PIB Summary- 4th September, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

About C-DOT

• C-DOT is the premier telecommunications technology development centre owned by the Government of India.
• Established in 1984, C-DOT engages in developing intelligent computer software applications.
• Initially, its goal was to develop telecommunication technology to meet the needs of the Indian telecommunication network.
• It designs, develops and produces telecom technologies especially suited to the Indian landscape.
• Currently, it is a full-fledged autonomous telecom R&D institution that complies with level 5 maturity on the CMMI Model.
• It was founded by Sam Pitroda.

Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) lab

• While marking its foundation day, C-DOT also launched the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) lab for the design, development and implementation of pan-India Integrated Alert System to be administered by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for effective disaster management, public alerting & hazard notification in emergency situations.

SIMBEX Exercise

Facts about SIMBEX for IAS

SIMBEX – Facts about SIMBEX for UPSC
It is an annual naval bilateral exercise. It takes place between the navies of India and Singapore (Republic of Singapore Navy – RSN)
In 2020, the 27th edition of SIMBEX took place in Andaman Sea, while in 2021, it took place in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.
It was introduced in 1994. A total of 27 editions of SIMBEX have taken place over the years counting the latest in 2020.

In 2018, SIMBEX was conducted in Port Blair.

• The participating ships were INS Ranvijay, Satpura, Sahyadri, Shakti, Kirch, Kadmatt, Sumedha and Sukanya along with the RSN Ships, Formidable, Steadfast, Unity, Valiant and Vigour.
• The maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy, the P8I and the Singapore Navy’s Fokker F50 also took part in it.
• SIMBEX 2018 was held in November 2018.

In 2017, SIMBEX was conducted in Singapore.

• IN Ships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Kamorta and Jyoti participated in the SIMBEX 2017.
• The ships also participated in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) during the period.
• Shivalik and Sahyadri Ships are Project 17 indigenous multirole stealth frigates.
• Kamorta is a Project 28 anti-submarine stealth corvette.
• Jyoti is a fleet replenishment tanker.
• Alongside the four Indian Navy ships, P8i anti-submarine and reconnaissance aircraft and integral Chetak helicopters also represented the Indian Navy.
• Formidable, Supreme (both Formidable class multirole stealth frigates), Victory (missile corvette), Sikorsky S-70B helicopter, Fokker F 50 maritime patrol aircraft, RSAF F-15, F-16 fighter jets represented the Singapore Navy.
• It ended on 24th May 2017.

SIMBEX 2021

1. INS Ranvijay (Guided Missile Destroyer), INS Kiltan (Anti-submarine warfare corvette), INS Kora (Guided Missile Corvette) and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft represented Indian Navy.
2. Amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the SIMEX 2021 was held without any physical interactions as an ‘at-sea only’ exercise.
3. It was hosted by the RSN (Republic of Singapore Navy) in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.

SIMBEX 2020

1. The 2020 edition of SIMBEX witnessed participation by Indian Navy ships including destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk.
2. In addition, IN submarine Sindhuraj and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft also participated in the exercise.

SIMBEX 2019

1. Indian Navy ships Kolkata and Shakti represented India.
2. The maritime bilateral exercise between India and Singapore has led to tactical and operational cooperation.
3. The bilateral naval exercise between Singapore and India included the following exercises:
   • Advanced air defence operations
   • Anti-air/ surface practice firings
   • Tactical exercises
4. The SIMBEX 2019 was a catalyst for maritime cooperation and friendly relations between the two navies.
5. The objectives of SIMBEX 2019:
   • To strengthen mutual trust
   • To enhance interoperability, and
   • To build greater synergy to address common maritime concerns among both navies
6. There are two phases of a naval exercise – SIMBEX:
   • Harbour Phase – it includes the planning of conferences, simulator-based warfare training/ wargaming, courtesy calls to dignitaries of RSN navy and sporting events
   • Sea Phase – It was conducted in the South China Sea and included maritime combat exercises such as firing on aerial/ surface targets, advanced aerial tracking, coordinated targeting exercises and tactical exercises on surface/ air scenarios
7. Long-range maritime patrol aircraft Poseidon-8I (P8I) also represented Indian Navy alongside IN Ships.
8. Ships Steadfast and Valiant, maritime patrol aircraft Fokker-50 (F-50) and F-16 fighter aircraft represented Republic of Singapore Navy.

India-Singapore Defence Cooperation

1. East Asia Summit
2. G20
3. Commonwealth of Nations
4. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and
5. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

The following activities/events keep the defence cooperation between the two countries intact:

• Annual Ministerial and Secretary-level dialogues
• Staff level talks between three wings of Armed forces; training of Singapore Army and Air force in India every year
• Annual exercises including India’s longest uninterrupted naval exercise with any other country
• Ship visits from Navy and Coast Guard
• Singapore participates in IONS and multilateral Exercise MILAN hosted by the Indian Navy.

Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)

Established on August 28, 1970, the Bureau of Police Research and Development had replaced the Police Research and Advisory Council (1966) with the primary objective of modernisation of police forces.
There are four divisions under BPR&D, with each of these divisions performing separate roles and responsibilities. In this article, we shall discuss at length the objectives of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, along with its brief history and evolution over the years. Also, discussed further below is the Data on Police Organisations (DoPO) 2019. 

About BPR&D – Brief Background and Objectives

• Objectives – The Bureau of Police Research and Development was established to fulfil three key aims:
  • To take a direct and active interest in the issues
  • To promote a speedy and systematic study of the police problems
  • To apply science and technology in the methods and techniques used by police
• BPR&D was formed in 1970 and had replaced the Police Research and Advisory Council, which was formed in 1966
• The Bureau of Police Research and Development comes under the administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs
• Considering the importance of training for the police forces in the country, the Government of India, under the recommendation of the Gore-Committee (1971) had created a Training Division in 1973 under BPR&D
• Directorate of Forensic Sciences under the BPR&D came into existence in 1983 for forensic science services
• In 2008, the Government of India launched the National Police Mission under the Bureau to transform the police forces in the country into an effective instrument for the maintenance of internal security

BPR&D Divisions – Roles and Responsibilities

• Research Division
  • Analysis and study of general causes of crime; preventive measures; methods of improvising the investigation; administrative structure; Juvenile delinquency, etc.
  • The assistance of Police Research programmes in States and participation in  social defence and crime prevention programmes
• Development Division
  • Take a regular assessment of the equipment used by the police forces in India and ensure that new and modified pieces of equipment are provided in the fields of Arms and Ammunition, Riot Control Equipment, Traffic Control Equipment, Police Transport and other scientific aids for investigation
  • Providing access to computer technology in various fields of the police force
• Administrative Division
  • Managing the matters related to the police workforce, their units and headquarters
  • Maintaining all accounts and budgets 
  • Working for the welfare of the staff of BPR&D
• Training Division
  • Evaluate the training programmes conducted for the police force
  • Assess that the training is suitable as per the social state of the country and the force is well prepared for every circumstance
  • To liaise with the Directorate of Training of the Department of Personnel in relation inter-alia to training aids projects and fellowships under the UNDP, UNESCO & Colombo Plan etc.
  • To create and maintain a circulating library of films for the use of various police training institutions
  • Supervising the three central detective training schools, situated at Chandigarh, Kolkata and Hyderabad

Data on Police Organisations (DoPO) 2019

The Bureau of Police Research and Development releases the Data on Police Organisations (DoPO), which shows different aspects of policing in the country like woman police, police expenditure, constabulary ratio, transport facilities, communication facilities, representation of various castes and police training centres. 

Given below are the key points mentioned in the latest edition of DoPO (as of January 1, 2020):

• The report is prepared on the basis of data provided by the States/UTs, CAPFs and other Central Police Organizations
• Police per lakh of Population Ratio (PPR) against the total sanctioned Police strength during the year 2019 is 195.39 as compared to 198.65 in the previous year
• Police per 100 Sq. Km. of Area Ratio (PAR) against the total sanctioned Police strength during the year 2019 is 79.80 as compared to 78.95 in the previous year
• Population Per Police Person against the total sanctioned Police strength during the year 2019 is 511.81 as compared to 503.40 in the previous year
• Area Per Police Person (in Sq. Km) against the total sanctioned Police strength during the year 2019 is 1.25, as compared to 1.27 in the previous year

SCs/STs & OBCs in State/UT Police
The total actual strength of Police Personnel belonging to (from Constable to Dy.SP)

• Scheduled Castes stands at 3,01,648
• Scheduled Tribes stands at 2,42,343
• Other Backward Classes stands at 5,19,622

Women in Police
As per the data of 2019, there has been an increase of 16.05% in the total strength of women in the police since 2018 and approximately a 48% increase since 2014.