Defence
COMMENCEMENT OF SEA TRIALS OF INDIGENOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER (IAC(P71)) ‘VIKRANT'

IN - Prelims ( all about Vikrant ) + Mains ( GS III indigenization of technology and developing new + Security challenges and their management in border areas)

What's the NEWS

• IAC is a leading example of the nation's quest for "Atma Nirbhar Bharat" with more than 76% indigenous content.
• This is the maiden attempt of the Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier.
• Only five or six nations currently have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft carrier - India joins this elite club now.
• India's earlier aircraft carriers were either built by the British or the Russians.
• The INS Vikramaditya, currently the Navy's only aircraft carrier that was commissioned in 2013, started out as the Soviet-Russian Admiral Gorshkov.
• The country's two earlier carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat, were originally the British-built HMS Hercules and HMS Hermes before being commissioned into the Navy in 1961 and 1987 respectively.
• Vikrant is expected to be inducted into the Navy in 2022.

Know! about the name INS Vikrant

• It is named after INS Vikrant, which played a decisive role in the 1971 war.
• INS Vikrant, a Majestic-class 19,500-tonne warship, was the name of India's first aircraft carrier
• It was decommissioned in 1997.
• India acquired the Vikrant from the United Kingdom in 1961
• The carrier played a stellar role in the 1971 war with Pakistan that led to the birth of Bangladesh.

Know! all about IAC P71

• The basic design of the IAC has been developed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy and the entire detailed engineering, construction and system integration is undertaken by Cochin Shipyard Limited , a Public Sector Shipyard under Ministry of Shipping(MoS).
• The shipyard carried out the detailed engineering of the ship using advanced software which enabled the designer to get a complete 3D view of the compartments of the ship.
• It is the first time in the country that a ship of the size of an Aircraft Carrier is completely modeled in 3D and production drawings extracted from the 3D model.
• The IAC is the largest war ship built in the country having a displacement of about 40,000 tonnes.
• The ship is a mammoth steel structure of 21,500 tonnes of special grade steel developed indigenously and used in Indian Naval Ships for the first time.
• The Aircraft Carrier is a mini floating city, with a flight deck area covering the size of two football fields.
• The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is 262 m long, 62 m at the widest part and height of 59 m including the superstructure.
• ‘Vikrant' has a top speed of around 28 knots and cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.
• There are 14 decks in all, including five in the superstructure.
• The ship has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.
• The ship can accommodate an assortment of fixed wing and rotary aircraft.
• It will operate the Russian-made MiG-29K fighter aircraft and Kamov-31 Air Early Warning Helicopters, both of which are already in use on the Vikramaditya.
• It also operate the soon-to-be-inducted MH-60R Seahawk multirole helicopter manufactured by the American and the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) built by Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

INS Vikrant (20+ years in making)

• 1999: Project ‘P71' to build Air Defence Ship (ADS) cleared
• 2003: Aircraft Carrier project gets government nod
• 2006: Navy says ADS changed to Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
• 2009: Keel laid
• 2011: Floated out of dry dock
• 2013: Launched
• Nov 2020: Harbour and basin trials completed
• Aug 2021: Sea trials begin
• Next: Shipbuilder will continue sea trials over the next 6-7 months; then hand over IAC-1 to Navy for trials
• Aug 2022: Expected to be commissioned. Trials of aircraft and component parts will follow.

Know! also about INS Vishal (Proposed)

• Since 2015, the Navy has been seeking approval to build a third aircraft carrier for the country, which, if approved, will become India's second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2).
• This proposed carrier, to be named INS Vishal, is intended to be a giant 65,000-tonne vessel, much bigger than IAC-1 and the INS Vikramaditya.

Infrastructure Development
Second Phase of Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project (DRIP)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DRIP phase II - highlights) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development + environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

• The Government of India today signed a $250 million loan agreement with World Bank for the Second Phase of Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP Phase II) to make existing dams and communities safe and resilient across India.
• The new Scheme, DRIP Phase II, co-financed by World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with US$250 million each, covers large dams in 19 states of the country.

This DRIP Phase II -highlights

• It is the first phase of externally aided DRIP Phase II and Phase III, approved by Government of India in October 2020.
• The Scheme has the participation of nineteen (19) States and three (3) Central Agencies.
• The Budget Outlay for both Phases is Rs 10,211 Cr for an implementation period of ten (10) years.
• The Scheme will be implemented in two Phases, each of six years' duration, with two years' overlap.
• This new Scheme will strengthen dam safety initiatives taken by Government of India through physical rehabilitation of selected dams by addressing various concerns to improve safety and operational performance, institutional strengthening in various ways, incidental revenue generation for sustainable operation & maintenance of dams etc.
• The programme will enable states and dam owners to extend these safety protocols and activities beyond the selected dams to all other dams within their jurisdiction
• This programme complements the provisions in the Dam Safety Bill 2019, by ensuring capacity building of the dam owners as well as the proposed regulators, as well as creating necessary protocols for dam safety.
• India ranks third globally after China and the United States of America, with 5334 large dams in operation.
• In addition, about 411 dams are under construction at present. There are also several thousand smaller dams.
• The first phase of the DRIP programme, which covered 223 dams in 7 states, improved the safety and operational performance of selected dams, along with institutional strengthening through a system wide management approach, has been recently closed in March 2021.

Join the dots (October 2020)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & Phase III with the financial assistance of the World Bank (WB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to improve the safety and operational performance of selected dams across the whole country, along with institutional strengthening with system wide management approach.
• The project cost is Rs 10,211 crore. The Project will be implemented over a period of 10 years duration in two Phases, each of six years duration with two years overlapping from April, 2021 to March, 2031.
• The share of external funding is Rs 7,000 crore of the total project cost, and balance Rs 3,211 crore is to be borne by the concerned Implementing Agencies (IAs).
• The contribution of Central Government is Rs 1,024 crore as loan liability and Rs 285 crore as counter-part funding for Central Component.

DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages the following objectives:-

• To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.
• To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at central level, and
• To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams

To achieve the above objectives, DRIP Phase II & Phase III has following components:

• Rehabilitation and improvement of dams and associated appurtenances,
• Dam safety institutional strengthening in participating States and Central agencies,
• Exploration of alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams, and
• Project management.

Governance
Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about FTSCs) + Mains ( GS II good governance)
What's the NEWS

• Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of 1023 Fast Track Special Court (FTSCs) including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from 01.04.2021 to 31.03.2023 with an outlay of Rs. 1572.86 crore (Rs.971.70 crore as Central Share and Rs.601.16 crore as State share).
• Central Share is to be funded from Nirbhaya Fund.
• The Scheme was launched on 02.10.2019.

Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs)

• To bring more stringent provisions and expeditious trial and disposal of such cases, the Central Government enacted "The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018" and made provision of stringent punishment including death penalty for perpetrators of rape.
• This led to the establishment of the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs).
• Fast Track Special Courts are dedicated courts expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice.
• They have a better clearance rate as compared to the regular courts and hold speedy trials.
• Besides providing quick justice to the hapless victims, it strengthens the deterrence framework for sexual offenders.
• Currently covering 28 States, it is proposed to be expanded to cover all 31 states which are eligible to join the Scheme.
• It is supporting the efforts of State/UT Governments for providing time bound justice to hapless victims of sexual offences in the country including the remote and far - flung areas.

The expected outcomes of the scheme are as follows:

• Further the commitment of the Nation to champion the cause of safety and security of women and girl child.
• Reduce the number of pending cases of Rape & POCSO Act.
• Provide speedy access to justice to the victims of sexual crimes and act as a deterrent for sexual offenders.
• Fastracking of these cases will declog the judicial system of the burden of case pendency

NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog and RMI Release a Report on Power Distribution Sector

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the report highlights) + Mains ( GS II infrastructure development -reforms taken in power sector)
What's the NEWS

• NITI Aayog released a report that presents reform pathways that can transform the country's power distribution sector, in a step towards improving policymaking in this area.
• The report, titled Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector, is co-authored by NITI Aayog, RMI and RMI India

Know! about the report highlights (Challenges and suggestive measures)

• Most power distribution companies (discoms) in India incur losses every year
• Due to these accumulated losses, discoms are unable to pay generators on time, make investments required to ensure high-quality power, or prepare for greater use of variable renewable energy.
• This report examines many important reforms, such as the role of the private sector in distribution, power procurement, regulatory oversight, integration of renewable energy, and upgradation of infrastructure
• The report is divided into chapters focusing on structural reforms, regulatory reforms, operational reforms, managerial reforms, and renewable energy integration.
• This report presents policymakers with a menu of reform options to put the distribution sector on the track of efficiency and profitability.
• NITI will partner with some of the states to take these reforms forward.'
• A robust and long-lasting solution to the woes of the discoms requires changes in policy as well as organisational, managerial, and technological reforms.
• NITI Aayog has proposed greater operational and financial autonomy for state-owned utilities
• There should be a clear separation between the state and utility for the latter to succeed.
• The utility should have operational and financial autonomy.
• Good corporate governance practices, including the use of independent directors, can help ensure such separation

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI India)

• RMI India is an independent non profit organization that works towards accelerating India's transition to a clean, prosperous, and inclusive energy future.
• It engages with government, industry, and civil-society leaders to design innovative policy frameworks and market solutions to support India's clean energy and mobility transformation in order to enhance lives and livelihoods of all Indians.
• RMI India takes inspiration from and collaborates with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), USA.

Prelims Factoids
BRO constructs highest motorable road in the world in Eastern Ladakh

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Umlingla Pass + about BRO)
What's the NEWS

• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and black-topped the highest motorable road in the world at 19,300 ft at Umlingla Pass in Eastern Ladakh, creating a record in high-altitude road construction.
• It has constructed a 52-km long tarmac road through Umlingla Pass, bettering the previous record of a road in Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at 18,953 ft.

• The road now connects the important towns in Chumar sector of Eastern Ladakh.
• It will prove to be a boon to the local population as it offers an alternate direct route connecting Chisumle and Demchok from Leh.
• It will enhance the socio-economic condition and promote tourism in Ladakh.

• The road has been constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base Camps as the South Base Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 ft, while North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft.
• The road has been constructed much above the altitude of Siachen Glacier which is at 17,700 ft. The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of 17,582 ft.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

• It is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to and is a part of the Indian Armed Forces.
• BRO develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighbouring countries.
• This includes infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
• BRO has been entirely brought under the Ministry of Defence in 2015. Earlier it received funds from the Ministry of Surface Transport under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

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