India’s communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully
Context : India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched from the Spaceport in French Guiana . The launch vehicle Ariane 5 VA-251 lifted off from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana IST carrying India’s GSAT-30 and EUTELSAT KONNECT for Eutelsat.
Highlights :
- GSAT-30 derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series and will replace INSAT-4A in orbit.
- The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands through Ku-band and wide coverage covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia through C-band.
- GSAT-30 will provide DTH Television Services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock-exchange, Television uplinking and Teleport Services, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance applications.
- The satellite will also be used for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.”
Government mandates hallmarking of gold jewellery
Context : The government has notified that it is to mandate hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts with effect from 15 January 2021. The jewellers have been given time for the implementation of this notification. Jewellers who violate this will be punished under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
New rules :
- The notification state that only registered jewellers will be allowed to sell the hallmarked gold articles through certified sales outlets.
- As per the notifications, the registered jewellers will be allowed to sell jewellery and artefacts only in three grades of gold, 14, 18 and 22 carat, instead of ten grades earlier.
- The mandatory hallmarking is not required for gold that is meant for exports.
- The new rules are not applicable to any article which is intended to be used for dental, medical, veterinary, scientific or industrial purposes
Gold hallmarking :
Gold hallmarking is a purity certification of the gold and is voluntary in nature at present. Since April 2000, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is already running a hallmarking scheme for gold jewellery. Also, around 40% of gold jewellery is currently being hallmarked.
Hallmarked gold jewellery will have four components namely BIS mark, purity in carat and fineness, assaying and hallmarking centre’s identification mark/number, and jeweller’s identification .
Assam Inland Water Transport Project
Context : World Bank signed an $88 million loan agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Assam on 16 January 2020. The loan is to help modernize Assam’s passenger ferry sector that runs on its rivers including the Brahmaputra and implement Inland Water Transport Project.
Inland Water Transport Project :
- There are more than 361 ferry routes cross the Brahmaputra in Assam and provides a crucial means of transport to thousands of commuters in both the urban and rural areas of the Brahmaputra Valley.
- The Assam Inland Water Transport Project (AIWTP) will improve the passenger ferry infrastructure and its services in the state
- It will also strengthen the capacity of the institutions running inland water transport.
- Well designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels will make the ferry services more sustainable with the least disruption to nature.
- The project will support the state’s efforts to corporatize its own ferry activities.
- Under the project, the government ferries will be operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) and the Assam Ports Company (APC) will provide terminals and terminal services on a common-user basis to both public and private ferry operators.
Open Acreage Licensing PolicyFor Prelims: OALP, HELP.
Context : Government has launched the bidding process offering 11 areas in oil and gas blocks under Open Acreage Licensing Policy Round-V (OALP-V).
What is Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) :
A critical part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.Provides uniform licences for exploration and production of all forms of hydrocarbons, enabling contractors to explore conventional as well as unconventional oil and gas resources.
Revenue- sharing model :
Fields are offered under a revenue-sharing model and throw up marketing and pricing freedom for crude oil and natural gas produced.
How it works :
Under the OALP, once an explorer selects areas after evaluating the National Data Repository (NDR) and submits the EoI, it is to be put up for competitive bidding and the entity offering the maximum share of oil and gas to the government is awarded the block.
What is NDR :
NDR has been created to provide explorers’ data on the country’s repositories, allowing them to choose fields according to their capabilities. Data received through the National Seismic Programme, an in-depth study of 26 sedimentary basins, are continuously being added to the NDR.
What is HELP :
The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) replacing the erstwhile New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was approved in March 2016.
The main features of HELP are Revenue Sharing Contract, single Licence for exploration and production of conventional as well as unconventional Hydrocarbon resources, marketing & pricing freedom, etc.
Sources: pib.
Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund (TCEPF)
Context : TRAI has asked the telecom service providers to deposit all unclaimed money of consumers, including excess charges and security deposit, in the Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund (TCEPF).
Composition :
- It includes money on account of excess billing revealed in the audit, unclaimed money such as security deposits and plan charges of failed activations.
- Such unclaimed/nonrefundable amount belonging to consumers would be deposited in the TCEP fund as it will be utilised for the welfare measures of the consumers.
Framework in this regard :
Provided in Telecommunication Consumers Education and Protection Fund Regulations of 2007.
- It offers a basic framework for depositing unclaimed money of consumers by service providers, maintenance of the fund and other aspects.
- The income from the fund is utilised for programmes and activities relating to consumer education and protection.
Sources: the Hindu.