- One Vehicle, One FASTag’ initiative: The National Highways Authority of India suggested tagging users to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process by the end of January 31 to avoid deactivation. The move aims to enhance the efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system and provide seamless movement at the Toll Plazas. The new arrangement Of ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ has also been introduced to discourage user behaviour of using single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle. The initiative had been taken after the recent reports of multiple FASTags being issued for a particular vehicle and FASTags being issued without KYC in violation of RBI’s mandate.
- FASTag: It is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. It is a RFID passive tag used for making toll payments directly from the customers linked prepaid or savings/current account. It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables the customer to drive through toll plazas, without stopping for any toll payments. The toll fare is directly deducted from the linked account of the customer.
It is also vehicle specific and once it is affixed to a vehicle, it cannot be transferred to another vehicle. FASTag can be purchased from any of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) Member Banks. If a FASTag is linked to the prepaid account, then it needs to be recharged/ topped-up as per the usage of the customer.
- Exercise Ayutthaya: The IndIa-Thailand Bilateral Exercise is being named as ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’, which literally translates to ‘The Invincible One’ or ‘Undefeatable’. It symbolises the significance of two of the oldest cities Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand, the historic legacies, rich cultural ties and shared historical narratives dating back to several centuries. Indigenously built Indian Naval ships Kulish and IN LCU 56 participated in the inaugural edition of the exercise.
With the institution of a Bilateral Exercise, both navies have taken a step towards strengthening operational synergy and progressively increasing the exercise complexity. The 36th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was also conducted along with the maiden bilateral exercise.
- Bharat Gaurav Scheme: The Ministry of Railways introduced the ‘Bharat Gaurav Trains’ policy in 2021 to promote India’s rich cultural history and amazing historical landmarks through theme-based tourism circuit trains.
Trains now have a third segment for tourism as part of the concept. Before, the railways had passenger and cargo segments. The Bharat Gaurav Trains plan will get no funds because it is built on a revenue-generating mechanism.
These trains won’t run on a regular schedule like ordinary trains; instead, they’ll be more like the IRCTC’s Ramayana Express. It was announced as part of the tourism circuit trains with a theme. These trains are to be operated on theme-based circuits by both private players and the IRCTC. Anyone, including societies, trusts, coalitions, and state governments, can apply to take these trains and run them on theme tourism circuits.
