iCET, Digi Yatra Expansion Plans, Pavagarh

• National Security Advisers of India and US chaired the second meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• They resolved to prevent the leakage of sensitive and dual-use technologies to countries of concern.
• The NSAs set the vision for the next chapter of the strategic technology partnership, focusing on co-production, co-development, and research in critical and emerging technology areas.
• Advanced talks on India purchasing MQ-9B unmanned aerial vehicles and licensed manufacture of GE-414 jet engines and Stryker infantry vehicles. Discussions also covered the co-production of land warfare systems.
• Launch of a strategic semiconductor partnership between General Atomics and Indian firm 3rdiTech to co-develop semiconductor design and manufacturing for precision-guided ammunition and other security-focused electronics.
• Promoting India’s role in the Mineral Security Partnership, including co-investing in a lithium resource project in South America and a rare earth deposit in Africa to diversify critical mineral supply chains responsibly.
• Both NSAs are set to address the India-U.S. iCET roundtable with industry heads organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

iCET Expansion

• The iCET, announced in May 2022 and launched in January 2023, includes sectors like space, semiconductors, telecommunications, AI, quantum science, biotechnology, and clean energy.
• New areas added include biotechnology, critical minerals, rare earths processing, digital connectivity, digital public infrastructure, and advanced materials.
• It reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

Dig Deeper: Read about INDUS X

Digi Yatra

• It was launched in December 2022 and is currently available at 14 airports, with 15 more to be included by the end of 2024.
• Initially deployed at airport entry gates and security screening queues, it is now being expanded to boarding gates and baggage drops.
• Digi Yatra Foundation is a not-for-profit private company, a consortium of five private airports holding a combined 74% share, and the Airports Authority of India holding the remaining 26%.

• Digi Yatra, a facial recognition-based check-in service at airports, may soon be implemented at hotels and public places such as historical monuments, according to the Digi Yatra Foundation.
• A prototype for this use-case has been developed, and discussions are underway with government agencies like the Tourism Ministry.
• The goal is to create a travel stack for seamless movement across India, enhancing the travel experience for tourists by eliminating the need to produce a passport for check-in at hotels or police stations.
• Digi Yatra ID does not carry personally identifiable information; instead, it uses a hash value that identifies the content without revealing data.
• A revised policy document will address privacy concerns, such as access to data for third-party vendors and conditions for mandatory data purge within 24 hours.

Dig Deeper: How does facial recognition work? Compare Face Recognition Technology with Fingerprint Recognition.

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Defence Ministry after the approval of Defence Acquisition Council for 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore.
• The RFP includes helicopters for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• HAL informed the stock exchanges in compliance with SEBI regulations.
• The Army is preparing to induct six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, to be deployed in the desert sector.

LCH Specifications

• The twin-engine LCH, designed and developed by HAL, is a 5-8 tonne class dedicated combat helicopter.
• It was conceptualized after the 1999 Kargil conflict.
• It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) with a significant load of weapons and fuel.
• The LCH has a combat radius of 500 km and a service ceiling of 21,000 feet, making it ideal for high altitude operations such as in the Siachen Glacier.

Dig Deeper: Read about composition of Defence Acquisition Council and its mandate.

• The Punjab government is promoting the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, which can reduce water usage by 15% to 20% compared to the traditional puddling method (which require 3,600 to 4,125 liters/1 Kg of Rice)
• DSR also requires less labour and matures 7 to 10 days faster, giving farmers more time to manage paddy straw.
• Despite government incentives, adoption remains low, with only 1.73 lakh acres out of 79 lakh acres under paddy cultivation using this technique. This year’s target is 7 lakh acres, less than 10% of Punjab’s total rice acreage.

• In DSR, seed treatment is crucial, with seeds soaked in a fungicide solution for eight hours, then dried for half a day before sowing.
• DSR is more suitable for heavy or medium-to-heavy textured soils, which retain water better than light-textured soils.
• About 20% of Punjab’s soil is light-textured, found predominantly in Malwa, while Majha and Doaba regions have heavier soils.
• Soil must have adequate iron content for DSR to be effective.
• Fields previously cultivated with crops like cotton, maize, and sugarcane may have iron deficiencies, making them unsuitable for DSR.
• Farmers should use ferrace iron supplements for better results.
• Adequate compensation for initial losses can encourage farmers to try DSR without the fear of financial setbacks. As traditional method is known to maximise yields and maintain better crop health.

Dig Deeper: Read about role of DSR in combating Air pollution of winter in Capital and surrounding areas.

• Jain community sought an FIR against members of the Shree Kalika Mataji Mandir Trust of Pavagadh for allegedly removing the seven idols of Jain Tirthankaras from their original place during the ongoing renovation that was being undertaken by the temple body.
• The idols of Tirthankaras (or spiritual leaders) – believed to be at least a thousand years old – adorned the old stairway, leading to the Mahakali Temple atop the Pavagadh Hill.
• The Pavagadh hill composed of reddish-yellow coloured stone formation is one of the oldest rock formations in India. The hill rises to a height of nearly 800 m from the mean sea level.
• Pavagadh hill was a famous Hindu fortress under the Solanki kings of Gujarat followed by Khichi Chauhans.
• In 1484, Sultan Mahmud Begarah took possession of the fort and renamed it Muhammadabad.
• These monuments are located on the Mauliya plateau, which is situated on the hill.
• The earliest temple datable to 10th – 11th century is dedicated to Lakulisa of which only gudhamandapa and antarala is extant.
• Other temples belong to Hindu and Jaina sects and are datable to circa 13th – 15th centuries A.D.

The Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

• It is UNESCO World Heritage site with its ancient Hindu and Jaina architecture, temple.
• Special water retaining installations together with its religious, military and agricultural structures, dating back to the regional Capital City built by Mehmud Begda in the 16th century, represents cultures which have disappeared.

• All the temples are of the Nagara style having garbhagriha, mandapa and an entrance porch.

Dig Deeper: Read about the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Gujarat.