Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | Free PDF Download -29th September 2018 -

Table of Contents

Wi-Fi for all

- India is on the verge of a digital tsunami but is underprepared in bandwidth capability to cope with the oncoming deluge.
- National Digital Communications Policy 2018: Broadband for All’
- This initiative will greatly advance India’s position of socio-economic progress on the global digital stage.
- 500 million internet users
- The introduction of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) in the near future means huge amounts of data generated every second.
- Only steep acceleration of initiatives to drive the laying of optical fibre network, liberal licensing policies to create millions of public Wi-Fi hotspots, and improved satellite communications will help us compare favourably against China and other competing nations.
- It’s well-accepted now that internet penetration is an important engine of economic development.
- A 10% increase in the number of internet users can grow a country’s GDP by 1.4%.
- The internet is expected to contribute $537 billion to our GDP in 2020, more than 1/2 of which is because of mobile apps (Broadband India Forum and ICRIER research).
- The BIF/ICRIER research shows that a 10% increase in the use of mobile apps can result in a 3.3% increase in India’s GDP.
- There are 530 million smartphone users in this country—all hooked on watching videos on their mobiles.
- A staggering 65-70% of all mobile data consumption is from video streaming (Nokia India Mobile Broadband Index 2018).
- This figure is 200 million more people than the entire population of the US, and this enormous volume is a magnificent opportunity that we cannot afford to miss.
- The pressure is on us to meet the demands of both our urban and rural citizens.
- Streaming platform Hotstar reports that 9/10 Indians watch videos on their smartphones.
- Literacy and cost are no longer barriers to entry due to voice-enabled, low-cost smartphones.
- We are extremely under-equipped to handle this demand.
- While increasing optical fibre network and satellite communications is certainly the way forward, the fastest way to scale initial internet access is through public Wi-Fi hotspots.
- One hotspot in India currently serves a whopping 37,500 people, while in the US, there is one for every 2,000 people, South Africa has one for every 3,500 people, and Nigeria has one for every 13,800 people.
- The entire world is moving towards an ideal of one hotspot for every 20 people, and this is a sign of economic prosperity for developing and developed nations in this digital age.

It is estimated that the world will have over 340 million public Wi-Fi hotspots by the end of 2018.
India cannot afford to place heavy regulations on simple services such as Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi has tremendous advantages including faster scalability and is less dependent on heavy infrastructure.
In aircraft, trains and automobiles, in buildings, elevators, basements, and anywhere else, this last-mile connectivity can be achieved only through the growth of public Wi-Fi hotspots

Defence Minister

3-day Parakram Parv begins.
To showcase courage, valour and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces.
DM: surgical strike at the Line of Control in 2016, is a clear example that India is capable and will not tolerate terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a three-day exhibition ‘Parakram Parv’ at the Jodhpur Military Station
We express gratitude to our armed forces for their invaluable contribution to our nation.

Finance Ministry

Arun Jaitley said, a 7-member Group of Ministers will be constituted soon to discuss measures to help states facing natural calamities.
30th GST Council meeting in New Delhi, Mr Jaitley said, the panel will have members of the North East, hill and coastal states.
The ministerial panel will also examine the legality of imposing a new tax on certain goods and services to raise resources for natural calamity-hit states.
The GST panel headed by Mr Jaitley also took stock of the shortfall in tax mop up by majority of the states under the new indirect tax regime.
The Finance Minister said the states faced an average 16 per cent shortfall in Goods and Services Tax mop up in the first year of implementation (July 2017-March 2018).
He said the shortfall has come down to 13 per cent during April to August period of the current fiscal. • While six states Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh — are facing revenue surplus in the current fiscal, 25 states have revenue shortfall and have to be compensated by the Centre.
The state deficit has to be neutralised within five years of launch of the GST.

I&B

Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore launched All India Radio’s streaming Services on Amazon’s Alexa Smart Speakers in New Delhi today.
Alexa is a voice enabled platform led by artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the launch of Alexa in New Delhi, Mr Rathore said 17 channels of All India Radio, including Vividh Bharati, FM Gold, FM Rainbow and North eastern Services are being live streamed on Alexa.
He said the device will enhance the brand image of the Public Service Broadcaster.

Oil Ministry

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said India and Nepal have agreed to explore the possibility of laying pipelines for LPG and natural gas for fertilizer plants and industries in Nepal.
He was talking to media persons after a bilateral meeting with Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply Matrika Prasad Yadav in Kathmandu.
Mr. Pradhan said both countries have agreed to complete the pipeline work from Motihari in Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal at an early date.

MEA

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has told a meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers that the scourge of terrorism remains the single largest threat to peace and stability in the South Asian region.
The meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, was held on the margins of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. It was attended by foreign ministers of the SAARC bloc.
She said an environment of peace and security is essential for regional cooperation to progress and achieve economic development and prosperity of our people.
The minister said terrorism remained the single largest threat to peace and stability in the region and to the world. She said it is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms.

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will kick off an innovative initiative in New Delhi on 1 st October, 2018.
Petroleum Minister to launch SATAT initiative to promote Compressed Bio-Gas as an alternative, green transport fuel
Titled SATAT, the initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs.