What's the NEWS

• RISAT-2B, the satellite due to be launched before dawn on May 22 from Sriharikota, will mark the resumption of a vital ring of Indian all-seeing radar imaging satellites after seven years.
• At least a half-dozen could be foreseen in the near future, mainly to add to the reconnaissance capability from about 500 km in space. A constellation of such space-based radars means a comprehensive vigil over the country.
• RISAT-2B is to be followed by RISAT-2BR1, 2BR2, RISAT-1A, 1B, 2A and so on. ISRO orbited its first two radar satellites in 2009 and 2012, it plans to deploy four or five of them in 2019 alone.

• When it is cloudy or dark, ‘regular' remote-sensing or optical imaging satellites - which work like a light-dependent camera - cannot perceive hidden or surreptitious objects on the ground.\Satellites that are equipped with an active sensor, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR), can sense or ‘observe' Earth in a special way from space day and night, rain or cloud. This all-weather seeing feature is what makes them special for security forces and disaster relief agencies.

• A radar imaging satellite is complex to assemble. Interpreting its images is equally complex. ISRO took almost 10 years to realise RISAT-1
• It sends much heavier data than plain remote sensing satellites.
• Radar imaging satellites pick up structures, new bunkers very well, and sometimes help to count them, too.
• In India we also use radar imaging for crop estimation because our main crop growing season of kharif is in May-September when it rains and gets cloudy. We have used this data extensively for forestry, soil, land use, geology and during floods and cyclone."

• Launch would take place from first launch pad and the 300 kg RISAT-2B will be placed into an orbit of 555 km with an inclination of 37 degree to the equator.
• This is the fourth flight unit of the RISAT programme and it would be used for reconnaissance, strategic surveillance and disaster management.
• The satellite has a mass of 615 kg and feature an X-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar). It is built for a 5 year operational life.
• RISAT 2B, RISAT 2BR1 and RISAT 2BR2 will be launched in 2019 on Indian PSLV launch vehicles.
• Regular remote-sensing or optical imaging satellites work like a light-dependent camera that cannot perceive hidden or surreptitious objects in cloudy or dark conditions.
• Satellites that are equipped with an active sensor, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR), can sense or ‘observe' Earth in a special way from space day and night, rain or cloud.
• A radar imaging satellite is complex to assemble. Interpreting its images is equally complex.
• It will mark the resumption of a vital ring of Indian all-seeing radar imaging satellites after seven years.
• It will add to the reconnaissance capability from about 500 km in space. A constellation of such space-based radars means a comprehensive vigil over the country.

What's the NEWS

• The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) proposed a Rs. 7500 crore plan to give a strong push to Artificial Intelligence in India.
• This fund will help to create a new cloud platform and to build new research institutes.

Know! more about the proposal of NITI Aayog

• NITI Aayog requested cabinet Government to invest Rs. 7,500 crore initially over a three year period and set up a high level task force to oversee its roll-out and implementation.
• This whole mission will be monitored by a task force. This task force will be headed by a member of NITI Aayog. However, representation from all ministries and states, experts will also be there in task force.
• NITI Aayog's plan includes investments in 20 ICTAI, 5 CORE, and setting up of AIRAWAT for increasing AI technology in the country.
• Education, healthcare, agriculture, urbanisation and mobility will be the major sectors where artificial intelligence will work.
• According to the NITI Aayog proposal five research centers and 20 AI adoption centres are planned.

Know! about CORE and ICTAI

• International centres for transformational Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI) and Centre of Research Excellence (CORE) are part of the two-tier AI development plan proposed by NITI Aayog in its 2018 discussion paper.
• It was titled ‘National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence'. CORE centres were proposed to focus on pushing technology frontiers through creation of new knowledge.
• While, the International Centres of Transformational AI (ICTAI) were given a mandate to develop and deploy application-based research.

Economic Developments
Nandan Nilekani Committee on Digital Payments submits its report to RBI
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the committee report) + Mains ( GS III economic developments)
What's the NEWS

• Nandan Nilekani-headed High-Level Committee on Deepening of Digital Payments submitted its report to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• The Committee submitted the report after much deliberation with the consultations and various stakeholders.

To merge with the Payment Systems Vision 2021

• The Reserve Bank will now examine the recommendations of the Committee. If necessary, the bank will merge the recommendations with the recently released ‘Payment Systems Vision 2021', published on May 15, 2019.
• The Reserve Bank of India released the 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 - 2021' for safe, secure, quick and affordable e-payment system. The Vision document states 36 specific action points and 12 specific outcomes.
• The main agenda of the document is the 'no-compromise' approach towards safety and security of digital payment systems.

Know! more about the Committee's report

• The RBI constituted a High-Level Committee on Deepening of Digital Payments on January 8, 2018 to encourage digitisation of payments under the Chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, former Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
• It was tasked to review the existing status of digital payments in India, identify the current gaps in the payment system and suggest ways accordingly.
• It assessed the current levels of digital payments in financial inclusion.
• It undertook cross country analyses to identify best practices to be adopted for accelerating digitisation of the economy and boost financial inclusion.
• Accordingly, it recommended measures to strengthen the safety and security of digital payments in its report.
• It also worked on a road map for increasing customer confidence and trust while accessing financial services through digital modes

Bilateral Relations
India delivers a pair of Mi-24 helicopters to Afghanistan
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Mi - 24 helicopters and about India -Afghan relations ) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS

• India recently delivered the first pair of Mi-24 attack helicopters to the Afghan Air Force, enabling the country to bolster its capabilities in counter insurgency operations.
• The helicopters will also enhance the efficiency of the Afghan National Defence and Security Force in combating terrorism.
• The attack helicopters were handed over by Vinay Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, to Acting Defence Minister Asadullah Khalid at the Kabul Air Force base.

Know! more about it

• These Mi-24 helicopters were delivered as replacement against four attack helicopters previously gifted by India to Afghanistan in 2015. These helicopters were purchased by India from Belarus.
• For this purpose, India had signed a Tripartite Agreement to purchase the attack helicopters from Belarus and supply them to Afghanistan. India needs to supply two more such helicopters to Afghanistan.
• The supply of helicopters to Afghanistan comes at a crucial time when the country has been looking for funds and weapons to sustain its defence forces following the announcement of the United States to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan over the next three to five years.

Know! more aspects of the Indo- Afghan relations

• India has been one of the largest donors to Afghanistan. Since 2001, India has committed USD 3 billion in aid to the country.
• India first handed over the Mi-24 helicopters to Afghanistan in December 2015, drawn from the inventory of the Indian Air Force.
• India had also gifted three Cheetal utility helicopters, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), to Afghanistan.

Know! about Mi-24 Helicopter

• The Mi-24 helicopter is a large gunship that is used for carrying out assault and transport missions.
• It has been called "assault helicopter" because of its dual capabilities of firepower and troop-transport.
• The helicopter is produced by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, a Russian designer and producer of helicopters.
• It has been in operations since 1972 by the then Soviet Air Force and over 30 other nations.

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