• Recently, the Prime Minister launched the Bharat 6G vision document and the 6G Testbed as part of its 6G mission.

About 6G

• The 6G (sixth-generation wireless) has been conceived as a far superior technology promising internet speeds up to 100 times faster than 5G.
• As opposed to 5G, which at its peak can offer internet speeds up to 10 gigabits per second, 6G promises to offer ultra-low latency with speeds up to 1 terabits per second.
• Use cases of 6G include remote-controlled factories, constantly communicating self-driven cars and smart wearables taking inputs directly from human senses.

Bharat 6G Vision document

• It is prepared by the Technology Innovation Group on 6G (TIG-6G) to develop a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India.
• The government plans to implement the 6G project in two phases.
  • Phase 1 (2023-2025): Support to explorative ideas, risky pathways, and proof-of-concept tests.
  • Phase 2 (2025-2030): Conceptualizing and delivering potential technology solutions.
• An apex council is to be constituted to lay down phase wise objectives, select research and innovation pathways, and approve financial support for them. Key focus of council will be on new technologies such as Terahertz communication, radio interfaces, tactile internet, etc.
• To fund research and innovation on 6G, the government plans creation of a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to facilitate various funding instruments such as grants, loans, VC fund, fund of funds, etc. for the next 10 years.

Test bed

• PM also launched 6G research and development test-bed (Co-developed by a consortium of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), including Guwahati and Madras).
• It’ll provide academic institutions, industries, start-ups, MSMEs etc. a platform to test and validate evolving ICT technologies.

• Recently, the Prime Minister launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to tackle uncoordinated digging and excavation.
• The Call Before u Dig mobile application, an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications aims to prevent damage to underlying assets like optical fibre cables that occurs because of uncoordinated digging and excavation.
  • It is estimated that uncoordinated digging and excavation causes losses of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
• The app will connect excavators and asset owners so that there are planned excavations in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.

• Recently, ‘United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: partnerships and cooperation for water’, was released by UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on behalf of UN-Water.
• It is published annually on World Water Day (WWD), celebrated on 22^nd
  • Theme of WWD 2023 is “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”.
• Coordinated by UN-Water since 1993, WWD raises awareness and inspires action to tackle water and sanitation crisis.
• Major findings of report
  • At current rates, progress towards all targets of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all) is off-track.
  • Globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking water and 6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation.
  • The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from one-third (2016) to nearly half of the global urban population in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected.
  • Water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate through to 2050.
  • 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; in particular, northeast China, as well as India and Pakistan.
• Recommendations
  • Education and Capacity Development for sustainable and equitable water management practices.
  • Involvement of women in delivery of targeted water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and broader water-related goals.

• Scientists were banned by GISAID from using the database that contained the genomic information they used for their study on COVID-19 virus origins.
• Many scientists have expressed surprise about the ban which appears to have further vitiated public conversations as well as intensified the spotlight on China’s recalcitrance against international investigations on the virus’s origins.

About GISAID

• Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) is an open-access database that was launched in 2008 by WHO.
• In 2010, Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.
• Its initiative promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19.
• The Initiative ensures that open access to data in GISAID is provided free-of-charge to all individuals that agreed to identify themselves and agreed to uphold the GISAID sharing mechanism governed through its Database Access Agreement.

• The Abel Prize for mathematics was awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli for his seminal contributions to regularity theory for nonlinear partial differential equations.
• He is the first person born in South America to win the award.
• Differential equations are tools scientists use to predict the behaviour of the physical world. These equations play a prominent role in many disciplines including engineering, physics, economics, and biology.
• Partial differential equations arise naturally as laws of nature, to describe phenomena as different as the flow of water or the growth of populations.

About the Abel Prize

• It is named after the Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829) and is one of the most coveted awards in mathematics.
• The Abel Prize is funded by the Norwegian government and amounts to NOK 7.5 million ($710,000).
• The choice of the Abel laureate is based on the recommendation by the Abel Committee, which is composed of five internationally recognised mathematicians.

• Directorate General Of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has modified the 2018 notification, allowing export of biofuel from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export-Oriented Units (EOUs) for both fuel and non-fuel purposes without any restrictions if biofuel is produced using imported feed stock.
  • Biofuel imports and exports both require a license.

About Biofuels

• Biofuel, renewable form of energy, is any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from organic matter in a short period of time.
• Examples include Bio ethanol, Biodiesel, Compressed Biogas etc.
• Different generations of Biofuels
  • First Generation– Edible biomass – Sugar beet , Sugar cane, Wheat, Corn, Oil crops
  • Second Generation– Non-Edible biomass– Wood, Grass, Straw, Waste
  • Third Generation– Algal biomass– Macroalgae, Microalgae
  • Fourth Generation– Breakthrough– Pyrolysis, Solar to fuel, Genetically Modified Orgaisms
• Significance of Biofuels
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are a renewable source of energy.
  • Benefit Farmers with additional income.
  • Opportunities for new businesses in processing of biomass, storage solutions and enable employment generation.

Government policies to promote Biofuels

• National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 for reaching 20% ethanol-blending by 2025-2026.
• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana, 2019.
• GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN scheme, 2018.
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) to establish an ecosystem for Compressed Biogas (CBG) production.

• India is aiming to become a leader in the global shipbuilding industry by launching the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and setting a goal of becoming a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030.

About Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP)

• Programme will start with ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’, which will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and subsequently adopting non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen).
• Target has been set for initial Green Tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025.
• At least, 50% of all Tugs are likely to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030.
  • Tug Boats or Tugs are small but powerful ships which are used to pull or push other large ships for maneuvering or salvage purposes.
• Benefits
  • Reduce emission as country moves towards achieving sustainable development.
  • In line with India’s Mission LiFE movement and to become carbon neutral by 2070.

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also inaugurated India’s first Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS).

National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS)

• Located in Gurugram, it is a major initiative by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MOPSW) towards providing greener solutions.
• The NCoEGPS will be working under the framework of the Sagarmala programme of the MoPSW.
• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is the knowledge and implementation partner for this project.
• It aims at empowering ‘Make in India’ in Port, Coastal and Inland water transport.

• A new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office & Innovation Centre in India was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister in New Delhi
• It will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran enhancing coordination among nations and fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.
• India signed a Host Country Agreement in 2022 with ITU for establishment of Area Office.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• It was founded in Paris in 1865 as International Telegraph Union.
• It took its present name in 1932, and in 1947 became a specialized agency of United Nation.
• It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
• Members- 193 member states
• Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland.

• The report Technology and Innovation Report 2023 was recently released by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• It is built around the concept of green innovatione., creating or introducing new or improved goods and services that leave lighter carbon footprints and open up green windows of opportunity.
• Major findings of report
  • Expenditure variance -While EU countries spend 3% of GDP on Research & Development, only a few developing countries reach 1% of GDP expenditure.
  • After Paris Agreement of 2015, most countries have increased their climate-change-related, green official development assistance(ODA).
  • Within UN system, Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is largest public sector funding source for transferring Environmentally Sound Technologies(ESTs).
• Recommendations to foster international cooperation for green innovation
  • Align trade with Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
  • Partnership oriented approach to green technology development.
  • Shifting research for green innovations from national to international levels, including open innovation approaches.

About UNCTAD

• UNCTAD is a permanent body of the United Nations General Assembly, formed in 1964, that deals with trade issues, investments and other matters concerning development.
• Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland.

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently warned about these caves eroding rapidly.

About the caves

• Situated in Odisha, these are one of the earliest groups of Jain rock-cut architecture in Eastern India.
• Built around 1^st and 2^nd century BC by King Kharavela of Meghavahana dynasty.
• The cave complex has both man-made and natural caves possibly carved out for residence of Jain monks.
• There are 18 caves in Udayagiri and 15 in Khandagiri.
• Each of these caves has various inscriptions either in Brahmi script or Devanagari script.
• Hathigumpha Inscription is a seventeen line inscription in Prakrit language incised in Brahmi script in a cavern called Hathigumpha in Udayagiri hills, inscribed by Jain king Kharavela.