13 January 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

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January 13th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Indian Navy to Get Upgraded Fuel HFHSD – IN 512
2. Meeting of the Island Development Agency
3. Indian Railways signs MoU with RailTel for Phase 2 of e-Office Execution

1. Indian Navy to Get Upgraded Fuel HFHSD – IN 512

Context

A new fuel (High Flash High-Speed Diesel) HFHSD – IN 512, with revised technical specifications, has been launched for pan Navy implementation.

Background

• One of the Key Result Area for the Indian Navy has been fuel quality standards revision to keep pace with the induction of new technology equipment and meet contemporary emission standards.
• With the advent of technology and refining techniques in the petroleum industry better quality of fuel abiding to more stringent specifications has become a necessity. Hence, continuous improvement in the technical specification for diesel is the primary focus area.
• Leveraging technology and improved refining techniques available with the country’s petroleum industry, the Indian Navy in collaboration with M/s  (Indian Oil Corporation) IOCL carried out an extensive and thorough study and a comparative evaluation of existing international regulations.
• As an outcome, a new fuel (High Flash High-Speed Diesel) HFHSD – IN 512, with revised technical specifications, has been launched.

Impact of HFHSD – IN 512

• The new fuel specification will ensure both, better quality fuel and also result in a reduced carbon footprint.
• India will be able to ensure interoperability amongst foreign navies during fleet exercises and provide fuel of quality better than that mandated to all foreign navies under bilateral/ multi-national logistics support pacts including LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement).
• The successful introduction of the new fuel is a landmark occasion highlighting the enormous potential which exists within the country to produce world-class products.
• This effort would also benefit other M/s IOCL consumers in the country like Indian Coast Guard and other merchant marines in the coming years.
• The achievement would also mark a new high with quality fuel available to all foreign Navy ships at Indian ports during exercises with the Indian Navy.
• This revolutionary initiative would go a long way in enhancing equipment reliability, performance, reduced carbon footprint, emissions and more importantly, would be a key enabler in the Navy’s ‘Mission Based Deployment’ on a global scale.

2. Meeting of the Island Development Agency

Context

The Union Home Minister chaired the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA).

Islands Development Agency (IDA): 

• The IDA was set up in 2017 following the Prime Minister’s review meeting for the development of islands.
• The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
• The vision was for developing India’s maritime economy while preserving the natural eco-system and addressing security concerns.
• The project steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on the sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.
• After detailed consultations with key stakeholders, 10 islands namely Smith, Ross, Aves, Long and Little Andaman in Andaman & Nicobar and Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep have been identified for holistic development in the first phase.

3. Indian Railways signs MoU with RailTel for Phase 2 of e-Office Execution

Context

After the successful completion of the Phase 1 execution of National Informatics Centre (NIC) e office, Indian Railways has signed MoU with RailTel, a miniratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Ministry of Railways, for phase 2 of the project.

About NIC e-Office

• NIC e-Office is a cloud-enabled software developed by NIC that is being deployed/hosted from RailTel Tier III certified data centres at Secundrabad and Gurgaon.
• Currently 4 modules (File Management System (eFile), Knowledge Management System (KMS), Collaboration & Messaging Services (CAMS) & Personnel Information Management System (PIMS) are the part of the e-office system being implemented.
• E-Office fosters a paper-less culture which will not only save operational cost but also reduce the carbon footprint which is one of the most urgent needs of the world and directly impacting every citizen of the country.

About RailTel

• RailTel Corporation a “Mini Ratna (Category-I)” PSU of Ministry of Railways, is the largest neutral telecom services providers in the country owning a Pan-India optic fibre network covering all important towns & cities of the country and several rural areas covering 70% of India’s population.
• RailTel is in the forefront in providing nationwide Broadband Telecom & Multimedia Network in all parts of the country in addition to modernization of train operations and administration network systems for Indian Railways.
• With its Pan India high capacity network, RailTel is working towards creating a knowledge society at various fronts and has been selected for implementation of various mission-mode Govt. of India projects in the telecom field.

January 13th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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