Contents
- Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)
- New Routes Approved Under UDAN 4.0
- World Urdu Conference 2020
- Textile Grand Challenge 2019
BUREAU OF POLICE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (BPR&D)
Focus: GS-II Governance
Why in news?
The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee Anniversary soon (50 years since its establishment on 28th August, 1970).
Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)
- The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), was set up in furtherance of the objective of the Government of India for the modernisation of police forces.
- It has evolved as a multifaceted, consultancy organisation, and at present it has 4 divisions – Research, Development, Training and Correctional Administration.
Reasons for creation:
- To take direct and active interest in the issues
- To promote a speedy and systematic study of the police problems,
- To apply science and technology in the methods and techniques used by police.
Functions
Research Division:
- Analysis and study of crime and problems of general nature affecting the police
- Assistance of Police Research programmes in States and Union Territories
- Work relating to Standing Committee on Police Research
- Maintenance of all India statistics of crime
Publication of:
- Police Research & Development Journal
- Crime in India
- Indian Police Journal
- Accidental Deaths and Suicides
- Research Reports and News Letters
- Reports, Reviews, other journals and books relating to matters connected with police work
Etc.
Development Division
- Review of the performance of various types of equipment used by the police forces in India and development of new equipment
- Liaison with the National laboratories, Indian Ordnance Factories and other organisations
- Police publicity and police publicity files, police weeks and parades
Etc.
Training Division
- To review from time to time the arrangements for Police training and the needs of the country in this field in the changing social conditions
- Introduction of scientific techniques in training and in police work and to formulate and coordinate training policies and programmes in the field of police administration and management.
- To help devise new refresher, promotion, specialist and orientation courses
Etc.
Correctional Administration
- Analysis and study of prison statistics and problems of general nature affecting Prison Administration
- Coordination of Research Studies conducted by RICAs and other Academic/Research Institutes in Correctional Administration
- To set up an Advisory Committee to guide the work relating to Correctional Administration
Etc.
NEW ROUTES APPROVED UNDER UDAN 4.0
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure
Why in news?
78 new routes under the 4th round of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) have been approved following the three successful rounds of bidding by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
What is UDAN scheme?
- UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the Government of India (GoI). The full form of UDAN is ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik’ and aims to develop smaller regional airports to allow common citizens easier access to aviation services.
- This scheme is a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) and is funded jointly by the GoI and the state governments.
The following are its salient features:
- The scheme duration is for 10 years
- Airlines participating in UDAN are selected through a competitive bidding process
- The Central government will provide the following:
- Subsidy to cover Value Gap funding (VGF) for participating airlines
- Concessional GST on tickets booked using the scheme
- Codesharing for flights under the policy
- State Governments will extend the following measures:
- GST reduction to 1% for 10 years
- Coordination with oil companies to facilitate refuelling facilities
- Provide land for airport and ancillary development
- Trained security personnel
- Utilities at subsidised rates
- 20% of VGF
- Airport operators such as AAI will provide the following concessions:
- No parking, landing and storage charges at participating airports
- Nil TNLC (Terminal Navigation Landing Charges)
- Allow ground handling by the airline selected through the bidding process
- RNCF (Route Navigation and Facilitation Charges) will be discounted to 42.4% of normal rates by the Airports Authority of India
Value Gap Funding is not provided to cargo airlines. All other terms and conditions remain the same as passenger airlines. The fares are graded based on distance and flight hours for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing services. The RCS subsidy is funded by a levy of Rs 5000 per flight on major routes. Flights regulated under this policy framework can be booked from the UDAN website and major travel portals by passengers.
TEXTILE GRAND CHALLENGE 2019
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology
Why in news?
Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development spoke at the award giving ceremony for winners of the Textile Grand Challenge 2019 organized by Ministry of Textiles.
Textile Grand Challenge 2019
- The Textile Grand Challenge 2019 was organized by the Ministry of Textiles with the active support of National Jute Board and the Start-up India Team of the Department for Promotion of Industry & Industrial Trade (DPIIT).
- The aim of organizing this historic event was to bring forward innovative ideas by start-ups/entrepreneurs for development of cost effective and low-weight carry bags using Jute Bio-mass, Jute Plant based bio-polymer and cotton fibre waste to phase out plastic bags.
It is also an initiative towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Makein India’ under which innovative solutions were sought for:
- Alternative to single use Plastic bags and
- Alternative to Multi-use Plastic bags, using domestically grown natural fibres viz; Jute and Cotton.
The ideas presented by the winners are unique and innovative, using jute bio-mass, jute starch based bio-polymer and cotton waste fibres to manufacture non-woven carry bags which are cost effective, low-weight and sturdy to carry grocery and shopped items.
The Ministry of Textiles has appealed to industry stalwarts to take forward the newly developed ideas & technologies for helping to set up new ventures for manufacturing such biodegradable and non-polluting bags and to help these new start-ups to promote and market such innovative products.
