Andhra Pradesh Re-Organization Act – 2014 (APRA-2014), India-Canada Agri-Tech Seminar, “Sensor and Sensing for Precision Agriculture” y ICAR, RAISE 2020- ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020 summit, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
Andhra Pradesh Re-Organization Act – 2014 (APRA-2014)
- The 2nd meeting of the Apex Council set up by the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organization Act – 2014 (APRA-2014) with Union Minister for Jal Shakti as Chairman and Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as members has been held where Chief Ministers of both states of participated through VC.
- The first agenda item that was deliberated upon was to decide on the jurisdiction of both Godavari and Krishna Management Boards.
- Even after six years their jurisdiction is still not notified because both the states had differing opinions on this issue.
- The second agenda item that was deliberated upon is the submission of DPR’s of new projects taken up by both the states on rivers Krishna and Godavari respectively.
- As per the Act, both KRMB and GRMB should technically appraise and clear them.
- The third agenda item that was deliberated upon was establishing a mechanism for determination of share of Krishna and Godavari waters between the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Centre’s stand on these agenda items and other issues discussed in the meeting is that regarding Telangana’s request of referring the water allocations issue to a new tribunal or to KWDT-II (Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal) under Section-3 of Inter State River Water Disputes Act – 1956 (ISRWDA), the matter is pending in Supreme Court and is sub-judice.
- As mandated by APRA-2014, the headquarters of the KRMB shall be located in the Successor State of Andhra Pradesh.
- With regards to sharing of River waters between both the states in both Godavari and Krishna Rivers, CM of Telangana agreed to withdraw the case they filed in Supreme Court to enable Centre to move forward on referring the water sharing issues to the tribunal under Section-3 of ISRWD Act of 1956, after taking due legal opinion. With regards to sharing of River Godavari waters between both the states, both the states were asked to send in the request to Centre so that Centre can move forward to refer to the tribunal under section-3 of ISWRD Act of 1956.
- Telangana CM said that he would send the request to Centre in a day.
- It was agreed to shift the KRMB Headquarters to the state of Andhra Pradesh.
India-Canada Agri-Tech Seminar to turn agriculture sector into an investment opportunity
- Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayat Raj and Food Processing Industries, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has announced the initiatives which include policy reforms for establishment of One Nation-One Market, contract agriculture with appropriate measures to protect small and marginal farmers, and Rs one lakh crore Agri Infra Fund.
- India is developing a digital agri-stack as an important provider for online marketplaces and smart agriculture.
- The government is committed to turning the agricultural sector into an investment opportunity.
- In his inaugural address at the two-day India-Canada Agri-Tech Virtual Seminar organized by the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC) in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Shri Tomar said that India, in particular, during the last six months of the global pandemic crisis has made considerable progressive reforms in the agricultural sector.
- These include policy reforms for the establishment of One Nation-One market, contract farming along with appropriate measures for the safety and freedom of farmers. India has over 450 start-ups in the agri-tech sector, which means that every 9th start-up in the world is Indian.
- Public-private partnerships are increasing due to investment in line with this sector.
- Indicating the rapid growth in agri-trade between India and Canada, Shri Tomar said that India is the fifth largest importer of Canadian vegetables and raw agricultural materials and the seventh largest importer of leguminous vegetables, called “Vegetarian Protein”.
- Also there is great potential for growth in the Indo-Canadian agri-business.
- India is an excellent place for the production of healthy food including nutritious grains, organics, herbals, etc., which are the foundation of Ayurveda’s rich traditions and methods of yoga treatment.
- Shri Tomar said that after signing of the MoU in 2009, he would like to see Indo-Canadian cooperation accelerate forward in leveraging its natural capabilities in the agricultural sector.
- At the event, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food of the Government of Canada Ms Mary-Claude Bibeau highlighted the fact that Canada and India have a proud history of strong bilateral trade and collaboration in agriculture, with a vibrant trading relationship in agriculture and agri-food, valued at over $1.5 billion.
- She went on to point that in India, rapid economic growth is driving new consumer demands and preferences, and Canada can help India meet those demands through scientific and technological expertise in food processing, food safety and transportation infrastructure.
- Minister Bibeau concluded by reiterating that as we look to the future, expanding and diversifying mutual trade and investment opportunities between Canada and India, will also help both economies recover after the pandemic.
- The CEO of ICBC, Ms. Nadira said that ICBC will soon be releasing a white paper report mapping the business opportunities between India and Canada in Agriculture and Agri-tech.
"Sensor and Sensing for Precision Agriculture" held by ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute
- A session on “Sensors and Sensing for Precision Agriculture” was organized under “Precision Agriculture” by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute with total participation of 1019 including 38 panellists on 05th October 2020, as part of the Vaishwik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit 2020.
- This is a Government of India initiative to bring together the thought process, practices, R&D culture of Overseas and Indian scientists/academicians through a series of structured deliberations and constructive dialogue, and develop a road map for translational research/academic culture for tangible output and strengthening the S&T base for providing the impetus to endeavour of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
- A total of 18 verticals have been identified for deliberation of which “Agro-economy and Food Security” deals directly with agriculture with several horizontals. The horizontal on “Precision Agriculture” aims at discussing recent advances in the field on sensors, remote sensing, deep learning, artificial intelligence and IoT for monitoring and quantification of soil, plant and environment to enhance farm productivity with increased input use efficiency and environmental sustainability.
- Also, the presentation made on the Indian and US scenario on high throughput sensor-based plant phenotyping for development of resource efficient, climate smart and high yielding cultivars, which is fundamental for smart agriculture.
Each presentation was followed by panel discussion with eminent panellists and research gaps identified are:
(1) Development of indigenous low cost sensors with integrated platforms, robotics, IoTs and WSN for high throughput field phenotyping and soil and crop health monitoring and management,
(2) Big data analytics and modelling for sensor based early detection of stresses, discrimination and near real time detection and management
(3) Standardized protocols for UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) based imaging using different sensors, inter sensor calibration and data analytics for near real time crop condition monitoring and management and
(4) Development of affordable scale neutral precision agricultural technologies suitable to ecosystem of Indian agriculture.
RAISE 2020- ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020 summit
- The role that artificial intelligence can play in powering financial inclusion, and its potential to empower over a billion Indians by helping build robust and ahead-of-the-curve public digital platforms.
- AI will dominate the core of the next exponential enterprises, rewriting the fundamentals of the establishment and this is the opportunity to capture. We are seeing that AI-first businesses are becoming monopolies.
- AI is playing a catalytic role in driving financial inclusion in the country said Mr. Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO of National Payments Corporation of India.
- Financial services have been rule-based till date.
- However, financial institutions are using AI based technologies as ‘Decision Making Support’, which is helping us to really fast-pace the whole process.
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) also spoke at the same session, underscoring the importance of scalability of AI in systems.
- He elaborated on the need to use open source infrastructure to develop AI-powered tools, and on the need to work on integrating AI solutions within the existing digital ecosystem.
- UIDAI is developing a face authentication system which will be available to all the Aadhaar holders.
- The goal is to make it extremely secure and make it available for all smartphone users in the country.
- The system can then be used by other financial service providers to strengthen their own AI ecosystem.
- RBI talked about the imperatives for developing strong AI frameworks as From a data standpoint, the key aspects for developing a robust AI framework are: Legality, efficiency and transparency of data sourcing, ensuring integrity, privacy and confidentiality of the data collected, responsible and accountable data access, and putting in place an organized data monetization framework.
- The role of AI in empowering over a billion people was the theme of the second session of the day, which was discussed by a specially-curated all-women panel.
- AI research is dominated almost entirely by men. Globally, only 22% of AI professionals are women. Now, after COVID 19 has led to rapid digitization, the need to focus on digital inclusion has never been clearer.
- Government of India, talked about the need to use AI to develop solutions for specially-abled people.
- Disabilities can be permanent, temporary or situational.
- By innovating for people with disabilities, we are innovating for us all.
- By ensuring that technology fulfils its promise to address the broadest societal needs, we can empower everyone – not just individuals with disabilities – to achieve more.
- The tools like captioning, and accessibility checker can use AI to help persons with disabilities.
- We need to focus our efforts on developing AI that makes this world more inclusive, accessible and affordable for the especially-abled.
- With the advent of time and introduction of new technologies, technology must advance to ensure inclusion. Tech access must be given to the young as well.
- The combination of AI and Data can deliver 10% of our USD 10 trillion economy aspiration, or USD 500 billion in value over the next 4-5 years.
- India is perhaps the only country in the world where the opportunity for AI in agriculture is as large as it is in banking.
- AI services should aim to reach the last man in the queue and make lives easier.
- Further, we should move together as Team India and ensure the benefits of AI reach all farmers, students, healthcare personnel and the common man.
- According to independent studies, AI has the potential to raise India’s annual growth rate by 1.3% and add USD 957 billion to the country’s economy by 2035.
- At a global level, AI is expected to unlock USD 15.7 trillion in productivity by 2030.
- India should promote the creation of more public digital platforms to ensure inclusive economic growth.
- These platforms should aim to empower more and more people with opportunities, and India’s public and private sectors must come together to deliver innovative results.
- As part of the summit, the Government of India organized the AatmaNirbhar Bharat AI Solution Challenge with the aim of promoting and showcasing innovative AI solutions developed by Indian start-ups.
- A total of 299 entries were received in this challenge in different categories.
- A selection of 21 of these solutions was showcased today to the global audience at the summit.
- The AI solutions featured were developed by nine startups from Karnataka, three startups from Delhi, two from Haryana, two from Maharashtra, and one startup each from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Jharkhand and Kerala.
- The summit also featured a session on education and awareness for responsible AI.
- AI can revolutionize every part of the economy and accelerate economic growth.
- It is fair to say that between now and the middle of the century, India almost inevitably will become one of the world’s AI superpower.
- India is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence in all walks of life.
- India’s technological prowess and the richness of its data will help the country become the AI garage of the world, delivering cutting-edge technological solutions.
- The RAISE 2020 Summit (http://raise2020.indiaai.gov.in/) serves as a platform for discussion and consensus building to help create a data-rich environment, which will help develop AI for the global community.
About RAISE 2020:
RAISE 2020 is a first-of-its-kind, global meeting of minds on Artificial Intelligence to drive India’s vision and roadmap for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment through responsible AI.
Organized by Government of India along with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and NITI Aayog, the event will witness robust participation from global industry leaders, key opinion makers, Government representatives and academia.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
- Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing notified on 1st April, 2020,extends an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over base year) of goods under target segments that are manufactured in India to eligible companies, for a period of five years subsequent to the base year (FY2019-20).
- PLI scheme has been huge success in terms of the applications received from Global as well as Domestic Mobile Phone manufacturing companies and electronic components manufacturers.
- Industry has reposed its faith in India’s stellar progress as a world class manufacturing destination and this resonates strongly with Prime Minister’s clarion call of AtmaNirbhar Bharat – a self-reliant India.
- Minister further said that “we are optimistic and looking forward to building a strong ecosystem across the value chain and integrating with the global value chains, thereby strengthening electronics manufacturing ecosystem in the country”.
- The international mobile phone manufacturing companies that are approved under Mobile Phone (Invoice Value INR 15,000 and above) Segment are Samsung, Foxconn Hon Hai, Rising Star, Wistron and Pegatron.
- Out of these, 3 companies namely Foxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron are contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones.
- Apple (37%) and Samsung (22%) together account for nearly 60% of global sales revenue of mobile phones and this scheme is expected to increase their manufacturing base manifold in the country.
- Under Mobile Phone (Domestic Companies) Segment, Indian companies includingLava, Bhagwati (Micromax), Padget Electronics, UTL Neolyncs and Optiemus Electronics are approved by MeitY.
- These companies are expected to expand their manufacturing operations in a significant manner and grow into national champion companies in mobile phone production.
- 6 companies are approved under the Specified Electronic Components Segment which include AT&S, Ascent Circuits, Visicon, Walsin, Sahasra, and Neolync.
- Over the next 5 years, the approved companies under the PLI Scheme are expected to lead to total production of more than INR 10,50,000 crore (INR 10.5 lakh crore).
- Out of the total production, the approved companies under Mobile Phone (Invoice Value INR 15,000 and above) segment have proposed a production of over INR 9,00,000 crore.
- The approved companies under Mobile Phone (Domestic Companies) segment have proposed a production of about INR 1,25,000 crore and those under Specified Electronic Components segment have proposed a production of over INR 15,000 crore.
- The companies approved under the scheme are expected to promote exports significantly.
- Out of the total production of INR 10,50,000 crore in the next 5 years, around 60% will be contributed by exports of the order of INR 6,50,000 crore.
- The companies approved under the scheme will bring additional investment in electronics manufacturing to the tune of INR 11,000 crore.
- The companies approved under the scheme will generate more than2 lakh direct employment opportunities in next 5 years along with creation of additional indirect employment of nearly 3 times the direct employment.
- Domestic Value Addition is expected to grow from the current 15-20% to 35-40% in case of Mobile Phones and 45-50% for electronic components.
- PLI scheme and other initiatives to promote electronics manufacturing will help in making India a competitive destination for electronics manufacturing and give boost to AtmaNirbhar Bharat as it is expected the demand for electronics in India expected to grow manifold by 2025.
- Creation of domestic champion companies in electronics manufacturing under the Scheme will give fillip to vocal for local while aiming for global scale.
- Other initiatives like the “Digital India” and “Make in India” programmes, India has witnessed an unprecedented growth in electronics manufacturing in the last five years.
- The National Policy on Electronics 2019 envisions positioning India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) by focusing on size and scale, promoting exports and enhancing domestic value addition by creating an enabling environment for the industry to compete globally.
