Articles Covered

1. INS SHARDA AWARDED ON THE SPOT UNIT CITATION FOR ANTI PIRACY OPERATIONS
2. Rakhigarhi findings in NCERT books added; Narmada Dam references dropped
3. Indian Coast Guard rescues nine injured fishermen off Andhra Coast in Bay of Bengal
4. Washington Treaty
5. RBI turns down request to remove ‘small finance’ tag from bank name
6. Project Akashteer
7. RBI Retail Direct Scheme
8. India abstains at U.N. Human Rights Council on vote calling for Gaza ceasefire, arms embargo against Israel
9. India achieves target to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis ‘Kala-Azar’
10. Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
11. The rock paintings at Kumittipathi testify to prehistoric Kongu region
12. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
13. Telecom Secretary virtually launches one of “Experimental Licence Module for 100 5G Labs” at IIT Madras

INS SHARDA AWARDED ON THE SPOT UNIT CITATION FOR ANTI PIRACY OPERATIONS

1. Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, during his visit to Southern Naval Command, Kochi, awarded ‘On the Spot Unit Citation’ to INS Sharda for successful conduct of anti-piracy operations.
2. The ship was involved in the safe release of all 19 crew members (11 Iranian & 08 Pakistani) of Iranian fishing vessel Omari which was held hostage by pirates off East coast of Somalia.
3. The ship was tasked to investigate the Iranian fishing vessel Omari that was likely hijacked by pirates. Based on surveillance inputs of naval RPA, the ship intercepted the vessel and maintained a covert trail throughout the night.

1. During early morning hours of 02 Feb 24, the ship’s integral helo and subsequently Prahar team was launched. The aggressive posture of ship coerced the pirates to safely release the crew and boat.
2. The swift and decisive actions of the ship resulted in rescue of hijacked fishing vessel and its crew from Somali pirates. The relentless effort of the ship, mission deployed for anti-piracy operations saved precious lives at sea upholding Indian Navy’s resolve to enhancing security and safety of seafarers in the Indian Ocean Region.
3. The CNS interacted with Team Sharda and commended them for responding to piracy attack with alacrity leading to safe and successful conduct of operations at sea under challenging conditions. During his address, he complimented the professional approach of crew which resulted in recognition and acclaim of Indian Navy as the preferred security partner in the region.

Rakhigarhi findings in NCERT books added; Narmada Dam references dropped

It dropped references to how Narmada Dam project adversely affected tribals and drew them to displacement leading to greater destitution

Rakhigarhi:

1. Location: It is an archaeological sitelocated in Hisar district, Haryana, just 27 km from the GHAGGAR RIVER in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain.
2. It is one of the oldest and largest cities ofthe subcontinent’s earliest known Bronze Age urban culture the IVC going back to about 6500 BCE.
3. It is one of the five known biggest townships of Harappancivilization on the Indian sub-continent. The other four are Harappa, Mohenjodaro, and Ganveriwala in Pakistan, and Dholavira (Gujrat) in India.

Findings:

1. The exploration around this site has clearly identified seven archaeological moundsspread over an area of approximately 350 ha.
2. Rakhigarhi primarily yields evidence of occupation duringthe Early and Mature Harappan periods, with the site being completely abandoned during the Late Harappan
3. The archaeological excavations revealed the mature Harappan phase, represented by a planned townshipwith mud-brick as well as burnt-brick houses with a proper drainage system.
4. The ceramic industryrepresented by red ware, which included dish-on-stand, vase, jar, bowl, beaker, perforated jar, goblet, and handis.
5. Animal sacrificial pitslined with mud bricks and triangular and circular fire alters on the mud floor have also been excavated, that signifies the ritual system of the Harappans.
6. A cylindrical seal with five Harappan characterson one sideand a symbol of an alligator on the other is an important find from this site.
7. Other antiquities included blades; terracotta and shell bangles; beads of semiprecious stones, terracotta, shell and copper objects; animal figurines, toy cart frame and wheel of terracotta; bone points; inscribed steatite seals, and sealings.
8. The excavations have yielded a few extended burials, which certainly belong to a very late stage, may be the medieval times.

Indian Coast Guard rescues nine injured fishermen off Andhra Coast in Bay of Bengal

1. Acting swiftly, Indian Coast Guard Ship Veera on patrol off the Andhra coast saved nine fishermen who had suffered severe burn injuries after their boat caught fire and sunk at sea on 5 April 2024.
2. The ICGS Veera had received a radio message from a nearby fishing boat about raging fire onboard the Indian fishing boat (IFB) Durga Bhavani at the location around 65 nautical miles from Visakhapatnam harbour. IFB Durga Bhavani, an Andhra registered boat, had sailed from Kakinada harbour with nine crew on 26 March 24.
3. The boat had a fire incident on April 5, resulting in an explosion of a Gas cylinder onboard. All nine fishermen jumped into the water to escape but some suffered severe burn injuries in the process.
4. The fishing boat, damaged due to an explosion, sank at the location within a few minutes. The information regarding fire and explosion was relayed to Coast Guard ship by a nearby boat, who proceeded to pick up the survivors.
5. Sensing the urgency of the situation, ICGS Veera proceeded at top speed, reaching the location within a few hours to provide assistance to the survivors.
6. All nine survivors were shifted to ICG ship where they were provided first aid by a medical team.
7. Meanwhile, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 6 in coordination with JD Fisheries Visakhapatnam promptly arranged ambulances along with medical teams to evacuate critically injured crew of IFB. All the injured fishermen were shifted to King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam for further treatment. Due to the swift response by the ICG ship, the entire rescue mission was completed within a short span of six hours.
8. Indian Coast Guard is the lead agency for providing assistance to fishermen at sea as well as the national coordinating agency for Search and Rescue at Sea.

Washington Treaty

• The Washington Treaty, or North Atlantic Treaty, forms the basis of the NATO.
• The Treaty was signed in Washington D.C. on 4 April, 1949,by 12 founding members.
• The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51ofthe United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the inherent right of independent states toindividual or collective defence.
• Collective defenceis at the heart of the treatyand is enshrined in Article 5. It commits members to protect each other and sets a spirit of solidarity within the Alliance.
• The treaty is short, containing only 14 articles, and provides for in-built flexibility on all fronts.
• Despite the changing security environment, the original treaty has never hadto be modified,and each ally has the possibility to implement the text in accordance with its capabilities and circumstances.

Key Facts about NATO:

1. NATO is a military allianceestablished by the North Atlantic Treaty.
2. It currently has 32 alliance membersfrom North America and Europe.
3. NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and securitythrough political and military means.
4. It is a system of collective defencewhere independent member states agree for mutual defence in case of any attack by an external party.

• Article 5of the Washington Treaty states that an attack against oneally is an attack against all.
• This article forms the core of the Alliance, a promise of collective defense.

Functions:

• Political: NATO promotes democratic valuesand enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issuesto solve problems, build trust, and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
• Military: NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military powerto undertake crisis-management operations.

In addition to collective defence and key values, the principle of consensus decision-making and the importance of consultation define the spirit of the Organization, together with its defensive nature and flexibility.

Headquarter: Brussels, Belgium.

RBI turns down request to remove ‘small finance’ tag from bank name

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has turned down the request from small finance banks (SFB) to drop the “small finance” tag from their name, saying that SFBs are differentiated banks with specific objectives like financial inclusion.
• “SFBs have been conceptualised as differentiated banks with specific objectives. The tag of having an SFB after their name is a key part of that differentiator. So, I do not think there is any requirement to modify that at this point in time,” said M. Rajeshwar Rao, deputy governor, RBI, in post monetary policy media interaction.

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has turned down the request from small finance banks (SFB) to drop the “small finance” tag from their name.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has turned down the request from small finance banks (SFB) to drop the “small finance” tag from their name, saying that SFBs are differentiated banks with specific objectives like financial inclusion.

Small Finance Banks:

• Background: Dr. Raghuram Rajan’s Committee on Financial Sector Reforms recommended the notion of Small Finance Banks in its 2009 report titled ‘A Hundred Small Steps’.
• Small Finance Banks (SFBs) are specialized banks in India that focus on the financial needs of underserved and unserved population segments, such as small business units, micro and small businesses, and unorganized sector entities.

Objective:

• Financial Inclusion: SFBs seek to promote financial inclusion by meeting the needs of small businesses, small and marginal farmers,micro and small enterprises, and unorganized sectors.
• Not Exclusive: Although its primary focus is financial inclusion, SFBs are open to more than just these sectors.

Promoters and Structure

1. Promoters of Small Finance Banks:Individuals, corporations, trusts, or societies can promote small finance banks.
2. Legal Structure: They are formed as public limited companies in the private sector, licenced under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949,and supervised by the RBI Act of 1934.

Area of Operations

• No Restrictions: Unlike regional rural banks (RRBs) and local area banks, SFBs can operate without restriction in terms of location.
• Capital Requirement: The minimum capital requirement for SFBs is 100 crores.

Regulatory Framework:

• Compliance: SFBs are subject to all RBI prudential rules and regulations that apply toexisting commercial banks, including maintainingthe Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio.
• Priority Sector Lending (PSL): SFBs must extend 75% of the credit to sectorsclassified as priority sector lending by the Reserve Bank.

Branches and Rural Presence

• Branches: At least 25% of SFB branches should be in unbanked rural areas.
• Loan Portfolio:A minimum of50% of the loan portfolio should consist of loans and advances of up to 25 lakhs.

Non-Risk Sharing Financial Services

1. Allowed operations: SFBs may engage in non-risk-sharing financial services operations that do not involve a commitment of funds. These include distributingmutual fund units, insurance policies, pension plans, etc.
2. Foreign Exchange: SFBs can establish dealerships in the foreign exchange market.

Conversion and Licensing

• Conversion: Existing NBFCs, microfinance institutions, and local banks can choose to convert into Small Finance Banks.
• On-Tap Licencing: In 2019, the RBI implemented a ‘on-tap’ licensing process, which allows it to accept applications and award licenses to SFBs throughout the year.

Project Akashteer

The Indian Army has initiated the induction of control and reporting systems under ‘Project Akashteer’ to bolster its air defense capabilities.

• It is a cutting-edge initiative designed to automate air defense controland reporting processes by digitizing them.
• It aims to deliver an unprecedented level of situational awareness and controlfor the force to ensure the safety of friendly aircraft and engage hostile aircraft in contested airspace.
• It will enable monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.

Key facts about Akashteer Command and Control Systems

1. It is developed by Bharat Electronics Limited(BEL) as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
2. The system’s control centers, designed to be vehicle-based and mobile,can maintain operational capabilities even in challenging communication environments.
3. It will significantly enhance India’s air defense capabilities in several ways:

• Efficiency and Integration:By digitizing Air Defence Control and Reporting processes, ‘Akashteer’ will usher in unprecedented levels of efficiency and integration. This will enable the Indian Army to respond swiftly to hostile threats while minimizing the risk of friendly fire incidents.
• Situational Awareness:It integrates radar and communication systems into a unified network, providing the Indian Army with unprecedented situational awareness. This will enable them to detect and engage hostile targets more effectively.
• Automation:Overall, the deployment of ‘Akashteer’ signifies a leap towards complete automation of air defense operations

RBI Retail Direct Scheme

1. It was initially introduced in November 2021.
2. It gives access to individual investorsto maintain gilt accounts with the RBI and invest in government securities.
3. The scheme enables investors to buy securities in primary auctionsas well as buy/sell securities through the NDS-OM platform.

Negotiated Dealing System – Order Matching system (NDS-OM) means RBI’s screen based anonymous electronic order matching system for trading in Government securities in the secondary market.

It is providing the following facilities to retail investors in government securities market through an online portal:

1. Open and maintain a ‘Retail Direct Gilt Account’,
2. Access to primary issuance of government securities,
3. Access to NDS-OM.

Eligibility: Retail investors can register under the scheme and maintain an RDG account, if they have the following:

1. Rupee savings bank accountmaintained in India,
2. PAN, any officially valid document for KYC purpose,
3. Valid email-ID and registered mobile number.

Payments for transactions can be done conveniently using saving bank account through internet-banking orUPI.

Investor services include provisions for transaction and balance statements, nomination facility, pledge or lien of securities and gift transactions. No fees will be charged for facilities provided under the scheme.

India abstains at U.N. Human Rights Council on vote calling for Gaza ceasefire, arms embargo against Israel

Four resolutions critical of Israel passed by 47-member HRC, India votes in favour of other 3

• India on April 5 abstained on a resolution at the Human Rights Council that called on Israel for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called on states to implement an arms embargo, which was adopted by the 47-member Human Rights Council.
• While India’s abstention is believed to be in line with previous votes on any HRC resolutions that call for “accountability”, it did vote in favour of three other resolutions that criticised Israel for human rights violations against Palestinians, Israel’s occupation of Syrian Golan, and called for the Palestinian right to self-determination. All four resolutions were introduced at the HRC in Geneva by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation.

Recently, India abstained on a resolution at the Human Rights Council that called on Israel for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

• Introduction of the Resolution: Pakistan introduced the resolution on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
• Abstention by India: India’s abstention is regarded to be consistent with previous votes on resolutions that did not criticize Hamas.
• Past Resolutions: It voted in favour of three further resolutions condemning Israel’s conduct against Palestinians and advocating for Palestinian rights.
• Countries against the Resolution: The United States, Germany, and four other countries voted against the motion, while India was one of 13 countries that abstained.
• Countries in Favour of the Resolution: Bangladesh, China, the Maldives, the UAE, Indonesia, and others all voted in favor of the motion.
• India’s Support: India supported resolutions concerning Palestinian self-determination, human rights in the Syrian Golan, and Israeli settlements.

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:

1. Type of Organization:The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental organisation that operates within the United Nations.
2. Headquarters: The UN General Assembly established the council in 2006, and it is based in Geneva.
3. The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the United Nations’ highest human rights officer.
4. Meeting of the Council: The council convenesthree times yearly to investigate global human rights issues.
5. Members: It is composed of 47 states that are responsible for promoting and protecting all human rights worldwide.
6. Procedure for Electing Members: Most General Assembly members elect 47 Member States directly and individually via secret ballot.
7. Candidates for the Human Rights Council are elected in geographical groups to guarantee equitable representation.
8. Tenure:Members of the Council serve three-year terms and are ineligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.

Primary functions of the UNHRC

1. Monitoring and Reporting: It monitors human rights situations worldwide and investigates or commissions inquiries into alleged violations.
2. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique system in which other UN member states examine each country’s human rights record.
3. Special Procedures: The UNHRC selects special rapporteurs, independent experts, and working groups to investigate and report on specific human rights concerns or topics.
4. These experts perform fact-finding trips, raise awareness, and offer recommendations regarding human rights violations.

India achieves target to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis ‘Kala-Azar’

• India has achieved its target to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar, according to data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). India had initially aimed to eliminate kala-azar by 2010, but the target was extended until 2023 due to persistent challenges.
• Kala-azar, a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites transmitted through sandfly bites, has posed a significant health challenge for decades, particularly in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Recently, India has achieved its target of eliminating visceral leishmaniasis, commonly known as kala-azar, according to data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC)

Kala Azar

1. Causes: Kala Azar, often known as black fever, is an illness caused by infection withLeishmania parasites. 
2. Transmission: It is transmitted by the female sandfly, Phlebotomus argentipes.
3. Dum Dum Fever:  It is sometimes called visceral leishmaniasis, black fever, or Dum-Dum fever.
4. Prevalence: Most cases are seen inBrazil, East Africa and India. An estimated 50,000 to 90,000 new cases of VL occur worldwide each year, with only 25-45% reported to WHO.
5. Symptoms:Leishmania parasites initially cause skin lesions or ulcers where they bite. If the condition progresses, it will damage the immune system.
6. Kala Azar appears after two to eight months with more generalized symptoms such as persistent fever and weakness.
7. Treatment:In India, the main treatment for kala-azar is injectable liposomal amphotericin B.
8. For PKDL, the conventional treatment is 12 weeks of oral miltefosine, with the dosage adjusted according to the patient’s age and weight.

Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL)

1. About: This disorder develops when Leishmania donovani infiltrates and thrives within skin cells, resulting in skin lesions.
2. Occurrence: In certain cases of kala-azar, PKDL appears after therapy, but it is currently thought that PKDL can occur without going through the visceral stage. However, more information is required to understand how PKDL develops.
3. The visceral stage is the first phase of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), in which the parasite infects internal organs.

Types:

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis is another type of Kala-azar that causes skin lesions, primarily ulcers on exposed body regions, resulting in scars and severe impairment. The lesions are usually not unpleasant, but they can be, especially if open sores are infected with germs.
• Mucosal Leishmaniasis: In this kind of cutaneous leishmaniasis, parasites spread from the skin to the naso-oropharyngeal mucosa.
• Strategies Adopted to Eliminate Kala Azar in India: 3 critical interventions
• Spraying: Rigorous indoor residual spraying effort aimed at curbing sandfly breeding sites.
• Wall Plastering: A special soil (Gerrard Soil) is applied to walls to prevent sand flies from nesting.
• Treatment Compliance: Mobilizing the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) network to ensure the completion of treatment for PKDL patients.

Government Efforts to Eliminate Kala Azar

• World Health Organisation (WHO) Targets: Under Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap, target for Eliminating Kala-azar by 2030.

Government Initiatives: 

• The Government of India initiated Kala-azar control programme in the endemic states in 1990-91.
• National Health Policy and Revised Targets:The National Health Policy of 2002 initially aimed for Kala-azar elimination by 2010, later revising it to 2015, 2017, and 2020.
• Collaborative Partnerships and Oversight:Between Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the National Centre for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve Kala-azar elimination.

Major Development:  

• In October 2023, Bangladesh became the first country in the world officially validated by WHO for eliminating Kala Azar as a Public health concern.

Strategic Forces Command (SFC)

• The SFC, sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), which is responsible for command-and-control decisions regarding India’s nuclear weapons programme.
• SFC is responsible for the management and administration ofthe country’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
• It was created on January 4, 2003.

Responsibility of SFC:

• It is the responsibility of the SFC to operationalize the orders of the NCAunder the leadership of a Commander-in-Chief who is a Senior Officer.
• It has the sole responsibility of initiating theprocess of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads after acquiringclear approval from the NCA.
• Moreover, the final target selectionis also done by the SFCthrough a calibrated, cumulative process involving various levels of decision-making, including formal approval from the NCA.
• The SFC manages and administers all strategic forcesby exercising complete command and control over nuclear assets, and producing all contingency plansas needed to fulfill the required tasks.
• Since its inception, the SFC’s command, control, and communication systems have been firmly established, and the command has attained a high state of operational readiness.
• It consists of officersand personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force(IAF), and Indian Navy who are deputed from their respective services.
• The Commander-in-Chief, a 3-star General, is appointed on a rotational basis from the three services.

Key Facts about India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA):

• It is the authority responsible for command, control, and operational decisionsregarding INDIAs NUCLEAR WEAPONS prog
• It comprises a Political Council and an Executive Council.
• The Political Councilis chaired by thePrime Minister.
• It is the sole bodywhich can authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
• The Executive Council is chaired by the National Security Advisor.

It provides inputfor decision-making by the NCA and executes the directives given to it by the Political Council.

The rock paintings at Kumittipathi testify to prehistoric Kongu region

Believed to be around 3,000 years old, the paintings in the Pathimalai cave are drawn with white pigments. They depict an elephant, ther (a chariot, some say it is a peacock), and the lives of early dwellers. Despite being a prominent rock art site, the cave lacks protection and the paintings are at the risk of destruction

An elephant with prominent tusks, painted in white, draws the attention of visitors first at the rock art site at Pathimalai in Kumittipathi, a village around 30 km from Coimbatore city.

• Believed to be around 3,000 years old, these cave paintings are among the important rock arts in the Kongu region. Drawn with white pigments, the paintings depict an elephant, ther (chariot, some say it is a peacock), and the lives of early dwellers of the region.
• While most of the other rock art sites are situated in inaccessible areas and deep inside forests, one can easily walk into the Pathimalai cave at the bottom of a rocky hillock surrounded by farmland.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

India has emerged as the country with the highest percentage of doping offenders, according to the 2022 testing figures released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

1. WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agencyto lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. 
2. WADA’s governance and fundingare based on an equal partnership between the sport movement and governments of the world.
3. WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize, and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. 
4. Its key activities include scientific research, education, the development of anti-doping capacities, and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code(Code), the document harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries.

Formation:

• After the eventsthat shook the world of cycling inthe summer of 1998, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to convene a World Conference on Doping.
• The First World Conference on Doping in Sport held, in Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 2-4, 1999, produced the Lausanne Declarationon Doping in Sport.
• It provided for the creation of an independent international anti-doping agency to be operational for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney in 2000.
• Pursuant tothe terms of the Lausanne Declaration, the WADA was establishedon November 10, 1999, in Lausanne to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport internationally.

1. WADA is a Swiss private law, not-for-profit foundation. Its seat is in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its headquarters are in Montreal, Canada.
2. Governance Structure:

A 42-member Foundation Board (Board), the agency’s highest policy-making body, is jointly composed of representatives of the Olympic Movement (the IOC, National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, and athletes) and representatives of governments from all five continents.

A 16-member Executive Committee (ExCo), to which the Board delegates the management and running of the agency, including the performance of all its activities and the administration of its assets.

Telecom Secretary virtually launches one of “Experimental Licence Module for 100 5G Labs” at IIT Madras

Aims at simplifying the experimental licence requirements of the 100 5G Lab institutions Online module available on National Single Window System, simplifying application process by pre-filling technical specifications and schematic details

Licence available through “Self-declaration Mode” and can be downloaded instantaneously

• This will simplify the experimental licence requirements, facilitate smoother operations, and foster innovationin the 5G domain.
• Last year,100 ‘5G Use Case Labs’ were awarded to educational institutions nationwide to realize the opportunities associated with 5G technologyby encouraging the development of 5G applications.

5G Use Case Labs:

1. Objective: To cultivate competencies and engagement in 5G technologies among students and start-up communities.
2. Need for License: These labs will use 5G frequency bands to conduct experiments and test use cases.
3. Hence, they must obtain an experimental (Non-radiating) license category from the DoT to ensure interference-free operations for licensed telecommunications service providers (TSPs).
4. Ownership and Facilities: The beneficiary institution will own the lab assets and provide necessary facilities such as space, power supply, internet, intranet, and tech manpower (for local maintenance).
5. Equipment Requirements: The 5G lab equipment would include 5G SA infrastructure (mid-band), 5G SIMs, Dongles, IoT Gateway, Router and Application Server to meet lab needs along with a management dashboard.
6. Significance:
7. The 5G Use Case labs will test 5G applications in different sectors: education, agriculture, health, power, urban management, mining, logistics, resource management, tourism, sports, security, and e-governance.

5G: 5G, or fifth generation, is the latest upgrade in the long-term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks. It mainly works in three bands: low, mid, and high-frequency spectrum. 

Key Features of the Experimental Licence Modules for 100 5G Labs:

1. Efficiency: This automates the application process by pre-filling technical specifications and schematic details, reducing manual effort and time.
2. Instantaneous Licensing: Applicants can now obtain the experimental license through a “Self-declaration Mode” from the DoT’s Saralsanchar portal through the National Single Window System (NSWS).
3. Simplified Application: Only basic information is required, such as institute address, authorised personnel, and a nominal fee of Rs. 5000.
4. Support for Innovation: This initiative supports innovation, cultivates competencies, and democratises access to 5G technology, empowering educational institutions and startups to explore its potential for transformative applications.