Science and Technology/Cyber awareness/GSIII
India-ITU Joint Cyberdrill 2021 commences
 

What's the NEWS

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have commenced India-ITU Joint Cyberdrill 2021.
• This Cyberdrill is intended for Indian entities especially Critical Network Infrastructure operators.
• It is a four days virtual event starting from 30 November to 3 December 2021.
• More than 400 participants participated from critical sectors, namely, power, insurance, finance, CERT-In and CSIRT, industry, academia, telecom service providers and field units of DoT.

• India has secured 10th rank in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI).

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies.
• It was established in 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, making it among the oldest international organizations still in operation.
• On 15 November 1947, the ITU entered into an agreement with the newly created United Nations to become a specialized agency within the UN system, which formally entered into force on 1 January 1949.
• The ITU promotes the shared global use of the radio spectrum, facilitates international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, assists in developing and coordinating worldwide technical standards, and works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.
• It is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks.
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU's global membership includes 193 countries and around 900 business, academic institutions, and international and regional organizations.

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Science & Technology informed that the first batch of 23 scientists and support staff reached the Maitri station on November 10, 2021 under the 41^st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) launched recently.

• The Expedition will carry out various scientific activities in Antarctica, besides maintaining India's two research stations viz Maitri and Bharati.

• The first encompasses geological exploration of the Amery ice shelf at Bharati station to understanding the geological link between India and Antarctica in the past.
• The second goal involves ice core drilling work near the Maitri station, focusing primarily towards improving the understanding of Antarctic climate, westerly winds, sea ice and greenhouse gases.
• Apart from these, other long-term observations in the field of geology, glaciology, ocean observations, and upper atmospheric sciences are continuing.

• Accelerating to record registrations the E-shram portal,the National Database of Unorganized Workers (UWs) which was launched on 26th August 2021 ,today crossed the mark of ten crores.

• Ministry of Labour & Employment launched the eSHRAM portal (www.eshram.gov.in) for creating a National Database of Unorganized Workers (UWs) including construction workers, migrant workers, gig workers and platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, agriculture workers, etc on 26th August 2021.
• eSHRAM portal seeded with Aadhar will be used to deliver all the social security benefits of the Central and State Governments for the unorganized workers.
• All eligible registered workers on eSHRAM portal gets an Accidental Insurance cover of 2 Lacs under PMSBY from the date of issue of policy.
• Government of India has provided registration facilities at doorstep of the unorganized worker.
• Common Service Centers (CSCs) are working as enrollment agency through its over 4 lakh centers across the the country.
• State Governments have also been on boarded over 17,337 State Seva Kendras with e-SHRAM portal to extend the outreach of the registration facility.
• The worker have also facility to self register through visiting on the eSHRAM Portal.
• Around 81 % registration is being done by CSC & SSKs and remaining 19 % through self registration.
• Nearly, 48 % registered workers are male and remaining 52 % workers are female. Transgender are also being registered on eSHRAM Portal.

• Under e-SHRAM Portal, the occupation of the worker is being captured to provide identity to the workers with their occupations.
• It will facilitate Governments to devise social security welfare schemes to the all the segments of the unorganised workers.
• There are 30 broad sector categories activities and 190 broad families of occupations and around 400 occupations.
• Occupation is based on the National Classification of Occupation 2015.

• Agriculture
• Construction
• Domestic and Household Workers
• Apparel
• Miscellaneous
• Capital Goods & Manufacturing
• Automobile & Transportation
• Education
• Tobacco Industry
• Healthcare

• The Lok Sabha passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020, which proposes the establishment of a national registry and registration authority for all clinics and medical professionals serving in the field.

• The ART bill, which was approved by the Union Cabinet last year, seeks to set minimum standards and codes of conduct for fertility clinics and egg/sperm banks.
• The bill provides for the "safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services", including egg or sperm donation, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and gestational surrogacy.
• The bill also aims to introduce protections for egg donors, gestational surrogates, and children conceived through ART services.
• Offences under the bill include clinics offering sex selection, abandoning or exploiting children born through ART, the selling, buying, or importing of human embryos, and exploiting the couple or donors concerned in any form.
• Proposed jail terms for violations range from five to 12 years, and fines from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.
• Once the Bill is enacted by the Parliament, the Central Government shall notify the date of the commencement of the Act. Consequently, the National Board will be constituted.

Know! the role of National Board

• The National Board shall lay down a code of conduct to be observed by persons working at clinics, to set the minimum standards of physical infrastructure, laboratory and diagnostic equipment and expert manpower to be employed by clinics and banks.
• The states and Union Territories shall constitute the State Boards and State Authorities within three months of the notification by the Central government.
• The State Board shall have the responsibility to follow the policies and plans laid by the National Board for clinics and banks in the state.
• The Bill also provides for National Registry and Registration Authority to maintain a Central database and assist the National Board in its functioning.
• The Bill also proposes a stringent punishment for those practising sex selection, sale of human embryos or gametes, running agencies/rackets/organisations for such unlawful practices.
• A child born through ART will be deemed to be a biological child of the commissioning couple and will be entitled to the rights and privileges available to a natural child of the commissioning couple.
• A donor will not have any parental rights over the child.

• Exclusion of single parents and the LGTBQ community from using this procedure.
• According to the adoption rules of 2017, single men cannot adopt a girl and that is why they can not avail of this Bill's benefits.

• India has today joined the G20 Troika, which consists of Indonesia, Italy, and India - the current, previous and incoming G20 Presidencies, respectively.
• With this move, India has started the procedure for taking over the G20 presidency next year.

• Troika refers to the top grouping within the G20 that consists of the current, previous and the incoming presidencies - Indonesia, Italy and India
• The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, which reflects a recognition that global prosperity is interdependent and our economic opportunities and challenges are interlinked.
• G20 countries have come together to better prepare for the future.
• As a founding member of the G20, India has used the platform to raise issues of vital importance and those that impact on the most vulnerable around the world.
• Indonesia assumed the G20 Presidency on Thursday and will convene various G20 meetings throughout the year, culminating with the G20 Leaders' summit on 30-31 October 2022 under the overall theme of "Recover Together Recover Stronger".
• As a Troika-member, India will work closely with Indonesia and Italy to ensure consistency and continuity of the G20's agenda.
• India will assume the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022 from Indonesia, and will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time in India in 2023.

• National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 provides for setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) to build the nation's capacity to provide equitable quality education for all girls as well as transgender students.
• The above objectives of NEP for Equitable and quality education for girls and transgender children are being met through specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0 by allocating dedicated resources for SEDGs.

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