[Newsbits] 7-8.03.2024: Sangam Initiative, CSpace & More

The Supreme Court of India has recently banned tiger safaris in the core areas of Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, following concerns over illegal construction and deforestation activities. This decision aims to protect the park’s wildlife habitat while balancing the interests of tourism. The court criticized former Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and former Divisional Forest Officer Kishan Chand for their roles in these activities and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to report on the case. Additionally, a committee has been formed to examine whether safaris can be allowed in buffer or fringe areas of national parks across the country​​​​.

The indelible ink used in the Lok Sabha 2024 polls is supplied by Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd (MPVL), the sole supplier for such ink in India. The company is currently preparing for the elections, having received its largest order to date, with 70% of production already completed and the remainder expected to be finished by March 15. This ink is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process by preventing multiple votes from a single individual. The cost per vial has increased due to the rising price of silver nitrate, a key ingredient. MPVL is also looking into developing marker pens as an alternative to traditional glass vials for future elections. In addition to domestic demands, MPVL caters to international orders from countries like Cambodia, Fiji Islands, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau, showcasing the global reliance on its indelible ink for fair voting processes​​​​.

CSpace, Kerala’s first government-owned OTT platform, was launched on March 7, 2024, marking a significant move towards digitizing the state’s entertainment sector. Managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), it aims to offer a mix of meaningful infotainment by carefully selecting content that meets specific artistic and cultural standards. The platform differentiates itself through a transparent selection process involving a panel of 60 cultural experts and a fair revenue-sharing model with content providers. CSpace offers a variety of films, including award winners and festival features, on a pay-per-view basis. This initiative not only supports the Malayalam cinema but also addresses the challenges of content selection and propagation in the OTT sector, offering a new chapter for digital entertainment in Kerala​​​​​​.

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation is set to complete India’s first underwater metro tunnel, connecting the East and West metro corridors under the Hooghly river between Howrah and Kolkata. This 520-meter stretch, part of a 16.6 km east-west corridor, is designed to significantly reduce travel time and decongest traffic in the area. The project, costing Rs 8,600 crore, includes safety features like walkways for emergency evacuation and is built 33 meters below the riverbed. The underwater tunnel will connect the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan, crossing the river. With stations at Esplanade, Mahakaran, Howrah, and Howrah Maidan, the metro aims to transform transportation in Kolkata, making it akin to international standards similar to the Eurostar connection between London and Paris​​​​​​.

The 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul, took place in Seoul, South Korea, marking a significant step in bolstering the bilateral relations between the two nations. This meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in various domains, including trade, defense, education, and technology, amidst discussions on regional and global issues, particularly concerning the Indo-Pacific region. The engagement aimed at reviewing the extensive partnership and exploring new avenues for collaboration, emphasizing the shared interests and strategic convergences between India and South Korea. The visit underscored the commitment of both countries to deepen their Special Strategic Partnership and address contemporary challenges together, reflecting a robust and dynamic relationship with potential for future growth and mutual benefits.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks and non-bank lenders to provide customers with the option to choose from multiple card networks (such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.) at the time of issuing or renewing debit, credit, and prepaid cards. This directive aims to enhance customer choice and promote competition among card networks. Exemptions apply to issuers with their own networks or those with fewer than 10 lakh active cards. The policy is set to take effect from September 6, 2024, and was announced after the RBI sought feedback from stakeholders in July 2023​​​​.

The Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative, unveiled by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on February 15, 2024, is an innovative project designed to revolutionize infrastructure planning and design through the use of digital twin technology. This technology creates virtual replicas of physical assets for real-time monitoring, simulation, and analysis, facilitating experimental iterations and feedback loops to adapt to changes for optimal outcomes. The initiative is structured around a Proof of Concept (PoC) that will be carried out in two stages in one of India’s major cities. The first stage focuses on exploratory activities to clarify horizons and unleash potential, while the second stage involves practical demonstrations of specific use cases to generate a future blueprint for collaboration and scaling successful strategies in infrastructure projects. This initiative seeks to demonstrate the practical implementation of innovative infrastructure planning solutions, develop a model framework for faster and more effective collaboration, and provide a roadmap for scaling and replicating successful strategies in future projects​​​​.