Environment
Government releases Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Desertification and Drought day + Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India. + UNCCD) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Desertification and Drought day was commemorated by the Ministry, with an aim to generate large scale awareness towards understanding the key role of land in all environmental and economic concerns, that world, as well as India is facing now-a days.

Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India.

• On the occasion, Environment Ministry released the latest version of "Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India.
• It has been published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.
• The Atlas provides state wise area of degraded lands for the time frame 2018-19. It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05 to 2018-19.
• The salient findings of this Atlas are not only useful as a ready reference, but, will also be helpful in strengthening the envisaged National Action Plan for achieving land restoration targets by providing important baseline and temporal data and technical inputs.
• The event also observed release of Coffee Table Book "India Hosting UNCCD-COP 14" and a short film on UNCCD-COP 14.
• The commemoration of this event encourages individuals and groups to take initiatives that can keep the land healthy and productive.
• India hosted the 14th session of Conference of Parties (COP 14) of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.
• India is striving towards achieving the national commitments of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and restoration of 26 Million ha of degraded land by 2030 which focus on sustainable and optimum utilisation of land resources.
• India has been at the forefront of bringing the issue of land degradation to the core of relevant international alliances for protection and conservation of environment.
• The government of India has adopted collective approach for making progress towards achieving the national commitments related to land restoration.

Know! about UNFCC

• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
• The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
• The new UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework is the most comprehensive global commitment to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land, improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people, and reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build
• The Convention's 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
• The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation.
• The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.
• As the dynamics of land, climate and biodiversity are intimately connected, the UNCCD collaborates closely with the other two Rio Conventions; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources.

Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) has been defined by the Parties to the Convention as:

• A state whereby the amount and quality of land resources, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable or increases within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems.
• To date, over 120 countries have engaged with the LDN Target Setting Programme and considerable progress has been made since the 2030 Agenda was adopted in 2015.
• LDN represents a paradigm shift in land management policies and practices.
• It is a unique approach that counterbalances the expected loss of productive land with the recovery of degraded areas.
• It strategically places the measures to conserve, sustainably manage and restore land in the context of land use planning.

Defence
INDIAN ARMY CONDUCTS RAIL TRIALS ON DEDICATED FREIGHT CORRIDOR (DFC)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DFC and DFCCIL) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development +securing border areas - role of railways )
What's the NEWS

• The recently developed "Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)" by the Indian Railways provides faster movement of freight across the Country.

Know! more about this new approach

• The Indian Army conducted a successful trial by moving a military train loaded with vehicles and equipment from New Rewari to New Phulera validating the efficacy of the DFC.
• The intricate and synchronised coordination by the Indian Army with Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) and Indian Railways will significantly enhance the mobilisation capability of the Armed Forces.
• These trials were part of the "Whole of the Nation Approach" for optimising national resources and achieve seamless synergy among various ministries and departments.
• Interactions by the Indian Army with all stakeholders including DFCCIL & Indian Railways will now assist in leveraging the DFC and allied infrastructure into the mobilisation matrix of Armed Forces.
• Development of infrastructure at certain locations to support mobilisation and trials to validate move of defence owned rolling stock on Roll On-Roll Off (RO-RO) service is being formalised and modalities are being evolved.
• These trials herald the first step in this process to pave the way for enhancing the operational readiness of Armed Forces.
• This initiative would set in place processes to ensure that military requirements are dovetailed in the national infrastructure development at the planning stage itself.

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)

• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Railways with the responsibility to undertake planning, development, and mobilisation of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the "Dedicated Freight Corridors" (DFC).
• The DFCCIL was registered as a company under the Companies Act 1956 in 2006.
• First 2 DFCs , Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to JNPT in Mumbai and
• Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal,
• These two DFC's will decongest railway network by moving 70% of India's goods train to these two corridors, are both on track for completion by June 2022. 99% required land for these two have been acquired, and 56% of WDFC and 60% of EDFC is complete as of July 2020.
• It is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India schemes, such as Industrial corridor, Make in India, Startup India, Standup India, Sagarmala, Bharatmala, UDAN-RCS, Digital India, BharatNet.

Defence
Defence Minister dedicates to the nation 12 roads, built by BRO, in Northern & Eastern border areas

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about BRO and its projects and location)
What's the NEWS

• The Defence Minister dedicated to the nation 12 roads, built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the Northern and Eastern border areas
• At an event organised in Lakhimpur district of Assam, the Raksha Mantri e-inaugurated a 20-km long double lane Kimin-Potin road, along with nine other roads in Arunachal Pradesh and one each in the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
• The roads have been constructed under ‘Arunank', ‘Vartak', ‘Brahmank', ‘Udayak', ‘Himank' and ‘Sampark' projects of BRO.
• The roads inaugurated today hold strategic and socio-economic importance as they will play an important role in strengthening national security as well as promoting development of the North-East region.
• These roads will be helpful in fulfilling the needs of our Armed Forces and transporting necessities like medicines and ration to remote areas
• These road projects are part of the ‘Act East Policy' of the Government wherein special emphasis is being laid on the overall development of the border areas.

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.
• The BRO undertakes projects in India and friendly countries. These projects typically include developing roads, bridges, and airfields in hostile environments shunned by private enterprises, whether due to security concerns related to hostilities, or because of environmental challenges.
• This includes infrastructure operations in 19 states and three union territories (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
• The BRO was formed on 7 May 1960 to secure India's borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-east states of the country.
• In order to ensure coordination and expeditious execution of projects, the Government of India set up the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) with the Prime Minister as Chairman of the Board and Defence Minister as Deputy Chairman.
• In a bid to boost border connectivity, 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.
• The organisation's operations are spread across India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
• The BRO includes 18 projects, which are divided into Task Forces, Road Construction Companies (RCCs), Bridge Construction Companies (BCCs), Drain Maintenance Companies (DMCs), and Platoons.
• In June 2021, the "Centre of Excellence for Road Safety & Awareness" and "Centre of Excellence for Roads, Bridges, Air Fields and Tunnels" were set up.

During Peace

• To develop and maintain the operational road infrastructure of General Staff (GS) roads in the border areas.
• To contribute to the socio-economic development of the border states.

During War

• To develop and maintain roads to keep line of control through in original sectors and re-deployed sectors.
• To execute additional tasks as laid down by the government contributing to the war effort.
• BRO is entrusted for construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, causeways, helipads and airfields.
• The BRO is also in charge of maintenance of its road networks.

Cyber Awareness
Operationalisation of Helpline 155260 and Reporting Platform for preventing financial loss due to cyber fraud

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the National Helpline and Reporting Platform + Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System+ Mains ( GS III Cyber security)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Home Ministry has operationalised the national Helpline 155260 and Reporting Platform for preventing financial loss due to cyber fraud.

Know! about the reporting platform

• The National Helpline and Reporting Platform provides a mechanism for persons cheated in cyber frauds to report such cases to prevent loss of their hard earned money
• The Helpline was soft launched on April 01, 2021. The Helpline155260 and its Reporting Platform has been made operational by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with active support and cooperation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), all major banks, Payment Banks, Wallets and Online Merchants.

Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System

• It has been developed in house by I4C to integrate Law Enforcement Agencies and Banks and Financial Intermediaries.
• It is currently being utilized along with 155260 by seven States and Union Territories (Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh) covering more than 35 per cent of the country's population.
• The facility empowers both the banks and the police, by leveraging new-age technologies for sharing online fraud related information and taking action in almost real time.
• The loss of defrauded money in online cheating cases can be stopped by chasing the money trail and stopping its further flow before it is taken out of the digital ecosystem by the fraudster.

The Helpline and its associated platform operate on the following workflow:
a. Victims of cyber fraud call on Helpline no. 155260, which is manned and operated by the concerned State Police.
b. The Police operator notes down the fraud transaction details and basic personal information of the caller and submits them in the form of a Ticket on the Citizen Financial Cyber Frauds Reporting and Management System.
c. The Ticket gets escalated to the concerned Banks, Wallets, Merchants and so on, depending on whether they are the victim's bank or the bank/wallet in which the defrauded money has gone.
d. An SMS is also sent to the victim with an acknowledgement number of the complaint with direction to submit complete details of the fraud on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in/) within 24 hours, using the acknowledgement number.
e. The concerned Bank, which can now see the ticket on its dashboard on the Reporting Portal, checks the details in its internal systems.
f. If the defrauded money is still available, the Bank puts it on hold, ie., the fraudster cannot withdraw the money. If the defrauded money has moved out to another Bank, the Ticket gets escalated to the next Bank to which the money has moved out. This process is repeated until the money is saved from reaching into the hands of the fraudsters.

Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)

• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C or ICCCC) is a government initiative to deal with cybercrime in India, in a coordinated and effective manner.
• It is affiliated to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• The scheme was approved in October 2018 with a proposed amount of Rs.415.86 crore (US$58 million).
• In June 2020, on the recommendation of I4C, the Government of India banned 59 Chinese origin mobile apps.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has 7 components which are

• National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit (TAU)
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
• National Cyber Crime Training Centre
• Cyber Crime Ecosystem Management Unit
• National Cyber Crime Research and Innovation Centre
• National Cyber Crime Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) Ecosystem
• Platform for Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Team

National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in)

• It is a citizen-centric initiative that will enable citizens to report cyber crimes online through the portal.
• All the cyber crime related complaints will be accessed by the concerned law enforcement agencies in the States and Union Territories for taking action as per law.
• This portal was launched on pilot basis on 30^th August, 2019 and it enables filing of all cyber crimes with specific focus on crimes against women, children, particularly child pornography, child sex abuse material, online content pertaining to rapes/gang rapes, etc.

Prelims Factoids
Government Sets target of Reducing Road Accident Deaths by 50% by Year 2024

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the session -highlights + about Safar by FICCI + about black spot)
What's the NEWS

• Minister for Road Transport & Highways sets a target to reduce road accident deaths by 50% by year 2024.
• A virtual session on Role of Corporates in Arresting Road Fatalities' has been organised by FICCI
• FICCI announced the Road Safety consortium ‘Safar', based on the safe system approach and release of a white paper on road safety for the corporate world.

Black spot

• During the session the Minister for Road Transport & Highways emphasised on the need for identification of ‘black spot' in every state, district and city.
• The Minister said that the World Bank and ADB have already sanctioned a scheme by which the Government is allocating Rs.14,000 crores for states, NHAI and other stakeholders to remove black spots.
• Theis striving hard to reduce the road accident deaths by restructuring and strengthening four ‘E' of road safety, that are, Engineering (including road and automobile engineering), Economy, Enforcement and Education.
• The Minister pointed out that 50% of the road accidents are due to road engineering problems and now the government has taken special initiatives to improve the black spot.
• This will greatly contribute towards the vision of ‘zero road accident' in India.

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