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17th Aug 2021
DEFENCE TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEME (DTIS)
Recently, the Ministry of Defence has launched the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS).
Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS)
- It has been launched with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating state-of-the-art testing infrastructure in partnership with the private industry.
- It would run for the duration of five years and envisages setting up of 6-8 Greenfield Defence Testing Infrastructure facilities that are required for defence and aerospace related production.
- The projects under the scheme will be provided with up to 75 per cent Government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’.
- The remaining 25 per cent of the project cost will have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)constituents of which will be the Indian private entities and state governments.
- Its objective is to promote indigenous defence production, with special focus on participation of MSMEs and Start Ups by bridging gaps in defence testing infrastructure in the country.
- The setting up of Defence Testing Infrastructure will provide easy access and thus meet the testing needs of the domestic defence industry.
- It would provide financial assistance to private sector for setting up Testing and Certification facilities for manufacturers of defence equipment/systems.
- Each DTI will be setup through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), hereinafter referred to as the Implementation Agency, which may be promoted/constituted by private entities (Industry, Industry association, R&D/Academic institution) and State Government agencies.
- The Implementation Agency under the Scheme shall be a Section 8 company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
- Only private entities registered in India and State Government agencies will qualify for forming the Implementation Agency.
- The Central Government assistance for setting up DTIs will be in the form of Grant-in-Aid and will be limited to sum total of Rs 400 Cr. Assistance for individual DTI under the Scheme shall not exceed 75% of the project cost.
- All the constituents of SPV (Implementation Agency) shall have positive net worth.
- At least three constituents of the SPV should be in existence for more than three years and no relaxation will be provided in this regard.
- The SPV (Implementation Agency) shall be responsible for obtaining statutory clearances required for testing of weapons and ammunition.
- The first national flag, which consisted of three horizontal stripes of red, yellow and green, is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, at the Parsee Bagan Square in Calcutta (Kolkata).
- In 1921, freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya met Mahatma Gandhi and proposed a basic design of the flag, consisting of two red and green bands.
- The Tricolour was adopted as our national flag at a Congress Committee meeting in Karachi in 1931.
- The Indian flag was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on July 22, 1947.
- The earliest rules for the display of the national flag were originally governed by the provisions of:
- The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
- It prohibits the desecration of or insult to the country’s national symbols, including the national flag, the Constitution, the national anthem and the Indian map.
- It says that whoever in any public place or in public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or into contempt the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
- It says that putting any kind of inscription upon the flag, using it to cover a statue, a monument or platform, and embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or any dress material is also considered disrespect to the Tricolour.
- In 2002, the Flag Code of India came into effect which allowed the unrestricted display of the Tricolour as long as the honour and dignity of the flag were being respected.
- The Flag Code of 2002 is divided into three parts:
- A general description of the tricolour;
- Rules on display of the flag by public and private bodies and educational institutions; and
- Rules for display of the flag by governments and government bodies
- It states that there will be no restriction on the display of the flag by public and private bodies and educational institutions except to the extent as laid down in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
- It mentions that the tricolour cannot be used for commercial purposes, and cannot be dipped in salute to any person or thing.
- It further states that whenever the flag is displayed, it should be distinctly placed and should “occupy the position of honour”.
- The things which are not allowed:
- Putting up a damaged or dishevelled flag;
- Flying the tricolour from a single masthead simultaneously with other flags; and
- No other object, including flowers or garlands, or flag should be placed on the same height beside the tricolour or above it
- The flag should not be used as a festoon, or for any kind of decoration purposes.
- The flag code states that the tricolour can be of nine standard dimensions i.e. 6300 x 4200, 3600 x 2400, 2700 x 1800, 1800 x 1200, 1350 x 900, 900 x 600, 450 x 300, 225 x 150 and 150 x 100 (all sizes in mm).
- It further adds that flags of 450 x 300 mm size should be used on VVIP flights, 225 x 150 mm on cars and all table flags should be 150 x 100 mm in size.
- The tricolor should be rectangular in shape and the length-to-width ratio should always be 3:2.
- The national flag should always be made of hand-spun and hand-woven wool or cotton or silk khadi bunting.
- The flag code mandates that the tricolour should always be distinctly placed and should “occupy the position of honour”.
- The flag should always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
- When a flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally from a window sill, balcony or front of a building, the saffron band should be at the farther end of the staff.
- When displayed on a speaker’s platform, the flag should be placed on the speaker’s right as s/he faces the audience or flat against the wall above and behind the speaker.
- When displayed on a car, the flag should be flown from a staff fixed either in the middle of the bonnet or the front right of the car.
- When carried in a parade, the flag should either be in the front of the centre of the line or towards the right of the file that is marching forward.
- The flag code further states that when the Tricolour is passing by in a parade, or during a ceremony of hoisting or lowering of the flag, the persons present should stand at attention and salute the flag.
- It is a unique initiative of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
- It is named as “Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought” (BOLD).
- It is the first of its kind exercise in India which was launched from the tribal village Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
- Under the project, 5000 saplings of special bamboo species i.e. Bambusa Tulda and Bambusa Polymorpha have been planted over 16 acres approx. of vacant arid Gram Panchayat land.
- It seeks to create bamboo-based green patches in arid and semi-arid land zones.
- It is aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call for reducing land degradation and preventing desertification in the country.
- It has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo Festival” to celebrate 75 years of independence “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
- The green patches of bamboo in Gujarat, Leh-Ladakh region and Rajasthan will help in reducing the land degradation percentage of the country.
- It will benefit a large number of women and unemployed youths in the region by connecting them to skill development programs.
- It will create additional income for the local tribal population while it will also support the local bamboo-based industries and thus boost the rural economy.
- In a hearing, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana asked the government if it intends to shut down tribunals that have several key vacant posts.
- It replaces a similar Ordinance promulgated in April 2021 that sought to:
- Dissolve eight tribunals that functioned as appellate bodies to hear disputes under various statutes; and
- Transfer their functions to existing judicial forums such as a civil court or a High Court.
- The Bill states that the Chairpersons and Members of the tribunal being abolished shall cease to hold office.
- They will be entitled to claim compensation equivalent to three months’ pay and allowances for their premature termination.
- It proposes changes in the process of appointment of certain other tribunals.
- It provides for uniform pay and rules for the search and selection committees across tribunals.
- It provides for removal of tribunal members.
- It states that the central government shall, on the recommendation of the Search-cum-Selection Committee, remove from office any Chairperson or a Member, who:
- Has been adjudged as an insolvent; or
- Has been convicted of an offence which involves moral turpitude; or
- Has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such Chairperson or Member; or
- Has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such Chairperson or Member; or
- Has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest
- The chairpersons and judicial members of tribunals are former judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court.
- It brings greater accountability on the functioning of the tribunals and raises questions on the independence of these judicial bodies.
- It brings in the Chief Secretary of the state and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission of the concerned state who will have a vote and Secretary or Principal Secretary of the state’s General Administrative Department with no voting right.
- It provides for a four-year term of office (subject to the upper age limit of 70 years for the Chairperson, and 67 years for members).
- It specifies a minimum age requirement of 50 years for appointment of a chairperson or a member.
- These cases will be transferred to High Courts or commercial civil courts immediately.
- There are some experts who believe that the cases might get a faster hearing and disposal if taken to High Courts.
- There are other experts who fear that the lack of specialisation in regular courts could be detrimental to the decision-making process.
- The original Constitution did not contain provisions with respect to tribunals but the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 added a new Part XIV-A to the Constitution.
- Article 323 A empowers the Parliament to provide for the establishment of administrative tribunals for the adjudication of disputes relating to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services.
- It enables the Parliament to take out the adjudication of disputes relating to service matters from the civil courts and the high courts and place it before the administrative tribunals.
- The Parliament has passed the Administrative Tribunals Act in 1985 which authorizes the Central government to establish one Central administrative tribunal and the state administrative tribunals.
- The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and all service matters of public servants covered by it.
- Its jurisdiction extends to the all-India services, the Central civil services, civil posts under the Centre and civilian employees of defence services.
- The members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it.
- Under Article 323 B, the Parliament and the state legislatures are authorised to provide for the establishment of tribunals for the adjudication of disputes relating to the following matters:
- Taxation, Foreign exchange, import and export, Industrial and labour, Land reforms, Ceiling on urban property, Elections to Parliament and state legislatures, Food stuffs and Rent and tenancy rights
- Article 136 of the constitution empowers the Supreme Court to grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, order, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any tribunal in India.
- Article 227 enables every High Court to exercise power of superintendence over all tribunals throughout the territories over which it exercises jurisdiction.
- The strategy based on nano carrier-based oral drugs coated with Vitamin B12 enhanced oral bioavailability and efficacy of the therapy by more than 90%.
- The scientists have developed a smart and intelligent nano-carrier utilizing the natural intrinsic Vitamin B12 pathway present in human body that can mitigate stability challenges and drug-associated toxicity.
- The INST team critically evaluated the efficacy and properties of Vitamin B12 (VB12) coated solid lipid nano-particles and their subsequent potential ramification in evading cytotoxicity and escalating stability.
- They conceptualized an innate immune defence mechanism to enhance the physicochemical properties of orally administered nanoparticles, which can easily navigate through the gastrointestinal tract without being washed away by naturally present mucus barrier.
- The research showed that Vitamin B12 being an essential lifesaving micronutrient works as an innovative and beneficial supplement for its treatment and prevention.
- It improves the bioavailability and targeted delivery by utilizing the natural intrinsic Vitamin B12 pathway, which is present in the human body and hence developing resistance for infection spread.
- Visceral Leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anaemia.
- Leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasites which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies.
- There are 3 main forms of leishmaniases i.e. visceral (also known as kala-azar, which is and the most serious form of the disease), cutaneous (the most common), and mucocutaneous.
- Leishmaniasis is linked to environmental changes such as deforestation, building of dams, irrigation schemes, and urbanization.
- Leishmania parasites are transmitted through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sandflies, which feed on blood to produce eggs.
- The epidemiology of Leishmaniasis depends on:
- The characteristics of the parasite and sandfly species;
- The local ecological characteristics of the transmission sites;
- Current and past exposure of the human population to the parasite; and
- Human behaviour
- Under the National Health Mission (NHM), National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme coordinates the kala-azar elimination programme in India.
- India has already missed the kala-azar elimination target thrice in the last decade.
- The initial deadline set by the National Health Programme (now NHM) was 2010, which was pushed to 2015 in the 12th Financial Plan Document.
- The deadline was later extended twice to 2017, and then to 2020.
- The WHO target to eliminate Kala Azar was 2017.
- The target is to reduce the incidence of the disease to less than one case per 10,000 population at the sub-district level.
- It has been commissioned by the Congress as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
- It is the highest civilian award in the US.
- It has been awarded to the 1980 US summer Olympics team, Robert F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela and George Washington among many others.
- If given the award, Gandhi would become the first Indian to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
- It is given to an individual or group who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.
- The first recipients of the medal were participants of the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
- The Congress has broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, explorers, athletes, humanitarians and foreign recipients among pioneers in some other fields.
- There have been reports which indicate that approximately 1,600 Afghan soldiers have fled to Tajikistan in the last week.
- Until 1991, Tajikistan was a part of the Soviet Union.
- When Moscow invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Tajikistan, along with the other Soviet Socialist Republics in Central Asia, supported the takeover.
- Tajikistan’s support for the Soviets made them a target of the Afghan Mujahadeen who launched attacks against the country in 1987.
- After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, several Tajik soldiers returned to form the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP) which opposed the ruling communist leader of Tajikistan.
- The new Afghan president, Burhanuddin Rabbani, an Afghan-Tajik, allowed the IRP to operate from Afghanistan and also provided the group with arms, ammunition and training.
- Tajikistan lies on Afghanistan’s northeastern border, adjacent to the Afghan provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz and Balkh.
- The 1200-km border is also home to the junction between the Hindu Kush and Karakoram Mountains, and is characterised by its rocky, inhospitable terrain.
- Tajikistan was considered to be under the influence of the Persians for a long time, and many ethnic Tajiks residing in Afghanistan retain similar cultural values.
- Tajikistan, a small landlocked Central Asian nation, has a predominantly Muslim population and is largely considered to be undemocratic, volatile, and economically unstable.
- The Afghan-Tajiks form the second largest ethnic group in the country, second only to the Pashtuns.
- They dominate Afghanistan’s northern Panjshir valley.
- Smaller concentrations of Tajiks live in Herat province, on the western border with Iran.
- Tajiks also make up a large percentage of the population of Kabul, where they have been politically significant and economically successful.
- Tajiks are said to maintain strong ties with their families and ethnic kin, making the fate and treatment of Afghan-Tajiks extremely important to their neighbours in the north.
- Rahmonov will fear three major implications of Taliban rule in Afghanistan:
- He will have to consider the sentiments of Afghan-Tajiks, some who have been welcomed in the Taliban’s ranks but the majority of whom passionately reject the group.
- Dushanbe will be cognisant of the rise in extremism caused by the dominance of the Taliban, and the impact it will have on radical factions within Tajikistan who aim to establish an Emirate of their own.
- Tajikistan will have to find ways to police its porous border with Afghanistan in order to prevent illicit drugs and refugees from overflowing into the country.
POSTED ON 17-08-2021 BY ADMIN
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