KARNATAKA
Karnataka: Higher education relies on other departments for funds
The higher education department, whose budget has not changed for three years despite increasing requirements, is forced to borrow funds from other government divisions to run or launch its programmes.
For instance, the scheme of distributing 1.6 lakh tablets to students, as part of the digital education push, was executed with the help of funds from the social welfare and backward classes departments.
The state government must mandatorily set aside 24.1 per cent of the budget towards the SC/ST communities. This is one reason the higher education department tends to depend on the welfare departments for funds.
INTERNATIONAL
India Ranked 10th in Global Cybersecurity Index
India has been ranked as the tenth excellent country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020, launched by ITU (International Telecommunication Union). The GCI 2020 is the 4th edition of the annual index and ranked 194 countries. The GCI measures the dedication of countries to cybersecurity at a global level. Countries have been ranked on the foundation of overall performance on five parameters, which includes: legal measures, technical measures, organisational measures, capacity development, and cooperation.
Index:
♦ India ranked at the tenth position, with 97.5 factors to rank amongst the top ten high-quality countries in the world.
♦ The United States has topped the GCI 2020.
♦ The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is tied in the second position
♦ Estonia was ranked third in the index.
India Positioned 20th in Global Startup Ecosystem Index
India stands at the 20th spot amongst the top 100 nations that have been ranked in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index for the year 2021 by Startup Blink. The country was in the 17th spot in 2019, after which it slid six spots down and stood at 23 in 2020. According to the report, India needs to better its infrastructure and Internet speed in order to similarly support its start-up ecosystem.
Ranking of the Indian Cities: 
India presently has 43 of its cities listed in the top 1000 globally, with Bengaluru(10th), New Delhi (14th) and Mumbai (16th) in the top 20.
Country-wise ranking: Like the past year, the US, the UK, Israel, Canada and Germany are in the top 5 spots this year too and continue their lead.
NATIONAL
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme
The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet.
About the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme:
♦ It is a reform-based and results-oriented scheme to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all DISCOMs/Power Departments, with the exception of Private Sector DISCOMs.
♦ The scheme envisages providing conditional financial assistance to DISCOM to strengthen the supply infrastructure.
♦ Assistance will be based on meeting pre-qualification criteria and basic minimum benchmarks achieved by DISCOM. These will be evaluated according to an agreed evaluation framework related to financial improvement.
♦ Rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach, each state would develop its own action plan for implementing the scheme.
♦ The scheme proposes to incorporate the ongoing schemes of IPDS, DDUGJY, and PMDP-2015 for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
♦ The scheme will be available until 2025-26.
♦ REC Limited and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) serve as nodal agencies for the scheme’s implementation.
♦ The scheme focuses on improving farmers’ electricity supply and providing them with daytime electricity through solarization of agricultural feeders.
iLEAP Program – AIM
The first fintech cohort of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), AIM-iLEAP, has concluded.
About AIM iLEAP:
♦ This programme under the Atal Innovation Mission gives AIM-backed start-ups access to industry, markets, and investors.
♦ The fintech cohort was formed through a series of thematic virtual demo days organised by AIM in collaboration with Startup Réseau and Visa as part of the AIM-iLEAP (Innovative leadership for entrepreneurial agility and profitability) initiative.
♦ The AIM-iLEAP programme invites technology start-ups from a wide range of functions to present their solutions to the corporate leadership and innovation team in order to enable market access and industry partnerships.
Implementation Strategy of BharatNet Project
The BharatNet Project’s implementation strategy has been revised.
Highlights:
♦ The Cabinet approved the revised BharatNet implementation strategy through Public Private Partnership mode in 16 states across the country.
♦ The programme will be expanded to include all inhabited villages outside of Gram Panchayats (GPs)
♦ The revised strategy also includes the creation, upgrade, operation, maintenance, and utilisation of BharatNet by the concessionaire, who will be chosen through a competitive international bidding process.
♦ The Cabinet has given in-principle approval to cover all inhabited villages in the remaining states/UTs of the country. The Department of Telecommunications will work out the details separately.
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