PIB 3rd September

Contents

1. FASTag: Promotion of Digital and IT based payment
2. National Academy of RUDSETI
3. National Tribal Research Conclave

FASTAG: PROMOTION OF DIGITAL AND IT BASED PAYMENT

Focus: GS-III Science and Technology

Why in news?

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified to seek comments and suggestions from the stakeholders on making FASTag mandatory for old vehicles.

The Mandate

• As per Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, FASTag had been made mandatory since 2017 for registration of new four wheeled Vehicles, and is to be supplied by the Vehicle Manufacturer or their dealers.
• It had further been mandated that the renewal of fitness certificate will be done only after the fitment of FASTag for the Transport Vehicles.
• Further that, for National Permit Vehicles, the fitment of FASTag has been mandated since 2019.

FASTag

• FASTag is an electronic toll collection system in India, operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
• It employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it or directly toll owner.
• As per NHAI, FASTag has unlimited validity. 7.5% cashback offers were also provided to promote the use of FASTag.
• Dedicated Lanes at some Toll plazas have been built for FASTag.

Advantages of Using FASTag

1. Digital transaction makes it easier to collect toll fees.
2. Congestion in Toll plazas will reduce.
3. Non-stop movement at the highways will reduce Fuel consumption and even pollution.
4. The Effort in Managing toll gates is reduced as the system is more automated.
5. There will also be reduced paper wastage (in the form of tokens/receipts)
6. This will be a unifying system as FASTags are not specific to the state or region and work all over India.

Problems with FASTag

1. Technical issues and glitches are possible which makes the system susceptible to false charges or other such issues.
2. All the toll booths are yet to be made FASTag compatible and this has not necessarily reduced the congestion issue yet.
3. The RFID technology is not failproof and can be misused by duplication or other “hacks”.
4. The FASTags sold by banks have to be recharged from the same bank, as they are not Bank Neutral (unless you buy it directly from NHAI).

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RUDSETI

Focus: GS-II Social Justice

Why in news?

E-Foundation stone laying ceremony of the new training Institute building of National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR) was held.

National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR)

• National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR) is a resource organization committed to Entrepreneurship Development through motivation, training and facilitation.
• It is a joint venture promoted by two public sector Banks and an Educational Trust of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
• The National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR) NAR undertakes monitoring, mentoring and capacity building of the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes staff (RSETIs), State/UT Rural Livelihood Mission staff and the concerned Bank officials on behalf of the Ministry of Rural Development.
• National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR), an offshoot of RUDSETI movement is spearheading the concept by Training the Trainers/facilitators and mentoring the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) established across the country.
• National Academy of RUDSETI is a Trust registered under Indian Trusts Act.

Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI)

RSETIs

• RSETIs are unique initiative where State Governments, the Union Govt. and the commercial Banks are working together to address the issue of rural poverty.
• Ministry of Rural Development is working towards ensuring all the Banks in the country accept the RSETI model.
• This has resulted in establishment of one of the largest networks of entrepreneurship development training in the country.

NATIONAL TRIBAL RESEARCH CONCLAVE

Focus: GS-II Social Justice

Why in news?

National Institute for Tribal research is being set up in partnership with IIPA at the IIPA premises in Delhi (These partner organizations are designated as Centres of Excellence).

Details

• Union Minister for Tribal Affairs has said that the Ministry of Tribal affairs is funding Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) for research under Grant to TRIs and is engaged in quality research in collaboration with reputed Government and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) spread over the country.
• Ministry along with such partner organisations design workable models which provide end to end solution, like problem identification, finding solution and execution of the project as part of Action research which can be implemented by policy initiatives.

How can TRIs be useful?

• Research by Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) should become the base to take our tribal developments programs forward.
• Tribal Research should focus not only on the anthropological aspects of tribal life and culture but should also focus on the progress made by them.
• Research by TRIs should help to achieve the goal “Mera Van Mera Dhan, Mera Udhyam” since forests are not only important for environment but play a major role in tribal livelihoods. 
• The proposed National Institute for Tribal Research (NITR) should also have an educational wing to educate students on the tribal development.

Steps taken

• Centre for Excellence for Data Analytics (CEDA) is analysing tribal data for various schemes and has developed “Performance and Monitoring Dashboard”.
• Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation, an autonomous organisation under RD Ministry is working on gradation of NGOs and improve monitoring for NGO projects.
• Piramal Foundation is working for creation of a consolidated health and nutrition data repository for tribal population and for providing data analytics support to facilitate evidence-based policy making and implementation strategies, and has launched Swasthya portal.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is engaged with MoTA on developing an economical model for Community Rights under Forest Rights Act.
• Many Civil Societies and Corporates have also offered partnership with MoTA to work together for welfare of tribal in areas of Livelihood, Talent pool, Tribal healers, Tribal Culture & Festivals and are keen to become part of “Affirmative Action”.