1. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launches digital platform for police force.

Gandhinagar, April 17: In order to improve the conviction rate, Gujarat police introduced the digital platform called Pocket Cop Project, under which 4900 smartphones will be contested with real-time information of 68 lakh criminals. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Monday launched the innovative application as a part of police modernization.

Speaking at the function, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the technological intervention will strengthen the state police force for curbing Morden days crimes. He mentioned that Pocket Cop will improve the efficiency of state police in handling key law and order issues and cybercrime.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that all the major districts will be under the surveillance of CCTV ecosystem. Rupani stated that digital platform will safeguard all the criminal records and other information essential for investigation. The Chief Minister expressed that new innovation will fine tune the affairs of state police in curbing criminal activities.

2. DARPAN-PLI app launched by communications ministry.

Hon’ble Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha today launched here the DARPAN-PLI App, which will help in the collection of a premium for PLI and RPLI policies at Branch Post Offices anywhere in India, with an online update of the policies. Further, with launch of this App, indexing of maturity claims in respect of PLI and RPLI policies can be done at Branch Post Office itself, upon which the insurant will immediately be provided with the request number for further references.

Shri Sinha said that these two initiatives will help Department of Posts in providing better after-sales service to customers of PLI and RPLI, particularly those living in rural areas of the country.

Shri Sinha also said, with a view of achieving total digitisation of postal operations in the country, under the IT Modernisation Plan, Department of Posts has launched Digital Advancement Of Rural Post Office For a New India (DARPAN) Project, which aims at connecting all 1.29 lakh Rural Branch Post Offices in the country to enable them to do online Postal and Financial Transactions.

Hand held devices with SIM connectivity and solar power backup are being installed in all Branch Post Offices in the Country. The total Project cost is more than Rs.1300 crores. 61,941 Branch Post Offices have been rolled out under DARPAN Project as on 11th April 2018.

 The Hand-held devices installed under DARPAN Project will ensure improvement in the quality of Postal services being offered in remote rural areas. Customers in these areas can now avail the facility of online Core Banking, booking of Registered and Speed Post articles, booking of Money Orders, the deposit of Postal Life Insurance / Rural Postal Life Insurance premium and indexing of PLI / RPLI maturity claims through hand-held devices being used at branch post offices.

1. IAF to Conduct Biggest Combat Exercise Along Pakistan, China Borders. 

he Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to conduct its biggest ever combat exercise along Pakistan and China borders.

The exercise- Gagan Shakti, 2018- will be taking place between April 10 to 23. Depending upon the order of the Air Force Chief, the Air Force will mobilise its assets in the war scenario within 48 hours of the orders. Meanwhile, the IAF is readying to mobilise its entire asset and equipment inventory to conduct its biggest exercise ever.

IAF will mobilise more than 1100 combat, transport and rotary wing (helicopter) aircraft in order to practice the real time scenario, to be conducted day and night, of Combat with the enemy encompassing along Pakistan border in the Western areas and along China border in the Northern areas. For the first time, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will be taking part in the exercise and will perform both the offensive and defensive roles. Navy’s Maritime Combat Aircraft MiG 29s will also take part.

2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launches India`s 1st All-Electric High-Speed Train.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched India`s first all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar. The addition of all-electric high-speed locomotive in Bihar will be a giant leap in PM Modi`s govt initiative `Make in India`. 

The electric locomotive, with a 12,000 horsepower (HP), will be flagged off from Bihar`s Madhepura loco factory by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Before the launch of high speed locomotive train, the most powerful electric engine in India was of 6,000 HP.

Besides the first  all-electric high-speed locomotive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the state-of-the art Madhepura factory, which is a high-value FDI joint venture with French rolling stock giant Alstom to the country. 

Below we have listed the five facts about India`s first all-electric high-speed locomotive.

1. In line with the PM Modi government`s and Indian Railways` target of 100-per cent electrification and towards sustainable mobility, these new locomotives will not only bring down the operating cost for the railways, but significantly cut down greenhouse gas emissions as well. 

2. The first locomotive is part of a 3.5-billion euros order for 800 electric double-section locomotives, signed in 2015, part of the Ministry of Railways` public-private partnership programme to modernise the country`s rail infrastructure.

3. The 12,000-hp, double-section locomotive, part of Alstom`s Prima locomotives family, has a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and is capable of running at a speed of 120km per hour, allowing a faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains across the country. 

4. Besides, Alstom had also announced three new contracts worth approximately 75 million euros -- a power supply contract from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), a contract for new train-sets from the Chennai Metro Rail Corporation and another power supply contract from the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation. 

5. PM Narendra Modi is also likely to flag off a new bi-weekly train, Humsafar Express, connecting Katihar to New Delhi.

 1. RH300 sounding rocket launched for atmospheric studies.

Global technology platform and digital payments leader, PayPal and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India’s apex international trade promotion organisation, have announced a partnership to promote exports while leveraging the technology and experience of each other. PayPal will work with FIEO to educate SMEs on how to leverage global opportunities, help them receive money in a safe and timely manner with PayPal products like invoicing and bring to them global best practices from across 200 markets.

Ajay Sahai, director general & CEO, FIEO said, “The MoU will help FIEO to reach the cottage industries, artisans, house-wives, youths, MSMEs and clusters, even in far-flung areas to develop their orientation towards exports. The Paypal products like invoicing solutions, safe and trusted payment options for buyers, easy integration with existing business systems will help encourage the entrepreneurs and the startups alike to take to exports without any difficulty, without much technical knowhow.  All these are in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India, Digital India and empowering the youth for start-up encouragement with export orientation.”

Meanwhile, Anupam Pahuja, managing director and country manager, India, PayPal said, “With the shift towards an entrepreneurial mindset amongst Indians, the focus will now shift towards enablers that can fuel their success. This MoU will essentially focus on training Indian SMEs in various aspects of exports and familiarize them with global growth opportunities. Certain inherent challenges have deterred the Indian SME sector from performing to its true potential. Our programs and seminars will debunk myths and simplify the entire ecosystem for the SMEs. FIEO’s members contribute to more than 70 percent of India’s exports and we look forward to leveraging our partnership to strike the global chord.”