Governance Community

The startup industry body ADIF stated that the NLCAT ruling upholding Google’s penalty for abusing its dominant position by bundling the Android OS and Play Store with its apps is both real and detrimental to the Indian startup ecosystem. With certain changes, the NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) has upheld the fair-trade regulator CCI’s orders that penalised tech giant Google with a fine of Rs. 1,337.76 crore in the Android mobile devices case. Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) said in a statement that “ADIF welcomes NCLAT order, as it cements the fact that the abusive dominance by Google due to its bundling of Android OS and Play Store with its own apps is real and regressive for Indian startup ecosystem.” According to the startup body, the requirement to pre-install Gmail, Chrome, Search, Maps, and Youtube creates entry barriers, pricing asymmetry, and limits innovation in these segments. Additionally, Google’s agreements with OEMs are anti-competitive in nature and limit market advancements in technology and science, according to ADIF. According to the startup body, “Google lagaan,” which will require app developers to pay up to a 26 percent commission starting on April 26, 2023, is another significant barrier to the growth of Indian startups because it will reduce their ability to sustain themselves by taking a third of their revenue.

An earth science satellite called NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) was jointly created by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States. The satellite’s mission includes designing, developing, and launching a dual-frequency (L and S band) radar imaging satellite as well as exploring newer application areas for L & S band microwave data, particularly in surface deformation studies, terrestrial biomass structure, mapping and monitoring of natural resources, and studies pertaining to the dynamics of ice-sheets, glaciers, forests, and oil slicks, among other things. This information was provided in a written reply to a question asked in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Space, and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh. An Earth observation satellite equipped with a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar will be launched as part of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a joint project between NASA and ISRO. According to the minister, the instrument designated for SAR is based on the cutting-edge Sweep SAR technique and is configured in both the L and S bands in polarimetric mode for wide swath and high resolution. With an inclination of 98.4 degrees and a 747 km sun-synchronous orbit around the Earth, the spacecraft will repeat its orbit every 12 days. According to Dr. Singh, ISRO provides the S-band SAR payload, spacecraft bus, and launch services, whilst NASA provides the L-Band SAR payload, high precision GPS, and 12 m unfurlable antenna. He stated that, as of February 2023, ISRO has spent a total of Rs 469.40 crore, excluding launch costs, on the creation of the NISAR satellite. Using two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band), NISAR will be the first radar of its sort in orbit to systematically map Earth. It will measure changes to the planet’s surface, including movements as small as centimetres. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a method for creating high-resolution images from a radar system that has limited resolution. The satellite will be used for remote sensing, which enables observation and understanding of Earth’s natural processes. The Antarctic cryosphere will be studied by its left-facing instruments. NISAR is set to be the most expensive Earth-imaging satellite in the world, with a total cost estimated at US$ 1.5 billion.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which is part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has been requested by the Union Health Ministry to investigate a reported attempt to hack into its website, allegedly by a Russian hacker group. According to CloudSEK’s cyber security experts, the Russian hacker group “Phoenix” targeted the website and was able to gain access to the ministry’s Health Management Information System portal, which contains information on all the hospitals in India as well as their staff members and doctors. “We have sought details and asked the CERT-In to look into the alleged hacking of the health ministry’s website. They will submit a report,” an official source told PTI. CERT-In provides prevention and response services to governmental bodies and private organisations. It is the nation’s nodal agency for handling computer security issues. The group stated that the attack is “a consequence of India’s agreement over the oil price cap and sanctions of G20 over the Russia-Ukraine war,” according to a report by CloudSEK. The G7-approved price cap on Russian oil was the driving force behind this target, according to CloudSEK, which also explained that Indian authorities decided not to violate the sanctions against the Russian Federation. This decision led to numerous polls on Russian hacktivist Phoenix’s Telegram channel asking the followers for their votes, according to the statement. Phoenix, according to CloudSEK, has been operating since January 2022, is well-known for its phishing attacks, and has previously targeted hospitals in Japan and the UK, a US-based healthcare provider for the US military, and the website of the Spanish Foreign Ministry, among others.

The Union government will bring a new bill into the lower house of parliament on Wednesday that will upgrade the authority of the officer-in-command or commander-in-chief of inter-services organisations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will introduce the Inter-Services Organizations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, according to official sources. The bill aims to uphold order and “ensure proper discharge of duties among the personnel attached under them,” according to a government note. In addition, the second batch of supplementary demands for grants for 2022–23, which includes spending for the rest of the current fiscal year, is anticipated to be discussed and voted on by the Lok Sabha. The budget for Jammu and Kashmir for 2023–2024 will also be discussed in the lower house of Parliament. The house will debate and vote on the requests for funds for J&K for 2023–2024. Also, the Parliament will consider and vote on the supplementary demands for funds for J&K for 2022–2023.

Hollywood has produced a number of films with cyborgs and robots that are trained to wage war, destroy, and kill. On Indian beaches, though, we might soon see robots with cutting-edge Intelligence that are intended to save lives. Goa is the first state in India to add a self-driving robot driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and a monitoring system to its world-class beaches to improve lifesaving skills. The monitoring system and the self-driving robot in Goa both have personalities in that they have names; the former is called Triton and the latter Aurus. The Goa government decided to use AI-powered systems after there were more beach-related accidents as a result of an increase in domestic and foreign visitors to the area. According to a recent study, Goa experiences 200 drowning deaths annually that are related to swimming. The popular beaches like Baga, Calangute, Arambol, Sinquerim, and Morjim are where the majority of fatalities are reported. The introduction of the AI systems is being driven by Drishti Marine, a state-appointed lifeguard organisation. On Goa’s extensive coastline, Aurus, the AI-powered self-driving robot, supports lifeguards by monitoring the no-swimming zones and alerting visitors during high tide. The main duty of the Triton monitoring system is to employ AI to keep an eye on the non-swimming zones, warn visitors of risk, and alert the closest lifeguard to the presence of visitors in a hazardous area. Presently, Triton is deployed at Baina, Velaso, Benaulim, Galgibag in South Goa, and Morjim in North Goa, while Aurus is stationed at Miramar Beach in North Goa. According to official sources, the Government of Goa intends to deploy 100 Triton and 10 Aurus units on the state’s beaches by the end of this year. It’s not the first time that robots have been used to save lives on Indian beaches. To protect swimmers’ lives, a robotic Lifebuoy was deployed on the beaches of Visakhapatnam in 2022. Hari Venkata Kumari, Mayor of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, claims that the robotic Lifebuoy can travel up to 600 metres underwater and move six metres per second. It has the capacity to save three lives at once. Robots are frequently used to clean beaches around the world, but using AI-powered systems to save lives is a more recent development.

In the past, India’s power supply systems have been targeted by RedEcho, a cyberhacker group with links to China. According to a NYT report, groups associated with China are to held responsible for the Mumbai outage that occurred in October 2021. Power grids and other power installations have frequently been targeted by hackers on a global scale. In the past ten years, hackers have targeted California’s power grid a number of times. The Indian government is developing a cutting-edge, smart transmission system that is resilient to cyberattacks and natural disasters because it is aware of the harm that hackers and natural disasters can do to power supply installations. Also, the technology will enable a larger integration of renewable energy. The new transmission system will make use of AI and machine learning, and it will be built with the aid of robots and drones. It’s anticipated that using robots and drones will reduce human intervention and safety hazards. Also, it will speed up the building and maintenance process and ensure greater accuracy. “A modern transmission grid is necessary to achieve the government’s vision of 24X7 reliable and affordable power, and meet the sustainability goals,” says RK Singh, the Union Minister for Power and NRE. The Power Ministry’s task force, led by CMD of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, produced a report that served as the foundation for the decision to build a new transmission system. The taskforce was asked to make recommendations on how to modernise, smarten up, and prepare the transmission sector for the future. The task force included members from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), state transmission utilities, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), central transmission utilities, IIT Kanpur, NSGPMU, and EPTA. In order to deploy selected technology solutions and establish benchmark performance levels, CEA will develop the appropriate standards and regulations. The taskforce’s report was approved by the government last week following discussions presided over by RK Singh, the Union Power and NRE Minister. “A fully automated, digitally controlled, fast responsive grid which is resilient to cyber-attacks and natural disasters is the need of the hour,” Singh said during the meeting.

Three IoT sensor-based products, including a “Smart Digital Thermometer,” an “IoT enabled Environmental Monitoring System,” and a “Multichannel Data Acquisition System,” were unveiled by the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Alkesh Kumar Sharma. At the same function, the Multichannel data Acquisition System’s technology transfer to Murata Business Engineering India was also completed. Speaking at the event, he emphasised the value of focusing R&D on societal needs as well as government actions to increase electronic manufacturing in the country. One of the most common components in the industry is a sensor, and C-MET’s efforts to translate IoT sensor research into commercially viable components and devices are in accordance with the government’s Atmarnirbharata mission. India-made IoT sensor solutions will aid in positioning the country as a centre for sensors and devices on a global scale. Sensors that can detect, feel, respond, and transfer data anywhere in the world through the Internet of Things (IoT) have revolutionised the electronics market with the introduction of ideas like Smart cities and intelligent systems. Smart devices and systems are powered by IoT-enabled sensors that can be monitored and controlled remotely via internet connectivity. A premier organisation dedicated to the creation of electronic materials, components, and devices is the Centre for Materials for Electronic Technology (C-MET), Thrissur. It is an R&D facility under the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India. C-MET has created numerous indigenous technology and given them to companies to commercialise. The “Smart Digital Thermometer,” “IoT enabled Environmental Monitoring System,” and “Multichannel data Collection Acquisition System” are three IoT sensor-based products that C-MET has created as part of the initiative “Centre of Excellence in Intelligent IoT Sensors”. Alkesh Kumar Sharma launched these items on March 3, 2023, and they are anticipated to assist Indian businesses in entering the global sensor industry with homegrown products. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator, MeitY; Thachat Ragash Menon, General Manager, Murata Business Engineering India; BB Kale, DG, C-MET; N. Raghu, Director, C-MET, Thrissur; and Dr. A. Seema, Senior Scientist, C-MET, Thrissur also spoke at the occasion.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the minister of state for electronics and IT, stated that the government expects approving up to two applications this year to begin building electronic chip manufacturing facilities in the country. According to the minister, the current slowdown in the electronic chip industry won’t have any effect on India’s semiconductor programme because it is cyclical in nature and was designed with a long-term view. “The year 2023 will be an important milestone. We will cross Rs 1 lakh crore in mobile phone exports this year. We will be certainly announcing one to two fabs in India to be commencing construction,” Chandrasekhar stated. Five companies have submitted plans to the government for the establishment of production facilities for electronic chips and displays with investments totalling Rs. 1.53 lakh crore. Vedanta Foxconn JV, IGSS Ventures, and ISMC seek to establish electronic chip manufacturing plants with a USD 13.6 billion investment under the Rs 76,000 crore Semicon India Plan. They have sought USD 5.6 billion in support from the Center.

On March 1, the Madhya Pradesh government will introduce an electronic budget for the first time in the state assembly. MLAs will receive tabs to read the proposals and department schemes rather than hard copies of the budget. The copies of the 2019 budget were given to MLAs along with pen drives. The state budget’s planning is almost finished, and authorities are working to give it its final form. Authorities stated that in addition to the departmental budget books being published, the e-budget will also be presented in the House for regular reference throughout the year. While the state budget for the previous year was over Rs 2.79 lakh crore, this year’s budget is anticipated to be in the range of Rs 3 lakh crore. Officials expected a ten percent increase. There would be announcements regarding farmers and women in the budget because it is an election year. The state government would also be concentrating on capital expenditures along the lines of the Union budget. At an expert presentation on the Union Budget 2023–24 for the state budget on February 6, the CM had stated that more than Rs 48,000 crore would be spent on infrastructure development. In the previous budget, a total of about Rs 44,000 crore was allocated to this category. Similarly, on February 3, the government had introduced the Ladli Bahna Yojana. A total of Rs 12,000 crore will be spent annually and Rs 60,000 crore in 5 years under the scheme. The budget would include funding for the programme because it would be a significant new programme this year. Announcements for farmers will be made in the budget, and it is expected that the state government will grant interest-free loans to provide relief. Fisheries have been given importance by the Indian government, and the state budget is likely to take this in mind as it details its proposals to the House.

Former Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam has been named the new chief executive officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog for a two-year term by the government. As Parameswaran Iyer joins the World Bank as an executive director in Washington, DC, Subrahmanyam will succeed him as CEO. In September 2022, Subrahmanyam—a Chhattisgarh cadre IAS from the 1987 batch—retired from the position as secretary of commerce. As the economy struggled to recover from the post-Covid slump last year, Subrahmanyam played a critical role in developing the strategy that resulted to record $422 billion in merchandise exports during his one-year tenure at the department of commerce. Also, he oversaw at least six free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. India signed two trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Australia while he was working in the commerce department. Subrahmanyam, who is regarded as an expert on internal security, formerly served as Jammu and Kashmir’s chief secretary. The Appointments Committee of the Government announced Subrahmanyam’s appointment as CEO of NITI Aayog. Iyer was appointed CEO of NITI Aayog for three years in 2022. He is an IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and is from the 1981 batch. He was there for only around six months. Iyer had worked for the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation from 2016 to 20 as secretary. Prior to joining the World Bank in 2009 as the global lead for strategic initiatives in the water and sanitation sector, Iyer had taken a voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service. In 2016, he came back to lead the Swachh Bharat Mission as secretary for sanitation and drinking water. After receiving a one-year extension, Iyer had resigned that position in July 2020, citing personal reasons.