Prelims Oriented
Defence Acquisition Council
Context: Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Rajnath Singh approved capital acquisition proposals worth ₹79,000 crore. The objective is to strengthen operational capabilities of Army, Navy and Air Force enhancing lethality, mobility, intelligence-gathering.
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- Army Acquisitions
- NAMIS Mk-II: Nag missile system (tracked) to destroy enemy armoured vehicles, bunkers and fortified positions.
- GBMES: Ground-based mobile ELINT system providing round-the-clock electronic intelligence on enemy emitters.
- HMVs: High-mobility vehicles with material handling cranes enhancing logistic support in challenging terrains.
- Navy Acquisitions
- Landing Platform Docks: Augment amphibious warfare capabilities enabling joint operations; enhance peacekeeping, HADR missions capacity.
- Weapons Systems: 30mm naval surface guns, DRDO-developed advanced lightweight torpedoes engaging conventional, nuclear, midget submarines.
- Smart Ammunition: Electro-optical infrared search-and-track systems and smart ammunition for 76mm super rapid gun mounts.
- Air Force Acquisitions
- CLRTS/DS: Collaborative long-range target saturation/destruction system featuring autonomous take-off, landing, navigation, target detection, payload delivery.
- Precision Capability: Augments IAF’s long-range precision engagement capacity significantly.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
- Overview and Formation
- Highest decision-making body of Defence Ministry on procurement matters.
- Formation: Created in 2001 following Group of Ministers’ recommendations on ‘Reforming National Security System’ post-Kargil War.
- Main Objective: Ensure expeditious procurement of armed forces’ approved requirements optimally utilizing allocated budgetary resources.
- Composition
- Chairman: Defence Minister heads the council as primary decision-making authority.
- Key Members: Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, three Service Chiefs (Army, Navy, Air Force).
- Administrative Members: Defence Secretary, Secretary of Defence Production and Supplies, Defence Research and Development Secretary.
- Financial Member: Secretary of Defence Finance ensuring fiscal oversight and accountability.
- Additional Members: Vice Chief of Defence Staff/CISC, Special Secretary (Acquisition) for operational coordination.
- Member Secretary: Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Planning, Policy and Force Development) provides secretarial support.
- Key Functions
- Long-Term Planning: Approves 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan for defence forces in principle.
- Acceptance of Necessity: Accords acceptance to acquisition proposals ensuring alignment with strategic requirements.
- Categorization: Categories proposals under ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’, and ‘Make’ based on indigenization potential.
- Vendor Clearance: Addresses single vendor clearance issues ensuring competitive procurement processes.
- Offset Decisions: Determines offset provisions for acquisition proposals exceeding Rs 300 crore value.
- Technology Transfer: Decides on Transfer of Technology under ‘Buy & Make’ category acquisition proposals.
- Field Trials: Oversees field trial evaluation ensuring equipment meets operational requirements.
Gaganyaan Mission
Context: ISRO Chairman announced 90% Gaganyaan development work completed; first uncrewed mission with humanoid Vyomitra expected by year-end, crewed mission planned for 2027.
Gaganyaan Mission
- Objective: India’s first human spaceflight program sending three astronauts to Low Earth Orbit at 400 km for three days.
- Global Standing: Success will place India among elite nations (U.S., Russia, China) with human spaceflight capability.
- Designated Astronauts: Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.
- Key Technologies
- Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3): Modified LVM3 rocket with solid, liquid, cryogenic stages meeting human rating requirements.
- Launch Capability: Launches Orbital Module to 400 km Low Earth Orbit with Crew Escape System for emergencies.
- Crew Escape System (CES): High burn rate solid motors ensure safe abort during launch or ascent emergencies.
- Orbital Module (OM): Contains Crew Module and Service Module with life support, avionics, propulsion systems.
- Crew Module (CM): Habitable space with Earth-like environment; pressurized inner structure, unpressurized external structure for re-entry.
- Service Module (SM): Supports CM in orbit providing thermal, propulsion, power, avionics, deployment mechanisms; remains unpressurized.
- Mission Preparatory Tests
- Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT): Validates parachute and deceleration systems for safe crew module landing.
- Test Vehicle Missions (TV): Tests abort mechanisms and launch system reliability under various scenarios.
- Pad Abort Test (PAT): Checks crew module safety from various altitudes ensuring emergency escape capability.
- Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF): Conducts recovery trials with Navy support for splashdown scenarios.
Digital Payment Systems in India
RBI Report Findings
- Overall Payment Transaction Growth
- Volume Growth: Payment transactions increased from 3,248 crore (2019) to 20,849 crore (2024).
- Value Growth: Transaction value rose from ₹1,775 lakh crore (2019) to ₹2,830 lakh crore (2024).
- Digital Dominance: Almost entire payment growth attributable to digital payment transactions during this period.
- Digital Share (2024): Digital payments reached 99.7% volume and 97.5% value demonstrating near-total digitalization.
- UPI Transaction Trends
- Volume Surge: UPI transactions increased dramatically from 1,079 crore (2019) to 17,221 crore (2024).
- Value Growth: Transaction value grew from ₹18.4 lakh crore (2019) to ₹246.8 lakh crore (2024).
- Small Transactions: Lower average transaction size indicates UPI primarily used for small-value payments.
- NEFT Performance
- Volume Growth: NEFT transactions more than tripled from 262.2 crore (2019) to 926.8 crore (2024).
- Value Growth: Transaction value increased from ₹232.9 lakh crore (2019) to ₹432.8 lakh crore (2024).
- RTGS Expansion
- Volume Growth: Large-value RTGS transactions grew from 14.8 crore (2019) to 29.5 crore (2024).
- Value Growth: Transaction value rose from ₹1,388.7 lakh crore (2019) to ₹1,938.2 lakh crore (2024)
- Debit Card Decline
- Volume Decline: Debit card transactions fell from 495.32 crore (2019) to 173.80 crore (2024).
- Value Decline: Transaction value decreased from ₹6.83 lakh crore (2019) to ₹5.15 lakh crore (2024).
- Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI)
- Volume Growth: PPI transaction volume increased from 516.2 crore (2019) to 698.9 crore (2024).
- Stagnant Value: Transaction value remained almost same at ₹2.23 lakh crore throughout the period.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
- Development: Real-time mobile payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- Functionality: Links multiple bank accounts into single app enabling seamless peer-to-peer and merchant transactions.
- Transaction Types: Enables both push (send) and pull (receive) transactions using Virtual Payment Address (VPA).
- Authentication: Two-factor authentication eliminates need for entering bank details each time ensuring security.
- Technology Base: Built on IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) integrating Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS).
- IMPS Features: Facilitates funds transfer using beneficiary’s Mobile Number, MMID or Account number, IFSC code.
- AePS Services: Provides cash withdrawal, deposit, balance enquiry, money transfer using Aadhaar authentication.
- BHIM App: Bharat Interface for Money is a UPI-based payment app developed by NPCI.
National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
- Definition: Electronic method for transferring money online between bank accounts across participating banks.
- Availability: Most Indian banks provide NEFT feature on internet and mobile banking platforms.
- Processing Mode: Transactions processed and settled in half-hourly batches, not real-time as per RBI guidelines.
- Operating Hours: NEFT transactions can be performed 24×7 throughout the year.
- Transfer Limits: Minimum transfer value Rs. 1; no maximum limit imposed on transactions.
- Transaction Cost: Money transfers through NEFT do not require any additional transaction charges.
Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
- Definition: Payment mode transferring money from one bank account to another in real-time without delay.
- Primary Use: Mostly used for high-value transactions requiring immediate settlement and processing.
- Processing Speed: Fastest possible banking method for money transfer; transactions processed individually one-to-one basis.
- Operating Hours: RTGS transactions can be performed 24×7 throughout the year.
- Transfer Limits: Minimum transfer value Rs. 2 lakh; no upper limit but varies between banks.
Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs)
- Purpose: Instruments facilitating purchase of goods, services, financial transactions and remittance facilities using stored money.
- Forms: PPIs can be issued as physical cards or digital wallets for transactions.
- Types and Categories
- Two Main Types: Small PPIs and full-KYC (Know Your Customer) PPIs based on verification requirements.
- Small PPI Categories: PPIs up to Rs 10,000 with cash loading facility and without cash loading facility.
- Loading and Limits
- Loading Methods: PPIs can be loaded or reloaded using cash, bank account debit, credit or debit cards.
- Cash Loading Limit: Cash loading restricted to Rs 50,000 monthly subject to overall PPI limit.
- Issuance Authority
- Issuing Entities: Banks and non-banks can issue PPIs after obtaining RBI approval.
- Approved Banks: Include Airtel Payments Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Jio Payments Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Establishment and Mission
- Creation: International development agency established in 1968 supporting population and sexual-reproductive health projects.
- Mission: Deliver world where every pregnancy wanted, childbirth safe and young person’s potential fulfilled.
- Name Change: Officially renamed United Nations Population Fund in 1987; original UNFPA abbreviation retained.
- Headquarters: Located in New York, United States
Role and Funding
- Statistical Support: Provides technical and financial support for population censuses and thematic surveys; not primary data collector.
- Funding Source: Entirely supported by voluntary contributions from donor governments, intergovernmental organizations, private sector, foundations, individuals.
- Budget Independence: Not funded by United Nations regular budget; operates on voluntary contributions only.
Program Areas
- Reproductive Health: Funds family planning, safe motherhood, sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment programs.
- Population Issues: Addresses population problems of developed and developing countries with strategic solutions.
- Gender Equality: Focuses on women’s status issues including gender gap in education addressing disparities.
- Request-Based: Assistance programs undertaken only in response to government requests ensuring country ownership.
