All questions of Working of the Constitution for UPSC CSE Exam
The Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) is a statutory organization constituted under section 3(1) of the Electricity Supply Act 1948, which has been superseded by section 70( 1) of the Electricity Act 2003.
- The CEA advises the government on matters relating to the National Electricity Policy and formulates short-term and perspective plans for the development of electrical systems. Under the Electricity Act 2003, CEA prescribes the standards on matters such as the construction of electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid, installation and operation of meters and safety and grid standards.
- The CEA is also responsible for concurrence of hydropower development schemes of central, state and private sectors taking into consideration the factors which will result in the efficient development of the river and its tributaries for power generation, consistent with the requirement of drinking water, irrigation, navigation and flood control.
- Preparation of technical standards for construction of electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid is the responsibility of CEA as per section 73 (b) of the Electricity Act, 2003.
- However, as per section 7 of this Act, a generating company may establish, operate and maintain a generating station if it complies with the technical standards only relating to connectivity to the grid as given in clause (b) of section 73. This implies that generating stations need not follow compulsory the CEA technical standards specified for the construction of electrical plants and electric lines.
- The CEA plays a lead role in promoting the integrated operations of the regional power grids and the evolution of a national grid. The eastern, western, and north-eastern grids have been integrated and are operating in asynchronous mode. The eastern grid is connected to the northern as well as southern grid through High- Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) back-to-back links. The western grid is also connected to the northern and southern grid through similar arrangements. The CEA facilitates the exchange of power within the country from surplus to deficit regions and with neighboring countries for mutual benefits.
- The CEA advises central government, state governments and regulatory commissions on all technical matters relating to generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It also advises state governments, licensees or generating companies on matters which enable them to operate and maintain the electricity system under their ownership or control in an improved manner.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, is a nodal agency that deals with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing. It strengthens the security-related defense of the Indian Internet domain, In March 2014, CERT reported a critical flaw in Android Jelly Bean's Virtual Private Network (VPN) implementation.
- If the body is chaired by a person like the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, it is NOT possible for the body to meet on a daily basis given the busy schedule of the Ministers. The body meets twice a year. So, option b is incorrect.
- Not so important facts like this are often asked by UPSC, You should also pay attention to these details.
Learning: The mandate of the National Council of Senior Citizens is to advise the Central and State Governments on the entire gamut of issues related to the welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life, with special reference to the following:
- Policies, programs, and legislative measures.
- Promotion of physical and financial security, health, and independent and productive living.
- Awareness generation and community mobilization.
Statement 1: It was founded In 1950 by MaulanaAbulKalam Azad, independent India’s first Education Minister.
Statement 2: Its objectives are to actively participate in die formulation and implementation of policies and programs pertaining to India's external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people, and to develop relations with nations.
Statement 1: It is chaired by the prime minister with the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission as vice-chairman.
Chief Ministers of all states, ministers of the related central ministries, secretaries of the concerned departments, eminent physicians, demographers and the representatives of the civil society are members of the commission.
Statement 2: It is conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
Learning: The commission has the mandate
- to review, monitor and give direction for the implementation of the National Population Policy with the view to achieving the goals set in the Population Policy.
- promote synergy between health, educational environmental and developmental programmes so as to hasten population stabilization.
- promote inter-sectoral coordination in planning and implementation of the programmes through different sectors and agencies in Centre and the Slates,
- develop a vigorous peoples programme to support this national effort.
The National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
The establishment of the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing India's cybersecurity framework.
Main Agency: CERT-In
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been designated as the main agency to handle the establishment of the NCCC. This decision is rooted in several key factors:
1. Expertise in Cybersecurity
- CERT-In is the national agency responsible for monitoring, reporting, and responding to cybersecurity incidents in India.
- With a robust framework in place, it has the technical expertise required to manage and coordinate cyber threats effectively.
2. Incident Management
- CERT-In plays a pivotal role in incident management, providing timely information related to vulnerabilities and threats.
- This capability is crucial for the NCCC, which aims to enhance situational awareness regarding cyber threats at a national level.
3. Coordination with Other Agencies
- CERT-In is already engaged in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental organizations to mitigate cyber risks.
- The NCCC will leverage this existing network for a more cohesive response to cyber incidents.
4. Policy Implementation
- As a part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), CERT-In is involved in formulating and implementing national cybersecurity policies.
- This aligns perfectly with the objectives of the NCCC, which aims to create a centralized coordination mechanism.
In conclusion, CERT-In's established role in cybersecurity incident management, expertise, and inter-agency coordination makes it the ideal agency to handle the establishment and operationalization of the National Cyber Coordination Centre.