Google partners for digital Andhra Pradesh project

On 29^th September 2014, Andhra Pradesh (AP) Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with search engine giant Google India for Digital Andhra Pradesh project.

The agreement was signed at the CEOs’ Conclave of Information Technology (IT) companies in Andhra Pradesh.

Under this memorandum, Google India will work with the Andhra Pradesh government to provide women and small and medium businesses online help and assist them to gain from the internet economy i.e.  E-commerce.

In this initiative Google will help to make the Internet more meaningful to the users who do not speak English by improving accessibility to government websites and scaling the local language web.

Highlights of the MoU Agreement between Andhra Pradesh (AP) Government and Google India:

• Google will make websites feasible with mobile devices and accessible in the local language.
• It will promote Internet Safety amongst children and government officials.
• Google will improve the online content as well as will get more local language content online.
• It will collaborate with AP government to scale initiatives to promote digital literacy amongst women and help to reduce digital divide.
• The initiatives will include developing Telugu font, keyboards and content thus government will work for increasing the penetration of Telugu on Internet in the state.
• Google will partner with academic institutions to create quality content in Telugu for the Internet.

What is Digital Andhra Pradesh Project?

The Government of Andhra Pradesh is developing Andhra Pradesh state into a global digital development hub with its Digital AP project.

Digital Andhra Pradesh project is vision of state laid under the Digital India Initiative of 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Google has partnered for the Digital India initiative with the central government).

The event also marked the launch of a Technology Research and Incubation Park at Madhurawada IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Andhra Pradesh government has signed important MoU’s with other IT companies for Digital Andhra Pradesh Project, they are as follows:

• Kochi-based company Start-up Village for managing the incubation park.
• These include MoU with Tech Mahindra for its facility over 10 acres of land. It is expected to provide 5000 jobs. It will help for setting up their facilities in and around Visakhapatnam.
• Wipro to accord SEZ status to its existing campus in the city. The facility will increase the number of jobs to 7000.
• Under another agreement, the government allotted 13 acres at Gambheeram IT SEZ to Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) to set up a research and development centre.

Cheapest solar powered eToilet for schools unveiled

Eram Scientific, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) based private company has come out with a new unmanned, self-cleaning e-toilet named as 'e-Lite14' for schools, which it claims is the cheapest in the market. 

Eram Scientific's, eToilet is India's First Electronic Public Toilet. 

The product, 'e-Lite14' of Eram Scientific has an in-built solar panel and metallic platform.

This model is designed for schools, has automated self-cleaning and washing mechanisms and automatic floor wash system. 

The company claimed their product comes in the wake of the 'Clean India Campaign' launched by the government and even it perfectly matches with the 'Make in India' campaign.

Eram Scientific has deployed over 600 e-toilets in 11 states in the country, out of which more than 200 are in schools.

Key Features of eToilet

• Innovative Design to fit busy Indian towns and cities.
• State-of-the-art Technology to address public sanitation challenges.
• Modular, Sleek and Appealing Aesthetics.
• Mild Steel/ Stainless Steel built.
• Compact and User-Friendly access and interfaces.
• Hygienic and Easy to maintain components and accessories.
• Durable and Vandal-Resistant enclosure.
• Easy to Install & Relocation, if required.

Functionalities of eToilet:

• User Guides- Display Boards & Audio Instructions.                                
• Sensor based resource Conservation.
• Unmanned Operation.
• Automated Access Control.
• Automated Cleaning mechanism.
• Remote Diagnosis & Remote Management.
• Customer Support Facility.
• Transparency through Web Reports .                             
• Online Mapping.
• Waste processing through STP.                       
• Easy to Clean.
• Corrosion Resistant Models .
• Installation in 2-4 hours’ time.
• GPRS enabled units for real-time up gradations.
• Solar powered

How dose eToilet works?

• eToilet incorporates full cycle approach in sustainable sanitation by integrating convergence of electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies thereby controlling entry, usage, cleaning, exit, and remote monitoring capabilities with multiple revenue options. 
• The insertion of a coin opens the door of the eToilet for the user, switches on a light—thus saving energy and even directs the person with audio commands.
• The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 liters of water after 3 minutes of usage or 4.5 liters if usage is longer.
• It can also be programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after every 5 or 10 persons use the toilet.

What are advantages of eToilet?

• It will in addressing public sanitation by developing a product that is portable, hygienically maintained, and eco-friendly.
• This low cost infrastructure will help modernizing highways, railways, telecom, ports, and power.
• It will help to create a better quality of life for citizens and tourists alike: The creation of an urban sanitation infrastructure.

Indian space programme created history as Mangalyaan entered Mars orbit successfully

On 24th September 2014, India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Manglayaan successfully entered the Martian orbit.

To insert the spacecraft into the Mars orbit the operation, Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) was fired for 24 minutes 16 seconds on scheduled time 07:17:32 am. 

After the entry of MOM in Mars orbit, India created the history of becoming the first country to insert the spacecraft of the mission around the Mars in first attempt.

Apart from this, India also came one step closer to its cherished dream of landing on Mars and this success of Mars orbiter Mission in the very first shot will boost India's global standing in Space.

Earlier on 22 September 2014, ISRO test-fired the crucial Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the Mission’s main engine successfully.

Till date various countries has sent 51 missions to Mars of which only 21 were successful. India’s leading space agency ISRO has become the fourth space research organisation in the world and first in Asia to reach Mars after after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency.

Mangalyaan is primarily a technological mission and it has been configured to carry out observation of physical features and the atmosphere of Mars. 

On 5 November 2013, MOM was launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The mission was executed within 15 months at the cost of 450 crore ($74 million) after the Union 

Government gave its approval for the mission.

Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 22^nd September 2014 successfully conducted the crucial test fire of Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan.

The test was conducted at the ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network in Bangalore.

On 21^st September 2014, ISRO team conducted the crucial Trajectory Correction Manoeuver (TCM) as the LAM had not been used for nearly 300 days after the initial orbit raising manoeuvers and Trans Mars Insertion process conducted on 1 December 2013.

Team of scientists had a perfect burn for 4 seconds using 0.5 kg of fuel to slow the spacecraft down by 2.4 metres per second so as to correct the trajectory of MOM.

The Liquid Engine (LM) on the MOM, also called the 440-Newton Liquid Engine, is a modified version of the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) used on earlier missions that required orbit rising, such as Chandrayaan.

ISRO's first liquid rocket motor, developed in the early eighties, was 50 kg powered by red fuming nitric acid (oxidizer) and hydrazine (fuel).

Pressurized gas was used to push the propellants from their tanks into the combustion chamber.

The need for a more powerful liquid rocket motor arose with the Insat-2 program, the first operational communication satellites to be designed and built within the country. (Insat-1 satellites were built and launched by the US).

LAM develops 45-kg thrust and uses monomethyl hydrazine and a nitrogen tetroxide as propellants and pressurized helium gas is used to force the propellants into the combustion chamber.

The LAM-thruster combination was also adopted for the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter mission and its upgraded version LM (Liquid Engine) is used for Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM). 

During the Chandrayaan-1 mission, the LAM was operated ten times in the course of three weeks to take the spacecraft from Earth orbit to its operational path around the Moon.

MoEF gave CRZ clearance for Bay of Bengal Gateway Submarine Cable System

On 24^th September 2014, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for Bay of Bengal Gateway Submarine Cable System.

The EAC cleared the Indian part of the 100 Gigabit-per-second (100Gps) Bay of Bengal Gateway submarine cable system project at Mumbai and Chennai.

However, the EAC asked the proponents of the project to follow the strict compliance of CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) clearance conditions.

Vodafone Group has already under taken the work at the cable landing point in Mumbai while, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Company- Infotel Telecom Ltd,  is carrying out the works at Santhome 

Beach, Chennai.

What is Bay of Bengal Gateway Submarine Cable System (BBGCS)

The Bay of Bengal Gateway cable system (BBGCS) is expected to enhance robustness and reliability of international connectivity in the six countries via landing points in Barka (Oman), Fujairah (UAE), Mumbai and Chennai (India), Ratmalana (Sri Lanka), Penang (Malaysia) and Singapore.

BBGCS navigate’s over 8000 km. This project started in May 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.

The project is being carried out by a conglomerate that includes Alcatel-Lucent, a Euronext and NYSE-listed company, Vodafone Group, Omantel, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, 

Reliance Infocom, Dialog and Telekom Malaysia.

The Cable system will create a high-speed bridge between Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the 

Far East, with Singapore being a major cable hub with connection into to the Far East and Barka in Oman with submarine and terrestrial connections to Europe, Africa and the GCC.

Union Cabinet approved the launching of National AYUSH Mission

On 15^th September 2014, Union Cabinet on approved the launching of National AYUSH Mission (NAM).

The word AYUSH is acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

The aim of NAM is to address the gaps in health services particularly in vulnerable and far-off areas.

What is AYUSH mission?

AYUSH is a governmental body in India purposed with developing education and research in ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine),yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy, and other alternative medicine systems.

Created in March 1995 as the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H), AYUSH received its current name in March 2003. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, in its election manifesto said it would increase public investment to promote AYUSH and start integrated courses for Indian system of medicines and modern science. 

Historical Background for National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

India owns the ancient systems of medicine like Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. These medicines are a treasure house of knowledge for preventive and promotive healthcare.

These medicines have great potential to serve the medical needs of large sections of Indian society as they are easily accessible, affordable and have growing economic value.

Considering this, the Department of AYUSH in April 2012 planned to establish a National AYUSH Mission with the motto of delivering health for all and to coordinate different programmes related to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) under different streams of Indian medicine.

Highlights National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

• The improvement of AYUSH education through enhancement in the number of upgraded educational institutions.
• Better access to AYUSH services through increase in number of AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, availability of drugs and manpower.
• Sustained availability of quality raw material for AYUSH systems of medicine.
• Availability of quality Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy (ASU&H) drugs through increase in number of pharmacies, drug laboratories and improved enforcement mechanism of ASU&H drugs.

Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH)

Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) was created in March 1995. In November 2013, it was re-named as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). The department is under Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The aim of the department is to provide focussed attention to the development of education and research in these systems of medicine. Moreover, the Department laid emphasis on upgradation of AYUSH educational standards, quality control and standardization of drugs, improving the availability of medicinal plant material, research and development.

Bodies under the control of the Department of AYUSH are:

·         Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

·         Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS)

·         Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM)

·         Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH)

·         Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN)

Union Government to launch ETC programme under the brand name FASTag

On 16^th September 2014, Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme in the country under the brand name FASTag.

ETC is an advanced programme for making  making the payment electronically on highway tolls without stopping the vehicle at the toll plazas.

Similar highway tag brands are available in developed countries with different names like

• Eazee Pass, SunPass in the US.
• e-Passin Australia.
• Salik in Dubai.

How Indian FASTag programme works?

The vehicles will be provided a unique number of the RFID Tag. It will be fixed on the wind shield of the vehicle.

The RFID Tag on windshield will be read by the readers fitted in the dedicated ETC lanes of toll plazas.

After the entry of vehicle passing through toll plaza is done, ETC will deduct an appropriate amount depending upon the class of vehicle from the account of the user.

The complete process of payment will be automated.

The dedicated ETC lanes will have colour coding for distinct identity recognized as FASTag lanes.

The RFID based FASTag will be provided by ICICI Bank and Axis Bank. They will provide Central Clearing house (CHH) services through their franchises or agents and at point of sales near the toll plazas.

Road users can enroll and get FASTag affixed on their vehicles at designated toll plaza locations or Point of Sale (POS) stations of Axis bank and ICICI bank.

Apple unveils bigger iPhone 6, 6 Plus & Apple Watch

Apple surprising its admirers as usual unveiled 2 new smartphones – iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus – and a new smart-watch simply called Apple Watch at a function in San Francisco, US. 

Apple Watch, is a miniature computer strapped around the wrist and is the first product made under CEO of Apple, Timothy D. Cook’s leadership.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are the thinnest phones that Apple has ever made. 

With 4.7- and 5.5-inch screens respectively, the two phones make Apple enter into the big-screen smartphone segment. 

The pixel density has been improved with the smaller one having 38% more pixels at 1334x750p resolution and iPhone 6 Plus sporting 185% more pixels with screen resolution of 1920x1080p. 

The new display panels Retina HD, are termed as “new generation” of iPhone screens. iPhone 6 is up to 50% more energy efficient.

The handsets are most probable to hit Indian markets around Diwali in October end or in November 2014.

Government taps 9,000 phones every month: Report

As per report of Internet Governance Forum in Istanbul, Union government issues 7,500-9,000 telephone interception orders on an average each month.

Istanbul based forum has made this report based upon statistics taken from a May 2014, 

RTI reply from the union ministry of home affairs.

What is Phone Tapping?

Phone tapping means secretly listening or/and recording a communication channel (esp. a telephone) in order to get information.

It is also known as ‘wire-tapping’ in some countries (primarily in USA).

It can only be done in an authorized manner with permission from the department concerned.

If it is undertaken in an unauthorized manner then it is illegal and will result in prosecution of the person responsible for breach of privacy.

Procedure for Phone tapping in India

Both, the Central and the State Governments have a right to tap phones under section 5 of Indian Telegraphic Act, 1885.

Section 5(2) of the amended Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, permits following agencies to intercept in case of public emergency or in the interest of public safety:

1. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
2. Intelligence Bureau (IB).
3. Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).
4. Enforcement Directorate(ED).
5. National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).
6. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
7. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
8. Income-Tax Department
9. State police.

Commanding Officers i.e. Field officials of above enforcement agencies initiate the process of tapping after final command is given by Union home secretary in case of Central government agencies & state home secretary for state police.

Specific reasons have to be mentioned in the application for tapping any person phone. In the application it must be explained that how tapping will help in further investigation of the case.

The ministry considers the request and grants permission if it the reason specified seems fit, otherwise the request is denied.

The home secretary's authorisation was made mandatory by a Supreme Court judgment in 1996.

Every above mentioned agencies have an Internal Evaluation Cell to examine outcomes. The highest body to monitor lawful telephone interception is Oversight Committee headed by cabinet secretary.

Maximum for 180 days a phone can be tapped. But in this case after every 60 days, a fresh permission needs to be taken.

For maximum 72 hours authorised agencies can tap a phone without permission in case of an emergency situation. But in this case, after 72 hours permission must be taken. If permission is denied, the records of tapped conversations need to be destroyed in 48 hours.

Equipment’s used by Government agencies for authorized phone tapping

In old times the equipment manufactured by a small firm in Bangalore and tapes were used for recording.

These machines were manual and someone had to be posted to plug in the lines. Till 1992, 

one machine could tap only 10 lines.

At present wide range of snooping equipment is available.

Modern gadgets can recognize voices and automatically record a conversation.

Now, government has following Mass Surveillance projects:

• Network Traffic Analysis (NETRA)
• National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)
• Central Monitoring System (CMS)

What can be done tapping takes place in an unauthorized manner or illegal phone tapping?

If phone tapping is undertaken in an unauthorized manner then it is illegal and will result in prosecution of the person/agencies responsible for breach of privacy.

Let’s take example of illegal tapping:

A car loaded with laptop-sized phone-interception machine is parked near the target's residence or office. The phone number of the target is fed into the machine. Once the target takes a call, it automatically gets recorded in the machine.

In this case, these machines are illegally imported into India.

In case of illegal phone tapping, the culprits can be charged with violations of the IT Act and the Telegraph Act for illegally accessing private information.

This punishment may be upto 3 years of imprisonment under Section 26 (b) of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Person whose phone is illegally tapped can file an FIR and also move the Human Rights Commission as unauthorised tapping is violation of right to privacy.

Note: Private detectives don’t have authority to tap anyone’s phone. If they are tapping anyone’s phone then it is considered as case of illegal phone tapping.

Gujarat to get Asia's first Ballistic Research Centre

A Ballistic Research Centre will be set up in Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU) in Gandhinagar, Gujrat.

Ballistic Research Centre will test bullet-proof armoured vehicles as big as trucks. This would be the first-of-its-kind centre in Asia.

This centre will help India to achieve self-reliance in testing of armoured vehicles.

Till now, the armoured vehicles from India are sent to countries like the UK, USA and 

France for testing.

Now manufacturers will not need to send their vehicles to these countries in which crores of rupees are spent on transportation and testing.

The GFSU in Gujarat was so far able to conduct testing of only bulletproof jackets, helmets and bulletproof plates, but with this new venture will successfully test the entire armoured vehicle.

Features of Ballistic Research Centre:

• The Ballistic Research Centre will conduct tests for armoured vehicles of the Indian Army and also provide services to private players who supply vehicles to the VIPs.
• GFSU has already set up the entire infrastructure for the centre, which will start functioning in a month or two. The project cost is estimated around Rs. 6 crore.
• The tests include firing on armoured vehicles from different firearms, like a small pistol to AK 47 and Insas rifles, he said.
• The centre will adopt a method in which manufacturers can witness their armoured vehicles being tested.
• The centre will be sound proof in which fire arms are set from which bullets will be fired on vehicles.
• After the test, the officials will check whether there is any penetration in the vehicles or not and will issue a certificate accordingly.
• The centre will also provide services to other countries.

About Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU):

Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), Gandhinagar was established in 2008 by the government of Gujarat.

It was under the flagship of home department government of Gujarat state.

It is the only university across the world, dedicated to Forensic and Investigative Science.

The University started functioning from July 2009 onwards and in May 2011, received 

recognition by the 'University Grants Commission' as a State University.

The University is segregated into three academic departments, namely:

• Institute of Forensic Science.
• Institute of Behavioural Science.
• Institute of Research & Development.

It currently offers only postgraduate level academic programs.

The University runs in parallel association with the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS)-Gujarat State, to provide hands-on training.

DFS - Gujarat State is having state-of-the-art international infrastructure and facilities for Forensic analysis.