP 2020, there is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and

electric vehicles by the year 2020.

'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India – FAME - II

• Based on the experience gained in the Phase-I of FAME India Scheme, it has been observed that

sufficient number of charging infrastructure is required to achieve expected outcome of the plan,

which is being addressed presently in Phase-II of FAME Scheme.

• Department of Heavy Industry notified Phase-II of the Scheme in March 2019 with an outlay of

Rs. 10,000 Crore for a period of 3 years commencing from 1st April 2019.

• In February, 2019, the Union cabinet had approved the proposal for implementation of Phase II of

FAME Scheme for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country. This scheme is the expanded

version of the present scheme titled 'FAME India1 which was launched on 1st April 2015.

• The main objective of the scheme is to encourage Faster Adoption of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle

by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles and also by way of

establishing a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.

• The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.

Emphasis is on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.

• The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging

stations will be established in metros, other million plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly

states across the country so that there will be availability of at least one charging station in a grid

of 3 km x 3 km. Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways

connecting major city clusters.

Challenges

Limitations of Li-ion batteries

The complete fleet of EVs currently is run on LiBs which poses a major challenge for switch to EVs

• LiBs are expensive.

• They are not suitable for long-distance travel.

• The LiBs used in EVs are about 500 Kgs and makes up for bulk of the weight of the cars.

• LiBs use lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese which are in short supply in the world restricted to

Bolivia, Chile.

Other challenges

• Charging infrastructure

• Battery recycling

• For this government has proposed battery swapping stations

• Besides EVs have lesser number of moving parts (about 20 compared to 2000 in gasoline

vehicles) in them as compared to gasoline vehicles.

• This is because of constant torque generated at all speeds.

• As a result the transmission system, gearbox, clutch etc are not needed.

• This results in loss of jobs in the MSME sector in India which produces many of these auto parts.

Way Forward

• However, India needs auto industry's active participation to ease electric mobility transition.

• The auto and battery industries could collaborate to enhance customer awareness, promote

domestic manufacturing, promote new business models, conduct R&D for EVs and components

and must consider new business models to promote EVs.

• Government should focus on a phased manufacturing plan to promote EVs, provide fiscal and

non-fiscal incentives for phased manufacturing of EVs and batteries.

• Transformation to EVs will create enormous economic, social and environmental benefits for the

citizens of India.


Personal

Notes


Title 2. GSAT-30 gives India a communication boost (The Hindu Pg. No. 9)

Syllabus Prelims: General Science

Mains: GS Paper III – Science & Technology

Theme GSAT-30

Highlights

Context: India’s telecommunication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched into a

Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 17, 2020 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by

Ariane-5 VA-251.

What is the purpose of the satellite?

• GSAT-30 is configured on ISRO’s enhanced I-3K Bus structure to provide communication

services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands.

• The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series.

• GSAT-30 is to serve as replacement to INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage.

What will be the area which will be covered by GSAT-30?

• The satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended

coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia.

Feature

Characteristics

Launch Mass:

3357 kg

Mission Life : More than 15 years

Launch Vehicle:

Ariane-5 VA-251

Type of Satellite:

Communication

Manufacturer and Owner

ISRO

Application:

Communication

Orbit Type: GSO

Lets understand the utility Ku and C band?

Ku Band:

• It is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies from 12

to 18 gigahertz (GHz).

• Ku band is primarily used for satellite communications, most notably the downlink used by

direct broadcast satellites to broadcast satellite television

C Band:

• The satellite communications portion of the C band is highly associated with television receive-

only satellite reception systems, commonly called "big dish" systems, since small receiving

antennas are not optimal for C-band systems.

• Typical antenna sizes on C-band capable systems ranges from 7.5 to 12 feet (2.5 to 3.5 meters)

on consumer satellite dishes, although larger ones also can be used.

But what is the difference between these two?

• For satellite communications, the microwave frequencies of the C band perform better under

adverse weather conditions in comparison with the Ku band, microwave frequencies used by

other communication satellites.


What is GTO orbit?


Personal

Notes


Title 3. 30 experts hired to curb cybercrimes across country (Page number 2)

Syllabus Prelims: Security, Science & Technology

Mains: GS III - Security, Science & Technology

Theme CYPAD

Highlights Context: About 30 people will join the National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) to assist security agencies

in preventing, containing and investigating complex cybercrimes across the country.

• Delhi Police Cyber Prevention, Awareness & Detection Centre (CyPAD) which hosts NCFL was

tasked by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the hiring of personnel and a Public Sector

Undertaking was engaged as manpower consultant.

• The recruitment is done in order to strengthen National Cyber Forensic Lab and upgrade the

existing cyber forensic facilities in order to help the investigating officers across the country to

prevent, contain, mitigate, investigate and prosecute latest and complex cybercrimes.

• Earlier, The Cyber Prevention Awareness and Detection (CyPAD) Centre of the Delhi Police is

facing challenges due to lack of information sharing on time by tech giants and manpower

crunch.

The Cyber Prevention Awareness and Detection

• The CyPAD was inaugurated in February, 2019 to tackle the threats posed from growing cyber

crime like online financial frauds, stalking, crypto-currency frauds and international tech-

supported frauds.

• Earlier Cyber crime unit was earlier under the Economic Offences Wing and the cases taken up

by the unit mostly pertained to financial irregularities. However, CyPAD has been given a wider

ambit to deal with all sort of online frauds affecting public at large.

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

• MHA has also rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)' for the

period 2018-2020, which has a component namely National Cybercrime Training Centre for

capacity building in the field of cyber crime investigation.

• Components of I4C Scheme includes:

National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU)

National Cybercrime Reporting

Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team

National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) Ecosystem

National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC)

Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit

National Cyber Research and Innovation Centre

Background: Cyber Crime in India

• Cyber crime can be defined as a crime or an unlawful act where the computer is used either as a

tool, a target or both.

• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of cybercrime cases have

increased from 9,622 in 2014 to11,592 and 12,317 in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Types of Cyber Crime

Cyber crime against person

• Cyber stalking: A Stalker can use the internet, emails, SMS, webcams, phones calls, websites or

even videos to harass his target.

• Hacking: Hacking means getting an unauthorised access to someone’s personal information for

illegal gains or misuse.

• Cracking: Cracking refers to digitally removing the Copyright protection code which prevents

copied or pirated software from working on computers which do not have the Software vendor or

owner’s authorisation.

• Defamation: Online or cyber defamation involves damaging someone’s reputation using a computer

or the internet as a medium by writing a derogatory statement about a person on social media, posting vulgar pictures or videos, etc.

• Online Fraud: involves stealing a person’s sensitive information like banking credentials by using

phishing sites and withdrawing money from victim’s account.

• Dissemination of Obscene Material

• Child pornography

• Spoofing: Spoofing involves misrepresentation of the origin of any data. While an Email/SMS is


generated from one source, it shows that it has been generated from another. Cyber criminals use this

means to get personal information of the user like bank details, etc.

• Phishing: It involves sending spam emails to the user while claiming to be an established enterprise

in order to obtain his personal information and steal the user’s identity.

Cyber Crime against property

• Transmitting virus: Virus, Worms, Trojan Horse, Timebomb, Logic Bomb, Rabbit, and Bacterium are some examples of malicious software that infect the computer.

• Cybersquatting: Cybersquatting is when two or more persons claim the same domain name.

• Cyber Vandalism: It involves the destruction of data on any electronic medium during the

period when the network service is not available.

• Intellectual Property Crimes: IPR thefts are the most common cyber crime in India and include

online piracy, software piracy, infringement of patents, designs, trademark, copyright, theft of

source code, etc.

Cyber crime against Government:

• Cyber Warfare: Cyber warfare is an Internet-based war conflict to disable official websites and

networks, disrupt essential services such as Internet connection, steal classified data such as

Sensex details, threats to power grids, cripple financial institutions, leakage of sensitive

information.

• Cyber Terrorism: It is an act of creating fear in the mind of people by using the internet as a

medium. Section 66-F of the Information Technology Act, 2002 deals with cyber terrorism in

India.

Cyber crime against society:

• Online Gambling: Gambling is prohibited in India under the Public Gambling Act, 1867.

Online gambling is illegal all over India, except in Sikkim.

• Cyber Trafficking: Trafficking involves dealing in illegal trade activities such as trafficking

women, slaves or children using the internet as a medium.

Steps to tackle cyber crimes in India

• Centre has set up the NIC-CERT (National Informatics Centre-Computer Emergency

Response Team) to combat cybercrime in India

• The Union home ministry has set up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to

beef up India’s cyber security network.

• India is currently working towards bilateral cooperation with around 15 countries for exchange

of information on cybercrimes, it has already taken several measures—legal, policy and

institutional—to check cybercrime.

• The Cyber Crime against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme has been approved by the

government recently.

Personal

Notes


Title 4. Indo-US Relations (The Hindu Page 15)

Syllabus Prelims: International Relations

GS II: International Relations

Theme Upcoming 2+2 Dialogue

Highlights Context: In the backdrop of visit of US President Donald Trump in India, the focus of the Indo-U.S.

engagements this year would be to implement decisions taken during the 2+2 meeting between Defence

and Foreign Ministers in December 2019 and on trade. One of the major objectives of the 2+2 talks was to

further cooperation on a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

• During the talks in Washington, both countries had agreed to “promote practical cooperation in

infrastructure development, counter-terrorism, cyber security and regional connectivity.”

• To that end, the U.S. has launched a “Blue Dot Network” (BDN), which has already taken Japan

and Australia on board to encourage private investment in infrastructure projects.

• The network is “ratings mechanism” that would grade infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific

region on different parameters to ensure transparency and is planned as direct counter to China’s

Belt and Road Initiative.

• However, unlike the BRI, the BDN would not offer public funds or loans for the project.

The Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial dialogue being held in India is expected to result in further deepening of

strategic partnership between the 2 countries.

The likely issues that are to be discussed include

• Enhanced defence cooperation

• Indo-Pacific strategy

• Discussion on U.S. policy in Iran and Afghanistan

• The two sides are expected to sign the Industrial Security Annex (ISA)

• The signing of Industrial Security Annex to GSOMIA that will enable technology transfer from

US defence manufacturers to Indian private sector.

• However, discussions on the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation

Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) have not concluded yet

In brief: Indo-US Defense partnership

• India is a key partner in America’s efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific is a region of peace,

stability and growing prosperity.

• In 2016, India was awarded the status of a US major defence partner.

• This allows India to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use

technologies.

• The two countries also agreed to an updated ten-year Defence Framework Agreement in June

2015 until 2025.

• Recently India was elevated to the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 status giving India the same

access as NATO allies in high-technology dual-use exports.

• The two countries also agreed to an updated ten-year Defence Framework Agreement in June

2015 to guide and expand their bilateral defence and strategic partnership until 2025.

• The inaugural 2+2 Dialogue held in September 2018 is an is an indication of the deepening

strategic partnership between the United States and India and India’s emergence as a leading

global power and net security provider in the region.

• Bilateral defence trade between India and the United States has risen from near zero to more than

$15 billion since 2008.

Government to Government sales

1. Government-to-government foreign military sales from US to India in recent years is valued at $1.62

billion including

• C-17 transport aircraft

• UGM-84L Harpoon missiles

• Naval multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters

• NASAMS-II a missile shield over Delhi

• 6 Apache attack helicopters


• M777 Ultra Light Howitzers

• 24 MH-60R (Romeo) Multi-Role Helicopters

• CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters

Direct commercial sales

1. In addition to the foreign military sales, India has purchased $2.82 billion in defence articles since 2013

via the direct commercial sales process.

2. These include aircraft, gas turbine engines, and electronics, among other categories of major defence

articles.

GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement)

• This is an agreement signed to safeguard the information that is shared during a technology

transfer.

• India signed this agreement in 2002, however so far this covered only Indian government and

PSUs.

• Now with the defence cooperation deepening and most deals signed under Strategic Partnership

model which includes the private sector, it is necessary to sign the ISA annexure to GSOMIA in

order to safeguard information shared to private sector during the technology transfer.

India-US foundational agreements

• US requires its strategic partners to sign 4 foundational agreements to enable the strategic

engagement including sharing of information, technology transfer, extension of logistic facilities

etc.

• The 4 foundational agreements include GSOMIA, BECA, LEMOA, COMCOSA.

• Being a ‘Major Defence Partner’ of the US, it is imperative for India to sign the foundational

pacts which allows greater interoperability between critical technologies and smooth facilitation

of classified information.

• So far, India has signed only 2 of the foundational agreements, namely, GSOMIA (in 2002) and

LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement).

• COMCASA and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation

(BECA) are the two remaining pacts that are not signed yet.

About foundational agreements

LEMOA (signed in 2016)

• Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement

• Modified version of the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA).

• It will enable access to each other’s military facilities for purposes of refueling and replenishment.

COMCASA

• Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement

• Will safeguard information wrt communications equipments in weapons such as precision

armament, air-to-air missiles, UAVs, fighter jets, space systems and navigation systems etc.

• Efforts are on to sign the COMCASA.

BECA

• Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Information and Services

Cooperation

• Will enable sharing of geospatial and satellite data.

Some unresolved issues

• Threat of sanctions under CAATSA over S-400 air defence purchases from Russia

• Iran Sanctions: India is unwilling to accept US diktat on stopping all oil imports from Iran

• Trade protectionism of Trump administration has forced India to impose retaliatory measures.

• Several issues/disputes in World Trade Organisation (WTO); Trade protectionism; Disputes on

the new American steel and aluminium tariffs; disputes on Indian price reductions on medical

devices

• Harley-Davidson motorcycles row – US calling for India to scrap its 75-100% tariffs

About India US 2+2 Dialogue

• ‘It is the institutionalization of a dialogue mechanism between two countries consisting of the key


ministries of defence & external affairs.

• The ‘2+2’ dialogue between India and US is a meeting between the India Ministers for External

Affairs and Defence, and the US Secretaries of State and Defense.

• This “2+2” dialogue is meant to replace the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue between the

foreign and commerce ministers of the two countries that was held during the previous Obama

administration.

• It is to focus on strengthening strategic, security and defence cooperation between the two

countries.

• The shared priorities include job creation, improving the business and investment climate and

sustaining a rules-based global order.

• The U.S. has strategic consultations in this format with key partners and allies including Australia,

Japan and the Philippines.

Personal

Notes

18 01 20 - amazon web services · daily news simplified - dns 18 01 20 notes sl. no. topics the...

Documents