Space Technology for Border Management

Highlights:

The Task Force consulted all stake holders including BGFs, ISRO, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) before finalising the report.

Details of the areas identified for use of space technology are as under:-

1. Island development and security
2. Border Surveillance
3. Communication and Navigation
4. GIS and Operations Planning System
5. Border Infrastructure Monitoring.

For phase wise implementation of the report, a short, medium and long term plan has been prepared

1. Short Term:

Establishment of network infrastructure and computing requirements for all CAPFs, hiring of transponders for satellite communication and procurement of satellite data for immediate operational use of the forces.

2. Medium Term

• Development of infrastructure and storage capacity for MHA, capacity building of CAPFs.
• Launch of one satellite for exclusive use of MHA by ISRO and establishment of ground segment to receive inputs from satellite.
• Operationalization of COPS/ BOPS Software developed jointly by ISRO/ CAPFs.

3. Long Term

• Launch of additional satellites as per need, up gradation of ground segment, full operationlisation of COPS/BOPS software, Capacity building of CAPFs for using space technology.
• This project will strengthen island and border security by providing observation, communication and navigation capability to border guarding and internal security forces in remote areas.
• It will also help Ministry of Home Affairs in planning and monitoring of development of border and island infrastructure.

About Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme:

• The smart border fencing projects built under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme is the first of its kind in the country.  
• The two projects  each covering a 5.5 km border stretch along the International Border  have got hi tech surveillance system that would create an invisible electronic barrier on land, water and even in air and underground and would help the BSF detect and foil infiltration bids in most difficult terrains.
• The CIBMS is designed to guard stretches where physical surveillance is not possible either due to inhospitable  terrain or riverine borders.
• CIBMS uses a number of different devices for surveillance, communication and data storage.  Sensors like Thermal Imager, UGS, Fiber Optical Sensors, Radar, Sonar have been mounted on different platforms like Aerostat, tower, poles etc.
• A comprehensive integration of such sensors and other technical systems of communication and data processing have been achieved in the CIBMS project.
• The signals reach the Unified Command and Control Centre where the BSF can monitor the border on real-time basis. The CIBMS enables round-the-clock surveillance on border and under different weather conditions be it in dust storm, fog or rain.
• CIBMS involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies -- thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms that form an invisible land fence, aerostats for aerial surveillance, unattended ground sensors that can help detect intrusion bids through tunnels, radars, sonar systems to secure riverine borders, fibre-optic sensors and a command and control system that shall receive data from all surveillance device in real time.
• The programme is a more robust border management system which is seamlessly integrating modern technology with human resource.
• Based on integrated border management system, this virtual fence would be first of its kind initiative in India.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

About The Recognition of Prior Learning:

• The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) component of PMKVY is primarily focussed on assessing and certifying the skills of informal sector workers.
• Evaluation of trade learned skills and certification through assessment helps the trainees through increased mobility options to the formal sector employment.
• In certain cases, it has been observed that RPL certification has helped workers negotiate better wages and open possibilities for some vertical progression in their careers. 
• In almost all cases, trainees have displayed enhanced self-confidence and pride through attainment of skill certificates.
• The scheme plans to impart skill based training to one crore people between 2016 – 2020 and RPL will account for 40 lakhs candidate whose prior experience and skills will be assessed and certified.

The objectives of RPL are primarily three-fold:

1. to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the standardized National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
2. to enhance the career/employability opportunities of an individual as well as providing alternative routes of access to further and higher education
3. to provide opportunities for the reduction of inequalities based on privileging certain forms of knowledge over others.

• The Scheme hopes to achieve 25 lakh certifications under RPL over a duration of 4 years (2016-2020).
• In accordance with these Guidelines, Sector Skill Councils(SSCs) or any other designated agencies [hereby known as Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)] shall implement RPL Projects under the aegis of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

Background:

• A huge section of India’s unorganized workforce are unskilled and semi-skilled. Most of them pick up skills and knowledge in an informal set up by observing people or working under their guidance or through complete self-learning.
• As a result, even though they manage to get a job and earn a decent wage or salary, they may not be able to improve their skills. This also affects their productivity and quality of output.
• They need access to training programs and support from their employers to skill and upskill themselves. This is where Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can help them get assessed and certified on their current competencies as per NSQF levels.
• RPL also shows them a path to bridge their current knowledge and skill levels to reach a competency level or go for higher skills for professional growth.

Benefits for the workforce

• Through RPL assessment and certification, the candidates will be able to align existing competencies with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) for better opportunities in higher education.
• Besides creating an equitable system, RPL also helps them explore different options in skilling and upskilling to bridge the knowledge and skill gaps.

Benefits for the industry

By getting the workforce certified under RPL, the industry gets the dual advantage 1. formally recognized skill levels mapped with QPs and job roles and

2. open up different paths for workers to upskill and grow through short term training and bridge courses.

3. RPL assesses the prior knowledge and skills of individuals and certifies them mainly in the unregulated sector.

The objectives of RPL are:

• Align the competencies of the unregulated sectors of the country with the National Skills Qualification Framework.
• Enhance the chances of employment of individuals and provide them with more options for higher education.
• Reduce the inequalities that are present due to the privileges given to some types of skills and knowledge over others.

About  Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
•  Individuals with prior learning experience or skills  will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• The scheme will cover 10 million youth during the period 2016 -2020.
• Under this Scheme, Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.
• Skill training would be done based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.

Sagarmala Project

About Sagarmala Project:

• Sagarmala Programme is an initiative of Government of India to enhance the performance of logistics sector in India. The programme envisages unlocking the potential of waterways and coastline, to minimize infrastructural investments required to meet these targets.
• It entails Rs. 8.5 trillion (US$120 billion) investment for setting up of new mega ports, modernization of India's existing ports, development of 14 Coastal Employment Zones (CEZs) and Coastal Employment Units, enhancement of port  connectivity via road, rail, multi-modal logistics parks, pipelines & waterways and promote coastal community development, resulting in boosting merchandise exports by US$110 billion, and generation of around 10,000,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• The Sagarmala Programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• Sagarmala aims to modernize India's Ports so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute in India's growth.
• It also aims for transforming the existing Ports into modern world class Ports and integrate the development of the Ports, the Industrial clusters and hinterland and efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways resulting in Ports becoming the drivers of economic activity in coastal areas.

Vision

• Sagarmala is an ambitious national initiative aimed at bringing about a step change in India’s logistics sector performance, by unlocking the full potential of India’s coastline and waterways.
• The vision of Sagarmala is to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimized infrastructure investment. Sagarmala aspires to reduce logistics costs for EXIM and domestic cargo leading to overall cost savings of INR 35,000 to 40,000 cr. per annum.
• Some of this will be direct cost savings, while others are savings from inventory-handling costs resulting from time (and reduced variability) in transportation of goods, particularly containers.
• These cost savings apply to current industrial capacities as well as future coast proximate capacities for energy, material, marine and discrete industries that could come up through port-linked industrialization. In addition, Sagarmala aspires to reduce carbon emissions from transportation sector by 12.5 MT/annum.

Mission

The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India's 7,500 km long coastline, 14500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. Sagarmala’s vision can have a potentially transformative impact on India’s logistics competitiveness and the wider economy.

Concept & Objectives

Vision of the Sagarmala Programme is to reduce logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment. This includes:

• Reducing cost of transporting domestic cargo through optimizing modal mix
• Lowering logistics cost of bulk commodities by locating future industrial capacities near the coast
• Improving export competitiveness by developing port proximate discrete manufacturing clusters
• Optimizing time/cost of EXIM container movement.

Components of Sagarmala Programme are:

• Port Modernization & New Port Development: De-bottlenecking and capacity expansion of existing ports and development of new greenfield ports.
• Port Connectivity Enhancement: Enhancing the connectivity of the ports to the hinterland, optimizing cost and time of cargo movement through multi-modal logistics solutions including domestic waterways (inland water transport and coastal shipping).
• Port-linked Industrialization: Developing port-proximate industrial clusters and Coastal Economic Zones to reduce logistics cost and time of EXIM and domestic cargo.
• Coastal Community Development: Promoting sustainable development of coastal communities through skill development & livelihood generation activities, fisheries development, coastal tourism etc.

Namami Gange Programme

Aboout Namami Gange Programme:

• Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
• Marking a major shift in implementation, the Government is focusing on involving people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results.
• Drawing from the lesson learned from the previous implementation, the program also focuses on involving the States and grassroots levels institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation.
• The program would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs). NMCG will also establish field offices wherever necessary.

Why we need "Namami Gange" programme?

• River Ganga has significant economic, environmental and cultural value in India.
• Rising in the Himalayas and flowing to the Bay of Bengal, the river traverses a course of more than 2,500 km through the plains of north and eastern India.
• The Ganga basin - which also extends into parts of Nepal, China and Bangladesh - accounts for 26 per cent of India's landmass.
• The Ganga also serves as one of India's holiest rivers whose cultural and spiritual significance transcends the boundaries of the basin.

What are the pollution threats to Ganga?

• Rapidly increasing population, rising standards of living and exponential growth of industrialization and urbanization have exposed water resources to various forms of degradation.
• The deterioration in the water quality of Ganga impacts the people immediately.
• Ganga has become unfit even for bathing during lean seasons.
• The impacts of infrastructural projects in the upper reaches of the river Ganga raise issues.

Salient features of "Namami Gange" programme

• Over Rs. 20,000 crore has been sanctioned in the 2014-2015 budget for the next 5 years.
• Will cover 8 states, 47 towns & 12 rivers under the project.
• Over 1,632-gram panchayats on the banks of Ganga to be made open defecation-free by 2022.
• Several ministries are working with nodal Water Resources Ministry for this project includes - Environment, Urban Development, Shipping, Tourism and Rural Development Ministries.
• Prime focus will be on involving people living on the river's banks in this project.
• Under the aegis of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) & State Program Management Groups (SPMGs) States and Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions will be involved in this project.
• Setting river-centric urban planning process to facilitate better citizen connects, through interventions at Ghats and Riverfronts.
• Expansion of coverage of sewerage infrastructure in 118 urban habitations on banks of Ganga.
• Development of rational agricultural practices & efficient irrigation methods.
• Ganga Knowledge Centre.

Key Functions

To achieve the objectives, NMCG shall carry out the following key functions namely:

• Implement the work program of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
• Implement the World Bank supported National Ganga River Basin Project.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of projects sanctioned by Government of India under NGRBA.
• Undertake any additional work or functions as may be assigned by Ministry of Water Resources, Rural development & GJ in the area of conservation of river Ganga.
• Make rules and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the NMCG and add or amend, vary or rescind them from time to time.
• Accept or to provide any grant of money, loan securities or property of any kind and to undertake and accept the management of any endowment trust, fund or donation not inconsistent with the objectives of NMCG.
• Take all such action and to enter all such actions as may appear necessary or incidental for the achievements of the objectives of the NGRBA.

The main pillars of Namami Gange Programme are:

1. Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
2. River-Front Development
3. River-Surface Cleaning
4. Bio-Diversity
5. Afforestation
6. Public Awareness
7. Industrial Effluent Monitoring
8. Ganga Gram

About National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• NMCG is the implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council).
• It was established in the year 2011 as a registered society under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee.
• Both of the tiers are headed by the Director General (DG), NMCG.
• Executive Committee is authorized to approve projects under mission up to Rs 1000 crore.
• Similar to structure at national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State Ganga Committees.
• This structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.
• In October 2016, National Ganga Council has replaced National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986.

National Sports Development Fund

About National Sports Development Fund:

• The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established in 1998, under Charitable Endowments Act 1890, vide Government of India Notification dated 12th November 1998.
• The NSDF supports sportspersons to excel in the field by providing opportunities to train under coaches of international repute with technical, scientific and psychological support and also in getting exposure to international competitions.
• Financial assistance is also provided to specific projects for promotion of sports and games sponsored by reputed Organizations/Institutes, provided the facilities so created are made available to a sizeable population of the area/region.

OBJECTIVES

• To administer and apply the moneys of the Fund for promotion of sports in general and specific sports disciplines and individual sports persons in particular for achieving excellence at the National and International level;
• To impart special training and coaching in relevant sports disciplines to sports persons, coaches and sports specialists;
• To construct and maintain infrastructure for promotion of sports and games;
• To supply sports equipment to organizations and individuals for promotion of sports and games;
• To identify problems and take up research and development studies for providing support to excellence in sports;
• To promote international cooperation, in particular, exchanges which may promote the development of sports; and
• To provide low interest or interest free loans for projects and activities related to any of the aforesaid objects.

Background:

• Excellent performance in Olympics and other international sports events has become a matter of national prestige and pride and also an indication of quality of development.
• When we take an overall view, the performance of India in such events has not been optimal.
• Absence of sports culture, the lack of sufficient facilities like qualified coaches/specialists, sports infrastructure and inadequate sponsors to sportspersons for their training/coaching have been found to be some of the reasons for the sub-optimal performance. National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) has been created to bridge this gap.
• NSDF aims to mobilizing resources from Government as well as non-government organizations and individuals to provide required support for promotion of specific sports disciplines and improving performance of Indian sports in the major international events.
• Institutions, government and non-government organizations exclusively dealing with promotion of sports and individual sportspersons of outstanding ability will be eligible for getting financial assistance from NSDF for specific projects.