1) Infrastructure Developments Around Pangong Tso: Three years after the violent clash between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan, there is significant infrastructure development taking place in the India-China border region.
- China’s Infrastructure Efforts: Construction of a bridge across the Pangong Tso, connecting the north and south banks, is in progress.
- India’s Infrastructure Projects:
- India is building a black-topped road on the north bank of the Pangong Tso, towards Finger 4.
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is nearing completion of key infrastructure projects such as the Sela, Nechipu, and Sela-Chhabrela tunnels, enhancing all-weather connectivity along the LAC. The Sela Tunnel Road project will be the world’s longest bi-lane tunnel at altitude above 13,000 ft.
- Construction work on an alternate axis to the critical Darbuk-Skyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road is advancing through the Saser La.
- The Vibrant Villages Programme, a Centrally sponsored scheme, was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
2) Time Dilation in Early Universe: A recent study has utilized observations of Quasars, intense black holes to demonstrate time dilation in the early universe.
- The continual expansion of the universe accounts for the slower passage of time in the past compared to the present. The time passed approximately one-fifth as quickly as it does today. The observations stretch back to about 12.3 billion years ago, when the universe was roughly a tenth its present age.
- Scientists had previously documented time dilation dating back around 7 billion years based on observations of supernovas, stellar explosions. By studying these explosions from the past, they found that events unfolded more slowly from the perspective of our present time due to the known time it takes for today’s supernovas to brighten and fade.
3) Government Taps Private Sector to Run Staff Email Service: Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has approved bids from six companies – Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Softline, Zoho, Railtel, and Rediffmail in response to an RFP (request for proposal) floated in March 2023 for the selection of a Master System Integrator (MSI) for providing email cloud solutions for the Government.
Benefits of Private Sector Involvement in Government Email Services:
- The government recognized the expertise and resources offered by the private sector in managing communication systems effectively.
- The government aims to enhance the efficiency and productivity of its internal communication processes by involving private companies while ensuring a robust cybersecurity mechanism and cloud security.
- The move aligns with the government’s agenda of digital transformation and modernizing its communication systems.
- Partnering with private companies allows the government to leverage scalable solutions that can accommodate its large workforce and evolving needs.
- The government emphasizes hosting email services within India’s boundaries for data sovereignty and enhanced security. The use of AI models and prompt notification of cyber-attacks contribute to strengthening security measures.
