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New Delhi, Mar 19 () Two National Data Centres, one in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and another in Guwahati, Assam, are in the process of being set up, Parliament was informed on Thursday. Outlining the plans for the centre in Bhopal, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said, "a 1,500-rack National Data Centre shall be established in a phased manner including infrastructure for complete operational and management support". Five acres of land in IT-Park, Bhopal, was allotted to National Informatics Centre (NIC) by the Madhya Pradesh government, for establishment of the data centre at Bhopal. "In the first phase of the project, 250-rack state-of-art... Data Centre will be setup with an expansion capability to 500 racks. Subsequent phases shall be taken up later as per the demand," he said. The project execution has commenced and is expected to be completed in two and half years, he said. A National Data Centre has been planned at Guwahati, Assam, he informed. "The establishment of 200-rack National Data Centre in north eastern region is likely to be started soon and is expected to be completed in two and half years," he said. Assam government has already allotted land for the project, he added. MBI ANSANS

National Data Centres being set up in Bhopal, Guwahati: Dhotre

A digital certificate verifies and confirms that you are who you claim to be. It contains the certificate holder’s name, a serial number, expiration dates, a copy of the certificate holder’s public key (used for encrypting messages and digital signatures) and the digital signature of the certificate authority, so that a recipient can verify the certificate. 
 Digital certificates are like electronic passports that allow a person, computer or organisation to securely exchange information over the Internet. These are well trusted as they are forgery-resistant and can be verified. But then, one does not expect the verifying authority to goof up. However, that is exactly what the India’s <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Informatics-Centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> (NIC) has done. 
 <keyword id="2424493" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="The-Controller-of-Certifying-Authorities">The Controller of Certifying Authorities</keyword> (CCA), India, issues trusted intermediate CA (Certificate Authority) certificates or CAs to NIC. But this time, the NIC has improperly issued unauthorised CAs and this has compromised several <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> domains. Google has cried foul after the July 3 discovery that NIC had issued <keyword id="2424492" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unauthorised-Digital-Certificates">unauthorised digital certificates</keyword>. 
 
However, the main brunt of the unauthorised digital certificates has been borne by Microsoft. 
India’s CCA is included in Microsoft’s Trusted Root Certification Authorities Store, which means that any SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate issued by the body or its subordinates – like the NIC – are trusted by default by many Windows programs, including the Google Chrome and Internet Explorer Web browsers. 
 
Microsoft has acknowledged that the latest issue could result in attempts to spoof content, perform phishing attacks or man-in-the-middle attacks. 
 
Firefox uses its own root store that does not include the unauthorised CAs in question and is not affected. 
 
Google, too, has assured users that Chrome on other operating systems such as Chrome OS, iOS and OS X, and Android are not affected. Google has also stated that Chrome on Windows would not have accepted the certificates for the compromised Google sites because of public-key pinning. However, certificates for other sites may still exist. 
 
In its online security blog, Google has also written about the unauthorised certificates being misissued by the NIC for some Google domains. Consequently, Google promptly informed Microsoft and alerted India CCA and NIC, and blocked the issued unauthorised certificates in Chrome with a CRLSet push. 
 
India CCA acted immediately and informed Google on July 3 that it had revoked all NIC intermediate certificates and another CRLSet push was carried out to include this revocation. NIC also suspended issuance of further certificates. On July 8, India CCA informed Google of its investigations. The probe found that The NIC’s issuance process was compromised and only four certificates issued were unauthorised. Three of these were for Google domains and the fourth one was for Yahoo! domains. However, the scope of the breach and whether it was caused by hacking or done wilfully by the NIC had not been made clear. Hacking is a major worry as there is nothing that is not hackable in the cyber world. 
 
As a root CA was responsible for the issuance, under its authority, of the unauthorised CAs, Google has decided to limit the concerned Indian CCA root certificates to the affected domains and sub domains, “gov.in, nic.in, ac.in, rbi.org.on, bankofindia.co.in, ncode.in and tcs.co.in.’’ 
 
Now Microsoft has to decide whether the repair work is effective and Windows can continue to function without giving any problem to its users. 
 
Fortunately, only a few CAs were issued by the NIC and the extent of damage is not heavy. Google also has highlighted the fact that its Certificate Transparency project is critical for protecting the security of certificates in the future. 
 
Given the increasing volumes of e-commerce and Cloud usage, users are naturally concerned about the validity of the certificates and security. It is a matter of trust. 
 
India CCA should identify the cause of the issue as the very credibility it validates and protects has been compromised. Otherwise, India CCA will lose its credibility.

Unauthorised Digital Certificates By NIC Has Made Google Worried

<keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> launched his 1.13 lakh crore <keyword id="1929810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Digital-India">Digital India</keyword> initiative on July 3 with a vision to digitally empower each and every citizen of the country. Though the plan is ready and we are good to go, but is it that easy to transform words written on a ‘white paper’ into a reality? Know all about the challenges of the grand mission before putting your foot forward to become digitally empowered. 1. The foremost challenge is to increase digital literacy in the country. 
 “When you talk about Digital India, the first step is access to high quality broadband and at least a smartphone. Combination of access to affordable broadband, smart devices and monthly data packages should be there to avail all the facilities of the campaign,” said Rama Vedashree, Vice President of Domestic IT, IT services, <keyword id="6372077" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nasscom">Nasscom</keyword>. 
 
2. But to make broadband affordable and accessible, one needs to keep in mind certain ground realities. India is a diversified country, in terms of language, culture, laws which vary from states to states. Complete integration, that is integration of technology and language, is one of the main challenges the mission would face in its implementation. 
 
“Every state and every community has a different prescribed method by which they address governmental communications from both sides. Standardisation of the network would be a tedious task,” said Pratap Padode, Founder Director, Smart Cities Council India. 
 
3. There are different internet protocols in different states depending on what kind of hardware and software they implement and chances are that this might lead to connectivity glitches. Hence, there must be some sort of a directive to standardise all the software protocols. 
 
“It should be on open source basis, rather than propriety and it should be in the guidelines. If they are to take propriety solutions, it would not only be difficult to integrate it across the states, it would be more cumbersome and expensive,” he added. 
 
4. We live in a world where Internet and cyber crime are inseparable enemies. The entire architecture should be designed in such a way that there is proper authentication done of all the documents put online by citizens and it is available to the right users at any time they want with the right authentication. But how can we ensure cyber security if the country does not have any privacy norms? 
 Rama said that although the entire digital platform is being managed by the government organisation, <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Informatics-Centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword>, we need to understand those rules and regulations. 
 
“I don’t think they have published what the services and the agreements are and how do they make sure that there are no privacy breaches. Security in the platform, at the end users side and conformity with strict privacy norms should be there together to take care of digital hacking,” she said. 
 
Besides, there is not enough information and education of people in terms of what is data stealing and privacy breach. 
 
“Training is needed. There should be some sort of a regulation for training in the industry,” said Pratap. 
 
Rama also added that for a first time user awareness needs to be built on what it takes to be safe on cyber security. Digital literacy should be coupled with country wise drive on cyber security awareness, so that users have a safe experience on the internet. 
 
5. To get the fruits of the Digital India initiative, there should be efficient inter-governmental coordination. Although the Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY) is leading it forward, there is an active involvement of telecommunication, justice, finance and planning, health department et al. Without a smooth teamwork between them, this mission would never be implemented to its full strength. 
 
6. Though India has every necessary resource required to implement it, the government needs to realise the strong capability being built in the private sector and needs to leverage that. 
 
“If everything needs to be done by government agencies, I personally think that there would be many bottle necks at some point,” said Rama. 
 
7. The initiatives started under National Optical Fibre networks, which is a very important facet to Digital India that ensures broadband reaches every nook and corner of the country, needs to be accelerated so that optical fibre-reach to the rural villages too. The reach is not yet country wide. 
 
8. Pratap said that in terms of finances, there is the issue of last mile connectivity. We have 250,000 gram panchayats, where we need to establish broadband connection and it is no easy task, especially being one of the worst among the 29 nations in terms of wireless connectivity. 
 
9. The Digital India plan comes at a time when the debate of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword> has still not been resolved. Net neutrality is important for entrepreneurs, who play a major role in this whole campaign, said Pratap. Hence, it is of utmost importance that the debate be resolved at the earliest. 
 
These challenges indicate that Digital India has a long way to go on its road to reality in its truest sense. The government cannot overstep them, no matter how trivial they might seem to be. 
 
(image credits: Twitter (@PIB_India))

Challenges of Digital India: Some heads-up for Narendra Modi

<ul><li>The IT Minister announced the government’s plans of establishing the largest National Data Centre in <keyword id="6355556" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhopal">Bhopal</keyword>. </li><li>The rural BPO promotion scheme will be increased to 1 lakh seats from the current 48,000. </li><li>Other schemes like Aadhar, eSign, BHIM App and DigiLocker are also expected to be expanded.</li></ul>On Monday, the IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/government-plans-largest-national-data-centre-in-bhopal/articleshow/64636749.cms">got on a soapbox</a> in front of some journalists on the completion of four years of the present government. Following the inauguration of a National Data Centre (NDC) in Bhubaneswar this May, Prasad announced the government’s plans of establishing the largest National Data Centre in Bhopal. Prasad also announced that the NDC will have a capacity of five lakh servers. Throwing in some more announcements at the occasion, the minister mentioned that the rural BPO promotion scheme will be increased to 1 lakh seats from the current 48,000. So, what will the National Data Centre do? A National Data Centre’s primary aim is to provide ‘the citizens with online services and the e-Governance projects launched by the government’, according to the<a href="https://datacentres.nic.in/"> official website</a> of <keyword id="6373306" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-informatics-centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> (NIC), the organisation under the government’s IT Department that is responsible for the establishment of the NDCs. As <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> becomes the largest data consumer, there is a pressing need to increase data storage for apps and websites of these services. And this is exactly what the new NDC will cater to. However, this is not the first in the country, there are four other NDCs in Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and Pune; but this is expected to be the largest. NIC has announced that the Madhya Pradesh Government has already made the land available for the project and the centre should come up within the next two years. Rural BPO promotion scheme Prasad, who wants to make India the ‘hub for BPO movement’, said that the expansion of the rural BPO promotion scheme would bring about several benefits. The scheme is aimed at increasing employment in India, both directly and indirectly - employment related to creating the BPOs and working for them once they are created. An added perk would be finding this sort of employment near your home, in small towns. Currently, people from small towns have to relocate to bigger cities to work in these BPOs. With this being the election year, the government is also making sure it makes the right statements about policies that have already been implemented. In his speech, Prasad mentioned that Aadhar, world’s largest biometric identification with 121 crore unique IDs, is already benefiting the public. According to the minister, Aadhar has helped in the direct benefit transfer of <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-s-largest-national-data-centre-to-come-up-in-bhopal-118061900020_1.html">₹4 trillion</a> to the poor. Furthermore, ₹900 billion have been saved by removing the fictitious beneficiaries from this list, said Prasad. The government is now aiming at making the Aadhar more “robust” along with the expansion of other digital services like BHIM App, DigiLocker and <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/govt-plans-largest-data-centre-in-bhopal/article24195005.ece">eSign</a>.

India’s largest National Data Centre to be established in Bhopal

Prashant Kumar who lives in Noida sector 143 often goes to a nearby mall-cum-office complex with his family for some quick bites or gets a bank job done. The complex does not allow anyone without checking the Covid status on Aarogya Setu app on the visitors' smartphones, along with the mandatory thermal temperature screening. <keyword id="9999872" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="whenever-kumar">Whenever Kumar</keyword> plans a visit to the complex, he updates the <keyword id="7313056" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Contact-tracing">contact tracing</keyword> app on his smartphone as well as the devices with his family members, filling the self-assessment form by just ticking all the boxes with "none of the above' symptoms. And the app declares them "safe". As cities get unlocked and people begin to visit markets, eating joints, malls and other public places, this attitude is worrisome as this does not paint the real picture, especially if someone who is an asymptomatic Covid patient visits public places even with the 'safe' app tag on. "I only update the app while visiting the complex and leave it without any use for days. It surprises me that it is so easy to just fill in wrong details and enter wherever you want with the 'you are safe' tag," Kumar told IANS. Kumar said he has even seen people who are not aware of the Aarogya Setu app, downloading it right in front of the complex, filling the self-assessment form quickly with 'None of the Above' symptoms and entering the premises, only to remove the app later. According to latest data from app intelligence company Sensor Tower, Aarogya Setu downloads have decreased significantly in the country, as much as 90 per cent less last month compared to April when it was launched with much fanfare. As Delhi Metro resumed services after more than five months due to Covid-19 restrictions, officials in some stations, including Noida Sector 16, were seen trying to block entry of people into the station for not having "Aarogya Setu" app on their mobile phones during the initial trial phase. This despite the fact that in the new travel protocol for passengers published by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on September 3, it mentioned that "the use of 'Aarogya Setu App' for updating health status by passengers will be advisable." However, as the services gathered full steam, passengers have hardly reported facing any questions about having the app on the smartphones. The decision of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to make Aarogya Setu mandatory for metro commuters was brought to Karnataka High Court's notice this month after legal services organisation SFLC.IN's <keyword id="61253" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="advisory-board">advisory board</keyword> member Anivar A. Aravind filed a petition challenging the voluntary-mandatory nature of Aarogya Setu and invasion of privacy rights in the absence of a specific legislation governing data collected by it. Meanwhile, security guards at several outlets in shopping malls across the country are allowing entry only after visitors show they have the app downloaded on their mobile phones. A similar experience was reported by Aasheesh when he tried to visit a Lifestyle outlet at the City Centre Mall at Sector 10, Rohini in New Delhi. Visitors to government offices have also reported that they were allowed to enter the offices only after downloading the app. However, the biggest question is: Is it worthwhile to track people with Covid? "Several people in my localities have stopped using the app or removed it altogether as it at times creates panic, in case if the person was near a Covid-19 patient. The lack of proper guidance and right messaging, people have started to shun the app, including me," Nidhi Dixit from West Delhi told IANS. Aarogya Setu was developed by the <keyword id="6373306" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-informatics-centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as the country's Bluetooth-based contact tracing app, with an objective of mapping of likely hotspots and dissemination of relevant information about Covid-19. The app utilises the data provided by users, to track if you may have come in close contact with a Covid-positive person via Bluetooth and location generated social graphs. It uses contact tracing to record details of all the people you may have come in contact with during normal activities. The app also consists of features such as the Self-Assessment Test, a complete list of helpline numbers across the country, and a Twitter feed that displays all the latest tweets from <keyword id="9195433" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-ministry-of-health">the Ministry of Health</keyword>. <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/ril-and-amazon-are-looking-at-indias-18-billion-online-grocery-market-to-be-their-next-battleground/articleshow/78314485.cms">RIL and Amazon are looking at India's $18 billion online grocery market to be their next battleground</a>

Aarogya Setu downloads drop 90% since April

In a bid to expedite investigation of crime across India, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ministry+for+home+affairs">Ministry for Home Affairs</a> will setup a national <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=fingerprint+database">fingerprint database</a> to record pan-India criminal data. 
 <keyword id="3004329" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fingerprint-database">Fingerprint database</keyword> of around 28 lakh convicts and those arrested for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=criminal+data">criminal offences</a> will be collated from all the states. 
 Reportedly, the Delhi-based <keyword id="3003977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Central-Finger-Print-Bureau">Central Finger Print Bureau</keyword> (CPFB), at present, has data of more than 9.7 lakh finger print records of convicted or arrested persons in digitized form. 
 
However, more than 18 lakh finger print records with finger print bureaus of states and Union Territories are not linked to this central database. 
 The MHA has decided to gather all records from the state bureaus and make them part of the national database, for which the <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Informatics-Centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> is creating a '<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=cloud">cloud</a>' for this integration. 
 
Once the data is collated at the CPFB, real time data based on fingerprints will be furnished, in case police raises any query from any part of the country. 
 
Presently, investigating agencies send finger prints lifted from a scene of crime for matching to their respective state finger print bureau, which runs them past its own record. If there is no match, the prints are then sent to the CPFB and finger print bureaus of other states. 
This indeed is time consuming. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

India has figured a unique way to expedite investigations in criminal cases

<ul><li>Three departments of the Indian government have been issued a show-cause notice to explain the development of India’s contact tracing app — <keyword id="8995296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="aarogya-setu">Aarogya Setu</keyword>. </li><li>The <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-informatics-centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> (NIC), the <keyword id="3428254" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-electronics-and-information-technology">Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology</keyword> (MeitY), and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) have been asked to appear before the bench on November 24 by the Central Information Commission (CIC).</li><li>The NIC, in particular, as the app’s developer needs to explain how Aarogya Setu was created. </li></ul> India’s contact tracing app Aarogya Setu, which boasts of over 162 million downloads, is caught in the crosshairs of controversy again — this time over its origin story. A petition was filed by Saurav Das with the Central Information Commission (CIC) when three bodies within the government refused to answer Right to Information (RTI) requests asking about the creation of Aarogya Setu. “It is surprising that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) doesn’t have any information about Aarogya Setu since it is the app’s developer,” said the petition. The CIC, India’s transparency watchdog, has now served a show-cause notice to the three bodies — NIC, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) — to explain their role in the development of Aarogya Setu within the next two months. NIC, in particular, needs to explain how the <keyword id="8995298" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="aarogya-setu-app">Aarogya Setu app</keyword> was created. "None of the CPIOs were able to explain anything regarding who created the App, where are the files — and the same is extremely preposterous", said the CIC interim order. Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) of the departments have also been asked to appear before the bench on November 24 to explain why they should not be penalised under Section 20 of the RTI Act for obstruction of information. A copy of any and all supporting documents that may be relevant to the hearing should be submitted five days prior to the hearing. The government has issued a clarification stating, "Aarogya Setu was developed in a transparent manner in collaboration with industry and academia." <div type="twitter" handle="SetuAarogya" handlename="Aarogya Setu" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1246377580594266113/wMJonS1Z_normal.jpg" favoritecount="149" retweetcount="37" status="Clarification issued on Aarogya Setu App. Aarogya Setu App is a product of Government of India built in collaborati… https://t.co/8YUSBVAnSd" createdat="1603891530000" id="1321442970424410112"></div> Other troubling signs around Aarogya Setu French security researcher Robert Baptiste, who goes by Elliot Alderson on Twitter, first claimed that the Aarogya Setu app showed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/these-are-the-privacy-issues-in-aarogya-setu-indias-covid-19-tracker-app-alleged-by-french-hacker-elliot-alderson/articleshow/75592800.cms">security flaws</a> back in May. At the time, the government thanked him for his concern but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/aarogya-setu-claims-its-app-is-secure-denies-privacy-breach/articleshow/75569270.cms">dismissed the accusations</a>. They asserted that tracking the location of users is a documented feature of the app, not a flaw. As the reins around the app tightened, former Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna called the government’s move to make Aarogya Setu <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-smartphone-without-aarogya-setu-app-will-draw-punishment-for-user-in-gautam-buddh-nagar/articleshow/75540878.cms">mandatory</a> for all citizens ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/experts-explain-the-legal-and-moral-pitfalls-in-aarogya-setu-app-despite-the-governments-insistence-that-a-protocol-has-been-put-in-place/articleshow/75690239.cms">utterly illegal</a>.’ Another analysis by the renowned <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/270520/after-mit-tech-review-downgrades-aarogya-setu-rating-source-code-for.html">MIT Technology Review</a> gave Aargoya Setu only 2 out of 5 stars in its analysis of 25 contact tracing apps around the world. It highlighted that India is the only democracy that is making such an app mandatory. The rating was later <a href="https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/270520/after-mit-tech-review-downgrades-aarogya-setu-rating-source-code-for.html">further chopped</a> to just one star when the researchers discovered that the app was collecting more information than it needed to function. It was only after the review that MietY <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amid-privacy-concerns-centre-makes-aarogya-setu-app-open-source/articleshow/76011848.cms">released Aarogya Setu’s source code</a> on GitHub and initiated a ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/hacking-aarogya-setu-can-win-you-1-lakh-to-3-lakh-through-the-indian-governments-bug-bounty-programme/articleshow/76030048.cms">bug bounty program</a>’ for anyone who could find an issue with the app. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/building-blocks-of-life-discovered-in-titans-atmosphere-nasa-discovers-a-weird-molecule-on-saturns-largest-moon/articleshow/78909286.cms">Building blocks of life discovered in Titan’s atmosphere — NASA discovers a ‘weird’ molecule on Saturn’s largest moon</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ajay-piramal-believes-that-if-banks-wont-lend-to-long-term-projects-india-will-need-to-revive-the-likes-of-idbi-and-ifci/articleshow/78906135.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Ajay Piramal believes that if banks won't lend to long-term projects, India will need to revive the likes of IDBI and IFCI</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/apophis-the-god-of-chaos-asteroid-is-speeding-up-increasing-the-likelihood-of-it-hitting-earth-in-2068/articleshow/78895818.cms">Apophis, the ‘God of Chaos’ asteroid is speeding up — increasing the likelihood of it hitting Earth in 2068</a>

India's contact tracing app Aarogya Setu comes under the scanner again — three departments fail to explain their role in its development

Are you tired of carrying ‘n’ numbers of cards as soon as you leave your house? The government has come out with a solution. The <keyword id="162100" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Urban-Development">Ministry of Urban Development</keyword> has launched a NCMC model to enable seamless travel by metros and other transportation systems across the country. 
 
You can use the same card based on the Smart National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) model for shopping as well. This card does away with the need for carrying separate cards for banking and transit requirements. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Urban+Development+Minister+M+Venkaiah+Naidu+">Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu</a> has approved the 'EMV Open Loop Card with stored value' for this initiative. 
 
Earlier, Naidu had set up a committee chaired by the additional secretary in the ministry to find an inter-operable mobility card that can be used across different transport systems in India and which can also be used as a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=credit+or+debit+card+">credit or debit card</a> as well. 
 This committee had representatives of <keyword id="6373306" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Informatics-Centre">National Informatics Centre</keyword> (NIC), <keyword id="1306047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Centre-for-Development-of-Advance-Computing">Centre for Development of Advance Computing</keyword> (C-DAC), <keyword id="59330" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bureau-of-Indian-Standards">Bureau of Indian Standards</keyword> (BIS), National Payment Corporation of India (NCPI) and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ministry+of+Finance">Ministry of Finance</a>. 
 
After studying different models used across the world, the committee has recommended the EMV Open Loop Card with stored value. 
 
This Smart Common Mobility Payment Card addresses the deficiencies associated with other cards being used in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Singapore+">Singapore</a> and other countries. This card meets travel needs based on stored value of money. The card can be used for travelling by any means of transport and also enables account based retail applications. 
 Globally, there is no nationwide common card except in <keyword id="6356662" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Singapore">Singapore</keyword> where in inter-operability is confined to the city only. The committee has therefore recommended the EMV Open Loop Card with stored value for use across the country. 
 The ministry has decided to task the <keyword id="394949" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Payments-Corporation">National Payments Corporation</keyword> of India with indigenous development and management of clearing and settlement of payments, simulating cards, terminals and network, a support base of vendors for providing certified tools, cards, terminals and other services, in line with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=%27Make+in+India%27+">'Make in India'</a> initiative. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Now travel anywhere within India using the same card!

<ul><li>The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> now has an official multilingual app through which people can stay updated with real time news from the top court.</li><li>The app is available in English, Hindi and six other regional languages. </li><li>The <keyword id="42836" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="SC">SC</keyword> will use Artificial Intelligence to translate documents, orders and judgments into regional languages. </li></ul>India’s Supreme Court now has an official multilingual app through which people can stay updated with real time news from the top court. Through the app, users can view judgments, orders, office reports, and circulars. The app is available in English, Hindi and six other regional languages. The Supreme Court also released the ‘Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software’ which will use Artificial Intelligence to translate documents, orders and judgments into regional languages. “This is the first step towards the introduction of Artificial Intelligence in judicial domain,” said the Supreme Court press release. The app was developed with the technical consultation of National Informatics Centre. The developments were announced on the occasion of <keyword id="1536706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Constitution-Day">Constitution Day</keyword>. In 2017, the Supreme Court developed an app which displays court’s board, cause lists, daily orders, office reports case status and judgments.

The SC will use AI to translate documents, orders and judgments into regional languages

New Delhi, Feb 24 () On the first anniversary of launch of the government's ambitious PM-Kisan scheme, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday launched a mobile app to broaden the reach of the programme that aims to provide annually Rs 6,000 to each eligible farmer. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) was launched on February 24, 2019 in Uttar Pradesh and all states are implementing the scheme, except for West Bengal. So far, 9.74 crore farmers are registered under the scheme against the target of 14 crore farmers. Of which, the payment has been made to 8.45 crore farmers so far after the data has been verified by the state governments, as per the official data. Launching the mobile app, the Minister said this has been developed to broaden the reach of the scheme, which is playing an important role in achieving the target of doubling farmers income by 2022. Using the mobile app, farmers can know the payment status, correct name as per Aadhaar, know registration status and scheme eligibility besides helpline numbers and self registration features, he said. The mobile app has been developed and designed by the National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Already, a portal on PM-Kisan is in place for registration under the scheme. It provided end-to-end technology solution for transferring the benefits directly into the accounts of registered farmers. There is a farmers' corner on the portal where they can themselves or with the help of common service centres can file their request online and check the status of their application or make correction in name as per Aadhaar etc. LUX DRR

Govt launches mobile app to broaden reach of PM-Kisan

New Delhi, Jan 21 () IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said the "systems within" the government should also need to come up with innovative ideas, saying that innovation should not be expected from private organisations only. 
The minister asked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to encourage its staff to come up with new ideas irrespective of the ranks they hold in the organisation. 
"Innovation should not become only private initiative. Even systems within the government should start thinking on those lines," Prasad said at NIC TechConclave 2020. 
The minister said he will personally encourage innovators. 
"NIC must also start thinking out of the box... my recommendation to you and your team is that if any NIC professional regardless of number in hierarchy starts something new, encourage him or her to think more...," he said.
The NIC provides to government departments software platforms starting from e-mail services to process management of schemes.
The minister appreciated NIC for monitoring the Swachch Bharat campaign in the country and construction of toilets in villages. 
"Technology should be designed to fulfil the aspirations of the people, he added. 
 Electronics and IT Secretary Ajay Sawhney said that every government department is thinking of deploying new technology like artificial intelligence, blockchain etc and all the departments should come together to leverage their resources. PRS MKJ

Systems within govt should start thinking of innovation: Prasad

In order to embrace technology in governance, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet is planning to cut down paper use during its meetings by putting official notes on <keyword id="101252" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kindle">Kindle</keyword>, revealed a Financial Express report. 
 Once a meeting will get over, these devices will be given back to the <keyword id="116854" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cabinet-secretariat">Cabinet Secretariat</keyword>. The National Informatics Centre, which is a premier technology arm of the central government, has been given a time frame of six months to implement the move, the report added. 
 
The Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO) hopes that this initiate will prevent leaking of official information on several strategic critical issues to the media. 
 
Cabinet notes and annexures will be loaded in Kindle by the Cabinet Secretariat only once the ministers will reach to address any meeting or conference. The device will carry all information, from the minute of meetings to dissent notes, for the convenience of the ministers. The Kindle used the ministers would be given back to the Secretariat post meeting. 
 
The devices will also take care of security issues. The minute anyone would try copying the notes using USB link or Bluetooth, the information will get erased. Beside this, the Cabinet ministers could also sign official documents using their digital signatures, installed in the device. 
 
However, in order to communicate among themselves while drafting Cabinet notes, the ministries would continue to use paper. The new daily further added that this innovative idea is partly modelled on the step taken by Chandrababu Naidu’s government in Andhra Pradesh. 
 
[Source: <a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/narendra-modi-cabinet-to-cut-paper-trail-go-kindle/43358/">The Financial Express</a>]

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