Indian Chemical Council

The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was recently conferred with Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-the Hague Award, 2024.

• Indian Chemical Council (ICC) is the apex national body representing all branches of the Chemical Industry in India such as Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, Plastics & Petrochemicals & Petroleum Refineries, Dye-stuffs and Dye-intermediates and so on.
• The Indian Chemical Council is dedicated to the growth of the Indian Chemical Industry.
• It was established in 1938 (pre-independent organisation).
• ICC represents more than 80% of Indian chemical Industry which is valued at USD 220 billion.
• The ICC is well represented by senior executives from a wide range of global and local chemical companies.
• The ICC Annual Awards given under various categories are prized by the industry and recognize outstanding achievement by the company or persons among their peers in the industry.
• National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) is the national authority responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in India. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – Is the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force on 29 April 1997.
• There are 193 Member States that oversees the global endeavour to permanently and verifiably eliminate chemical weapons.
• India is a signatory to CWC convention.
• The Nobel Prize for Peace for the year 2013 was awarded this organisation.
• The OPCW-The Hague Award Fund was created using the nearly 900,000 euros monetary prize accompanying the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the OPCW.
• The 2024 OPCW The Hague Award was conferred upon the Indian Chemical Council (ICC).
• The fund is supplemented by contributions from the City of The Hague.
• National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) – It was established under the Chemical Weapons Convention Act, 2000.
• It was set up to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.
• NACWC is an office in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.
• NACWC is the national authority responsible for implementing the Convention in India.

Network Readiness Index, 2024 (NRI 2024)

• The Network Readiness Index 2024 ranks a total of 133 economies that collectively account for 95% of global gross domestic product (GDP).
• The report is published by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• The index is based on their performances in 4 different pillars covering a total of 54 variables. The 4 pillars are:
  1. Technology
  2. People
  3. Governance
  4. Impact
• In NRI 2024, the United States and Singapore have maintained their lead positions at 1st and 2nd place, respectively.
• These rankings highlight the ongoing leadership of high-income economies while also acknowledging progress among emerging markets in network readiness.
• India – India is placed at 49th rank in the NRI, 2024.
• India has not only improved its ranking, but also improved its score from 49.93 in 2023 to 53.63 in 2024.
• India leads in several indicators that include AI talent concentration, ICT services exports, Building Internet subscriptions, International Internet bandwidth and Domestic market scale.
• India has ranked 2nd in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Vietnam.

Digital Bharat Nidhi

• Digital Bharat Nidhi which was formerly known as Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
• The concept of ‘Universal Service Obligation’ was introduced by Rowland Hill in 1837 with his postal reforms.
• The postal reforms included uniform rates across the United Kingdoms (UK) and prepayment by sender via postage stamps.
• Universal Service was the key objective of the Universal Postal Union.
• In India, the New Telecom Policy, 1999 provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) would be raised through a ‘Universal Access Levy’ (UAL).
• The Universal Service Support Policy for provision of telecom facilities in rural and remote areas of the country came into effect from 2002.
• The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 provided statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), was passed by the parliament in December 2003.
• The rules for administration of the fund known as Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2004 were notified on 26.03.2004.
• As per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (as amended in 2003 and 2006), the fund is to be utilised exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation.
• As per ‘The Telecommunications Act, 2023’ the Universal Service Obligation Fund, has become the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN).
• The Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund is headed by the Administrator, USO Fund who is appointed by the Central Government, for the administration of the fund.
• It is an attached office of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications.
• BharatNet project is one of the flagship schemes of the Government of India, was launched to provide broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakhs Gram Panchayats in the country.
• In order to achieve objectives of DBN, it covers various schemes and projects including BharatNet, 4G Saturation Project and Provision of Mobile Service in uncovered areas of Aspirational Districts.
• It also include schemes in Mobile Services in Left Wing Extremist Areas, Mobile Services in Himalayan and Border areas, mobile Services in Islands and so on.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) was setup under the Department of Post, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by Government of India.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is the only payments bank set up under Department of Posts.
• IPPB was launched as a pilot project on 30 January 2017 in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh), with the objective of being present across India by the FY 2018-2019.
• IPPB has expanded its strength across India covering post offices, through a network one Branch and 649 Banking outlets manned by Business Correspondents, working on a hub and spoke model.
• The services offered by the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) are:

E-Daakhil Portal

E-Daakhil portal has recently operational in every state and union territory of India.

• The e-Daakhil portal was first launched on by the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission in September 2020.
• The portal was introduced as inexpensive, speedy and hassle-free mechanism for filing consumer complaints.
• E-Daakhil is an innovative online platform designed to streamline the consumer grievance redressal process, providing an efficient and convenient way for consumers
• It serves as a consumer forum, dispensing the need to travel and be physically present to file their grievances.
• Since its inception, E-Daakhil has been a game-changer in promoting consumer rights and ensuring timely justice.
• E-Daakhil was recently across all states and union territories of India by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.