IASbaba Press Information Bureau (PIB) – 21st May to 28th May 2017

ARCHIVES

GS-2

Proposal to increase seats in Sikkim Legislative Assembly

(Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.)

• In 2016, SC had directed MHA to decision in matter of ‘Reservation of Seats for Limboo and Tamang community in Sikkim Legislative Assembly meetings.
• After consultations, it was decided that seats in SLA should be increased from 32 to 40 and provide 5 seats for Limboo and Tamang community.
• The proposal requires amendments to sec 7(1A) of RPA 1950 whereby total number of seats to be filled by persons chosen by direct elections shall have 40 members in place of existing 32 members.
• There will be amendments to second schedule to RPA 1950 where there will be 40 seats, reserving 5 for Limboo and Tamang while existing reservations of Bhutias, Lepchas, SCs and Sanghas.
• Section A of RPA 1951 will be amended to provide that, in case of a seat reserved for Limboo and Tamang tribe, he is to be member of Limboo and Tamang tribe specified in Representation of Sikkim subjects Act, 1974 and elector or an assembly constituency in state.

SEWA App

(Topics: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.)

What: Ministry for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines launched the Saral Eindhan Vitaran Application (SEVA) App. It is developed in-house by Coal India Limited (CIL) for power sector consumers.

• SEVA is a part of ‘Digital India’ initiative, which is aimed at increasing the Consumer Connect as well as the Transparency and Accountability in Coal dispatch.
• With this app, the common man would be able to hold the Government accountable for the coal linkage allocations and would be able to check any pilferage or inefficiencies in coal consumption for power generation.
• This would, in turn, lead to rationalization of coal linkages and finally reduction in the power prices in the country. In near future , non-power sector mines would also be added in this App.

Software Procurement Policy

(Topics: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.)

What:

• The transformation under the overall Digital India initiative is creating huge opportunities for involvement of industry/private sector, mainly providers of IT/IT enabled systems and services.
• However, various concerns have been raised from time to time by the industry relating to their engagements (and contracts) with government funded projects.
• These issues include terms of payments, acceptance criteria, service level agreement and change management etc.

Model RFP

There was a need of a model RFP to guide all the organizations across governments, so as to avoid all variations, vagaries and uncertainties. Hence, a model RFP has been attempted based on intensive deliberations with the industry and other stakeholders.

Major features

• Level playing field, to all stakeholders by defining appropriate pre-qualification and technical evaluation criterion.
• Aligning legal terms and conditions with the requirements of the IT Industry
  • Template for scope of work and service level agreements
  • Change request mechanisms
  • Dispute resolution
  • Standard contractual terms & conditions
  • Standardization of Intellectual property rights
  • Capping the liability, penalty and liquidated damages
• Making payment terms, objective and easier, for industry and Government Department
  • Guidance on simplifying payment related conditions
  • Incorporating the Exchange rate variations
• Converging Government schemes like Make in India / Preference for Domestically Manufactured Electronic Goods (PMA), provisions for Start-ups and MSMEs
• Leveraging latest technologies like cloud, mobiles, etc.
• Aligned with the General Financial Rule 2017
• Adherence to the latest standards

Digital India Corporation

(Topics: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.)

Digital India Corporation (DIC) will lead and guide in realizing the vision, objectives and goals of the Digital India program.

It will provide the strategic support to Ministries/Departments of Centre/States for carrying forward the mission of Digital India by way of Capacity Building for e-Governance projects, promoting best practises, encouraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), nurturing innovation and technology in various domains.

Broad responsibilities include

• Provide leadership and support to Government of India through MEITY
• Support MEITY in all its initiatives with policy and implementation related issues
• Support crafting progressive e-Governance strategies, to promote Accountability, Efficiency, Efficacy and Transparency.
• Source and make available specialized technically skilled manpower for hardware, software, networks, cyber security and laws, standards, quality and testing etc. In ICT domain to Ministries/Deptts
• Promote innovation and evolve models for empowerment of citizens
• Establish the National e-Governance Academy and to put in place an institutional mechanism for capacity building of government and its agencies

GS-3

Dhola-Sadiya: A Bridge of New Hope for the North East

(Topic: Infrastructure)

• Dhola- Sadiya Bridge in Assam is a 9.15 kilometre bridge built over river Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, linking Dhola to Sadiya in Assam.
• Till now, the only means to cross the Brahmaputra at this location has been by ferry only in day-time and even this is not possible during floods.
• The last bridge over the Brahmaputra was the Kalia Bhomora Bridge at Tejpur. The Dhola-Sadiya bridge will fill a huge connectivity gap that has existed in the region.
• The bridge will also reduce the distance from Rupai on NH- 37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165 KM.
• The travel time between the two places will come down from the current six hours to just one hour – a total five hour reduction. This will result in saving of petrol and diesel worth Rs 10 Lakh per day.