12-13-12-21 Daily-Karnataka-KPSC Current Affairs

Amid the kickbacks controversy, the government has decided to use new-age technology to ensure transparency in the tendering process. This is to track every authenticated vendor/contractor before allocating new projects.

Over the years, incomplete or pending public projects have resulted in several private firms being blacklisted from applying for government tenders. Yet, the same companies shift their base to other states to apply afresh for new projects and co

ntinue to misuse public funds without adequate expertise or track record, sources say.
Using crypto technology, theCentre for Smart Governancehas developed a vendor blockchain that will keep a chronological record of every vendor/contractor who has registered on theKarnatakae-procurement portal or in any other state, and intends to bid for a project.

The CSG will try to get on board other state governments and tender-inviting agencies across the country, so that more stakeholders will utilise the blockchain.

Minister of state for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed in Lok Sabha that, government has made a provision to generate a health ID for every citizen free of cost.

As of now, more than 140 million health IDs have been created.

Creation of Health IDs is voluntary.

The NationalHealth Authority is creating awareness among citizens regarding the usage and advantages of Health IDs for ensuring their maximum participation.Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission also aims to provide digital health IDs for all Indian citizens in order to provide health records electronically to the hospitals, Insurance firms, and citizens, when required.

The health ID works as the health account of citizens. It comprises of all the details of every disease, every test, the doctors visited, the diagnosis and the medicines taken.

As a part of Azadi Ka Digital Mahotsav, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) hosted a unique event called Digital Payment Utsav on December 10, 2021.

Under the Digital Payment Utsav, the journey and rise of digital payments in India was celebrated.

It brought the leaders from Government, fintech companies, Banking sector, and start-ups, together.

Digital Payment Utsav witnessed the launch of innovative solutions such as:

In India, electrification of public transport especially across bus sector is key to decarbonization strategy. The launch of e-Sawaari India Electric Bus Coalition is a step of ensuring steady and paced electrification of bus transport system in the country. It will help in address the challenges of procurement, operations & financing e-bus deployment in a bid to achieve net zero emissions.

in association with the Convergence Energy Service Limited (CESL) & World Resources Institute, India launched the e-Sawaari India Electric Bus Coalition (e-Sawari India e-Bus Coalition). This coalition is also supported by Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI).

With the launch of e-Sawaari India Electric Bus Coalition, central government agencies, State Government agencies, city-level government agencies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), transit service providers, financing institutions, and ancillary service providers would be able to share their learnings and knowledge on e-bus adoption in India.

Central government noted in Lok Sabha that there is no proposal under its consideration to do away with the sedition law.

As per a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that, on May 31, 2021 Supreme Court in its order on a had observed that ambit & parameters of provisions of Sections 124A, 505 and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 requires interpretation, especially with respect to right of electronic & print media to communicate news.

As per minister, SC has also issued notice to Centre on a plea in which petitioners have asked for an appropriate writ, order or direction to declare Section 124A of IPC, 1860 unconstitutional and void.

Indian government has signed an air bubble agreement with Australia, under which all eligible passengers will be allowed to travel between both the countries.

Australian airline Qantas has started flights between Sydney and New Delhi, recently. It is also set to start flights between New Delhi and Melbourne before Christmas.

Air India also operated direct commercial flights to connect New Delhi with Melbourne and Sydney before Indian government suspended scheduled international flights.

Air India flights between India and Australia will resume in coming days, said a senior official with the airline.