Digital India :Industry pledges Rs 4.5 lakh crore to create 1.8 million jobs & end Digital Divide

Scaling on the optical fibre network, the country’s flagship programme of Digital India is surging ahead with industry captains pitching in large numbers to make the ambitious plan a reality, asserting investments will not come in the way.  On the launch day, an upbeat India Inc. pledged over Rs 4.5 lakh crore, creating 18 lakh new jobs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ,kicking off the programme, has said that the government wants the nation to be self reliant in electronic goods production and turn it into leader in cyber security and innovations.
        Leading industrialists Cyrus Mistry, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Azim Premji and many others who have pledged millions in investments feel that the government’s Rs.1.13 lakh crore programme would go a long way to wipe out the digital divide besides offering a slew of digital solutions in almost all sectors, including education, health, agriculture and administration.
       The programme, envisaged by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), with coordination of ministries of communications & Information Technology, rural development, human resource development, health and others, will benefit all states and Union territories.
The existing ongoing e-Governance initiatives would be revamped for the alignment with the principles of Digital India. The objective of the programme is to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It would ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically. It also plans to usher in public accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically.
       Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said recently the impact of Digital India by 2019 would range from broadband connectivity in all panchayats, Wi-fi in schools and universities and public Wi-Fi hotspots. "The programme will generate huge number of IT, Telecom and Electronics jobs, both directly and indirectly. Success of this programme will make India digitally empowered and the leader in usage of IT in delivery of services related to various domains such as health, education, agriculture, banking," he added.

Mr Prasad said that during the week long Digital India celebrations, states across the country participated with enthusiasm which augur very well for the ambitious programme designed to link the nation through internet connectivity. Amid growing fancy for Digital India, many professionals air scepticism whether the ubiquitous broadband will be available to them or they will face frequent breakdowns in systems despite paying high cost for the internet connections. Their apprehensions stem from the fact that telecom companies after paying higher cost for the spectrum in open bidding will pass on the cost to consumers.              

Once the Digital India campaign picks up steam, the net enabled services will transform the lives of people in longrun, ending the digital divide in the society, wizards of the sector say. For that, the government will have to fine tune its policies regarding telecom and data services to make it cheaper and affordable. More spectrum is bound to be made available. The defence ministry has agreed to release some spectrum per circle.but the bidding issue stares at the sector, which feels cheaper net availability should be ensured to make the programme more successful       
       Digital India, which is a flagship programme of this government, is being executed in a mission mode.Official sources said that the broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats is also being pursued vigorously to ensure its availability to every nook and corner.       
        The work on laying of the optical fibre net work has been speeded up by 30 times in last months. National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) will support e-governance services, telemedicine, tele education, financial services .e-commerce and e- entertainment, and will provide non discriminatory access.       
Idduki district in Kerala has already become the first fully connected. However, amid all the hype and hoopla the question remains — How will the district administration in hinterland bridge the gap between residents of urban areas with Internet connectivity at their disposal, though inadequate, and those living in rural areas, where the online world is yet to expand its sway?       Also, all the public services being provided in the 22 recently opened Common Service Centres (CSCs) of the district are Internet-based and cannot function in the absence of net connectivity. With no Internet connectivity in hilly areas, the online services at CSCs remain ineffective. 

      
Mr Prasad said the Modi government wants to ensure by 2019 a smart phone in the hands of every citizen . Currently, nearly 74 per cent of the population has mobile phones, most of which though is in the hands of urban India.        "We want to ensure that all the services can be provided through a mobile handset, especially, health, education, various government services and retail," Mr Prasad said. Referring to his consultations with global corporate honchos, Mr Prasad said companies such as American network equipment maker Cisco Systems wanted to access benefits of cluster manufacturing.       "Facebook has also expressed interest in partnering with the government in delivering governance programmes such as e-education," he said, referring to his meeting two months ago with the US social media company's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg.      
       Industry analysts are of the opinion NOFN has to meet its deadline if next generation connectivity (NGN) has to become a reality soon.       Government is implementing the venture through state-run public sector units Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Power Grid Corporation and RailTel though there were suggestions that the private sector may be roped in for faster implementation.   
     Common service centres in villages will serve as critical pivots around which most goods and services will be delivered. Once connected to broadband, an entire village's requirements of goods can be placed through these centres and people can use these facilities as one-stop shop for all their e-needs, said a senior official at the telecom department.        But for the success of Digital India campaign, the government would rely heavily on the IT industry and their involvement in process of setting up the platform for a big leap in connectivity which will ultimately bridge the wide gap and make India a wired country.

Dreadnought of Dedicated Freight corridors shaping up; Rs 81,459 Crore approval perk up work

Goods laden rakes running on dedicated corridors, sparing over burdened tracks for back-to-back swanky passenger trains filing fast solar energy-lit Swachch  stations and smart cities in large swathes of the populous nation within next  four years sounds like castles in air.

But many people are fairly sanguine that green shoots are sprouted. Rs 15,500 crore contracts were given in the past few months by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation Limited  (DFCCL), and heavy machineries in large numbers are being moved on the ground to  expedite the gigantic task which, for an example, is guzzling Rs 100 crore per  month on the Khurja –Kanpur section alone against earlier investment of Rs.30  crore per month.

As deadlines loom, the fourth floor of five-storey  building next to Pragati Maidan appears peaceful, but massive churning is  underway with pre-bidding conferences notices on display boards and bureaucrats  collating data from ground as the Rail Bhawan mounts continued surveillance on  the progress. The building and the Corporation logo do not draw attention which  is more focused on attractive stalls of sprawling exhibition ground but on  ground locals say development is palpable.

“An analysis of the  ordering progress by DFCCIL in the recent months reveal that the total value of  contracts awarded since November is a whopping Rs 15,485 crore which is more than  total works awarded by the sameorganisation in the past six years, that stands  at Rs.13,125 crore” said officials flipping through piles of data sheets and  browsing on computers.

Most of these contracts are for the construction of track and structures and electrical and  signalling installations on the Western and Eastern Freight  corridors. During the past few months, major contracts issued comprise civil contracts from Kanpur-Mughalsarai ( 402 kms) and Vadodara to Vaitarna  ( 320 kms), electrical and signallingcontracts on western DFC from Rewari to  Vadodara ( 950 kms).

 Officials feel that the two DFCs would free up 70 per cent of railways cargo carrying capacity, but land acquisition challenges face the iconic project.This is despite the fact that 84 per cent of land  acquisitions have been completed in both the corridors-including 88 per cent in  the Western corridor and 79 per cent in the eastern corridor. Sixteen per cent is hanging fire, awaiting the new land laws.

 According to DFCCIL  sources, there are 1,042 court cases and 3,391 arbitration disputes pending as  land losers have knocked courts' doors.As a consequence, land is not available  in 144 patches, affecting length of 245kms in eastern corridor and 296  stretches impacting 113 kms in the western corridor. These patches are mainly in UP, Bihar, Maharashtra , Haryana and Gujarat.

DFCCIL's Adesh  Sharma says work is underway in full swing and now per day 80,000 cubic meter  earth work is done against earlier data of 5000 cubic meter per day. Contractors,  he said, had been directed to deploy two times in volumes the mandatory  machineries ,More than 100 excavators are working in each corridor. December 2019 is the date line for completion based on the land acquisition status and contracts position.

 Officials feel the Khurja-Kanpur will be ready by March 2018; Durgawati- Sasaram during the current fiscal, Mughalsarai-Sonnagar by 2017 and Kanpur-Mughalsarai by December 2018.   Likewise in the Western corridorRewari-Iqbalgar has been planned for June 2018, Iqbalgarh-Vadodara by March 2019. The revenue will start trickling due to phased commissioning of corridors as the access charges will be levied. Mr Sharma has told media that multi-modal logistic parks and private freight terminals, to be developed along the DFCs, will impart additional income track access charges which are being calculated by an expert committee.

Flagging big ticket procurements finalised by the DFCCIL, officials claim that after a long period stagnation, riddled with procurement snags and procedural delays, both the corridors, being built by the corporation, an SPV ( Special Purpose Vehicle) of Railway Ministry have now started gathering momentum.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, last week, approved the revised cost estimate (RCE) of Rs.81,459 crore for both the corridors and the  much awaited sanction has perked up things in the infra project. Of this  amount, construction cost accounts for Rs.26,674 crores for the EDFC and  Rs.46,718 crores for the WDFC and land acquisition cost of Rs.8,067  crore.

The Corporation, recalling previous handicaps, says that the  original estimate prepared by RITES in 2007 had to undergo many major changes as  it had no provision of soft costs ( about Rs.27,381 crore like interest during  construction ,insurance ,escalation and other contingencies. The estimate, they say, had no provision even for the basic electrification of WDFC and was devoid  of the latest specifications already in vogue on word Railways. 

Subsequently, during the revision, the standard of construction was raised from 25 ton axle load to 32.5 ton and a slew of advanced safety features  including Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) have been incorporated. 

Oblivious of these developments, passengers on trains debate on the corridors. A UNI correspondent, travelling on a Shatabdi train to Kanpur recently found travellers discussing large tracks of blanketing near Tundala .  While a few passengers feigned ignorance, others said parallel highway is being  made but other quipped, ”come what may ,something is happening”.

An  informed railway staffer briefed them about the DFC ,but it evoked interesting  comments from sceptics - these announcements of flagship programmes are all  humbug and ”we are being bamboozled for make believe world”.

Twirling  his moustache, a passenger commented that these projects should not be linked  with party politics and such iconic programmes be appreciated– started by the  previous United Progressive Alliance regime and expedited by the NDA  dispensation as finally these will be national assets in a few years. Every project starts like these and one day dreadnoughts emerge in skylines.

The Western DFC is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Part of  Eastern DFC (Mughalsarai-Allahabad-Kanpur- Khurja –Ludhiana ) is being  funded by World Bank. Danduni –Sonnagar section of the Eastern DFC will be through PPP. East west Corridor ( Kolkata-Mumbai) 2,330 kms,  North–South corridor, 2343 km, East West Corridor  (  Kharagpur-Vijayawada ) 1,100km and Southern Corridor ( Chennai-Goa) 899 kms are  on slate as future corridors.

DFCCIL appears conceived for the development of dedicated freight line to boost freight transportation in Railways which will spur Railway share in transportation of goods. The dedicate Freight corridors were necessitated after saturation of Golden Quadrilateral (  which had linked four metros Delhi, Chennai, Howarh, Mumbai along with diagonals  Delhi-Chennai and Mumbai–Howrah)-with over 10,000 kms and carrying more than 55  per cent revenue earning freight traffic. In wake of the bulging traffic, the Government planned two Corridors--- the Western DFC ( 1,502 kms) and Eastern DFC (  1,840 km)----sparing a total length of about 3,342 route km.

The EDFC, starting from Dankuni in West Bengal, will pass through the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to terminate at Ludhiana. The Western corridor that will traverse the distance from Dadri(UP) to Mumbai–Jawaharlal Nehru) Port ( JNPT) will traverse the National Capital Region,  Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

 Envisioning paradigm shift in the freight operation , the DFCs envisage long haul operation;trailing  loads per train will increase from 5,000 to 13,000 tonnes. On the  ground, works are on, but the Land Bill passage is all set to play pivotal role  as the land acquisition is caught in legal wrangles. Civil works on Bhaupur-Khurja section is progressing well .The earth work for 150 kms formation  and blanketing has been completed in 55 kms.

Likewise, civil works in Rewari-Iqbalgarh for 625 kms have been started. Work on embankments is in progress in about 150 kms and work on 70 minor bridges also got off. In Mughalsari –Sonnagar section 65 m long bow string girder for new road  overbridge at Bhabua was successfuly launched across three Indian Railway (IR)  tracks a few months ago.

PM's remarks at the Launch of "Skill India"

PM's remarks at the Launch of "Skill India"

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today outlined his vision for "Skill India" as he launched the "National Skill Development Mission" in New Delhi. Asserting that his Government has declared a war on poverty and is determined to win it, the Prime Minister said that each poor, underprivileged youth is a soldier in this war.

Noting that India will have a surplus manpower of 4 to 5 crore over the next decade, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to provide this youthful manpower with skills and ability to tackle global challenges, and warned that the demographic dividend would otherwise become a challenge in itself. He said that if the 20th century saw India's foremost technical institutes – the IITs – make a name for themselves globally, the 21st century required that India's ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes), acquire global recognition for producing quality skilled manpower.

The Prime Minister said India can become the world's largest provider of skilled workforce for the world. In order to prepare for this, Shri Narendra Modi said there is a need for mapping of manpower requirements, not just in India, but globally as well.

The Prime Minister called for constant updating of training programmes and syllabi to ensure that the youth is exposed to latest technology and industry environment. He said the Government would work to promote both apprenticeship and entrepreneurs. He said it is important to predict the possibilities of the future, and prepare for them today itself.

The Prime Minister unveiled the Skill logo, launched the National Skill Development Mission, and Released the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015. He also launched the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Skill Loan Scheme. The Prime Minister felicitated the six Indian medal winners of the World Skill Oceania competition. 

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making

A Framework for Ethical Decision Making

Recognize an Ethical Issue

1. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative, or perhaps between two “goods” or between two “bads”?
2. Is this issue about more than what is legal or what is most efficient? If so, how?

Get the Facts

3. What are the relevant facts of the case? What facts are not known? Can I learn more about the situation? Do I know enough to make a decision?
4. What individuals and groups have an important stake in the outcome? Are some concerns more important? Why?
5. What are the options for acting? Have all the relevant persons and groups been consulted? Have I identified creative options?

Evaluate Alternative Actions

6. Evaluate the options by asking the following questions:

• Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (The Utilitarian Approach)
• Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (The Rights Approach)
• Which option treats people equally or proportionately? (The Justice Approach)
• Which option best serves the community
  as a whole, not just some members?
  (The Common Good Approach)
• Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be? (The Virtue Approach)

Make a Decision and Test It

7. Considering all these approaches, which option best addresses the situation?
8. If I told someone I respect-or told a television audience-which option I have chosen, what would they say?

Act and Reflect on the Outcome

9. How can my decision be implemented with the greatest care and attention to the concerns of all stakeholders?
10. How did my decision turn out and what have I learned from this specific situation?

RIMES

The Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems (RIMES) nations recently agreed to share regionally relevant meteorological and oceanographic data between partner institutions, member-states and collaborating countries. This was declared in the 2nd RIMES ministerial conference.

• The RIMES countries have also decided to launch a capacity building programme for enhancing early warning systems for small island states, in collaboration with regional and national institutions.

About RIMES:

• It is an international institution managed by 12 member-states and is presently chaired by India. It was established in April 2009.
• RIMES evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa and Asia in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami to establish a regional early warning system, and capacity building for preparedness and response to trans-boundary hazards.
• There are 19 collaborating countries in RIMES, including Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Russia among others.
• RIMES operates from its regional early warning centre located on the campus of Asian Institute of Technology in Pathumthani, Thailand.

India’s population crosses 127-crore mark

India’s population crosses 127-crore mark

On the World Population Day (11^th July), India recorded a population of 127,42,39,769. It is growing at a rate of 1.6% a year, and could make the country the most populous in the world by 2050. This data was released by Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh or National Population Stabilisation Fund (NPSF), an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry.

Notable observations made:

• India’s population is 17.25% of the global population.
• India’s population is growing at a faster rate than China, which is now the world’s most populous country at around 1.39 billion.
• If current population growth rates continue, India will have 1.63 billion people by 2050 and will surpass China.
• The total fertility rate (TFR) in India has seen a decline and stood at 2.3 in 2013 although the decline is not consistent.
• The data suggests that a high percentage of female (21-26%) are married below 18 years of age in States like Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar.
• The population of India, at 1.21 billion as per the 2011 Census, is almost equal to the combined population of the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together.
• The population of several States match, and in some cases, exceed that of several large countries. For example, the population of U.P. is almost that of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world.

About Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh:

• The “Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh” (JSK) (National Population Stabilisation Fund) has been registered as an autonomous Society established under the Societies Registration Act of 1860.
• JSK has to promote and undertake activities aimed at achieving population stabilisation at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth, social development and environment protection, by 2045.
• The Union Health Minister heads the General Body of JSK and the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Department of School Education & Literacy, Rural Development, Planning Commission are represented by their Secretaries on the General Body of JSK.
• All State Governments are members of JSK.
• Besides this the General Body has demographers, representatives of Industry & Trade, NGOs, medical and para-medical associations, general citizens as its members. This enables JSK run as a civil society movement drawing on the strength of its partners.

Khushaal Yadav, Rank – 28, CSE-14

Demystifying the Personality Test

Khushaal Yadav, Rank – 28, CSE-14

The UPSC has finally disclosed the interview and mains marks. More than 775 in mains and over around 175 in PT (Personality Test/Interview) is must for harboring any hopes of getting in the administrative services. Of course, there could be outliers who will defy any sort of analysis.

Mains is straight forward Read and Revise and Presentation (More on MAINS later)

Back in the graduation days we used to have theoretical exams and practicals including viva-voce. It was then that I realised the importance of the ‘Interview Skills’. It goes without saying that one needs to have a respectable knowledge of the content before presenting ones viewpoints, but there are certain skills and a particular attitude that can go a log way into making the PT one of your strong areas.

I did not do great in the content aspect, meaning my answers were not extraordinary but being well prepared mentally and being presentable helped me score 201 and make the cut. It compensated for a below par 782in the Mains that I managed.

State of Mind-

This is perhaps the most important part. Make or break. It would determine your rank, your service , cadre,  everything related to the UPSC CSE

It is the most essential aspect in that you are being tested for your communication, presentation, thinking, reasoning skills which are sine qua non for a prospective Officer.

Get into that frame
Imagine you are already in the job. Say, you are in a meeting with hot-shots , or addressing a Press Conference. How would you act then? This is in brief what your PT is all about. To express yourself directly, soundly, and convincingly.

The Skills take time
One does not become an orator overnight. It requires great deal of patience, practice and proper guidance. It is true for any other field. Getting into a proper shape- physical or mental is time consuming, but its a frame of mind worth getting into.

Simple Exercises–
1)IMAGINE yourself to be into the fabled corridors of the UPSC and being escorted to the interview board. Anticipate it. The walk, the churning of the gut, that rush, that chill down the spine.
2) Mirror, mirror! Tell it all!! 
Practice speaking before a mirror. Write down  questions on a chit and draw them randomly.Think for some time, formulate your thoughts, get the necessary phrases, anticipate the possible counter questions that might follow and respond in a calm, controlled and confident manner.
3) Summarise– after reading say an article of the HIndu or the IE, close your eyes and try to summarize it in say a 100 words, recapitulate the key words. This helps not only in memorisation but also helps to avoid verbosity and brings about brevity in the responses, a desirable trait in an officer.
4) V-LOGS – Alternatively, you could record yourself and analyse the clip later, with or without friends. This helps to identify Gestures( facial/bodily), Slips of tongues, stock-phrases, Beating around the bush, tone, pitch, pace, etcetera.
An indispensable exercise to master the movements of the tongue and make them fluid, seamless and purposeful.
5) Learn from the best– Turn to presenters from the BBC, Al- jazeera, CNN; world leaders- Barack Obama, PM Modi ji, Putin, Cameroon; Speakers who have honed the craft of story telling. This is in short what it is. Telling them a tale and keeping them spell-bounded. Additionally, this helps you to stay abreast with the changes in the world, to say the least.