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Subject: Governance

Important aspects of Society

Tracking the epidemic
This article suggests the innovative indicators for the classification of areas. Also, the need for decentralisation of science and governance is stressed. So, how could decentralisation help? What should form the basis of indicators at the local level? Such questions are answered in this article.

States are better placed to deliver on public health
- They are, of course, better placed to deliver on public health and welfare. They are also generally more accountable.
- According to the recent ICMR serological sample study conducted in mid-May, barely 1 per cent of non-metropolitan India was infected.
- Thus, as the infection spreads and eventually stabilises, there is a lot of heavy lifting that the states must do.
The measure of prevention and containment zone
- After lockdown, the message of prevention and the device called containment zones are the only ways left to manage the epidemic.
- This includes allied activities: The demarcation of the boundary, testing, treatment, tracing and quarantine.
- Hidden inside this box of practices are the answers to questions such as: Why is Karnataka doing better than Maharashtra in terms of mortality?
What went wrong with colour-coded zones at district levels?
- The older colour-coded zone label, introduced by the Centre on April 14, was at the district scale.
- That quickly became a collective punishment with little measurable benefits.
- One consequence was that districts were unhappy with the return of migrants simply because that could change their colour.
- The second problem was that the red-ness of a region was equated with the need for lockdowns, since that was the only visible instrument.
Let’s explore the ward and community level base strategy
- Well designed metrics at the ward and community scale will help the science develop.
- They can guide the people and the administration and allow the states to compare practices and learn from each other.
Let us see what can be achieved within this framework: Focusing on measurement

1. Classified should include socio-economic and demographic factors
- Any area classification must include key socio-economic and demographic determinants, for example, the density of the area, number of people in dwellings with one room or less, or the fraction of people using community toilets.
- As we know, much of the infection is spreading within dense clusters.
- Such metrics would indicate vulnerable areas and the limits to reduction in contact rate through policing.
- Here, decongestion measures such as out-migration may be required.
- This will also serve as a guide to the future of the locality or ward.
2. Designing indicator from data collected so far
- An important document is the Specimen Referral Form (SRF) designed by the ICMR which must be filled to undertake the PCR Corona Test.
- In that, the possible patient backgrounds for recommending the test, are recorded.
- In that, symptomatic cases with no known contact are already a large fraction of those infected.
- This and other fields in the SRF such as age, location and symptoms, would give us substantial insights into the dynamics and severity of the disease and the efficacy of our procedures.
- This data should be made available immediately.
3. Measuring the risk from migrants
- The recent inclusion of migrants in the SRF is indeed welcome.
- This, coupled with other quarantine data in the SRF, gives us the risk from migrants to the community at large.
- Also welcome is the setting up of a National Migrant Information System (NMIS) on the NDMA database.
- Hopefully, we may now know the fraction of migrants who have safely reached home and the state-wise status of those who haven’t and the reasons for the same.
- In any case, the number of infected migrants, if suitably quarantined, must be subtracted from the total number of positive cases for that area/district, for they did not arise there and they are outside the infective load in the area.
- This will help reduce the stigma on migrants and instead put more focus on quarantine arrangements for them.
4. Measuring preparedness
- Ensuring that our villages and towns are prepared to meet the disease is an important objective.
- One metric to measure preparedness is the number of beds, doctors and ambulances per 1,000.
- This may then be compared with the active cases in the region.
- In fact, the adverse mortality in some areas is directly correlated with the local shortage of medical care.
- For most districts in Maharashtra, shortages would start biting at about 200 cases per day.
- An important addition would be village-level data on the running of the local quarantine, the functioning of the PDS and availability of drinking water.
5. Measuring the prevalence and social distance
- Coming to prevention, the importance of masks, distance and open ventilation is still not appreciated.
- A simple statistical metric is to measure the prevalence of masks in an area.
- This can be done by installing cameras in suitable locations and counting people with masks.
- Social distance measures are also amenable to indicators.
- For example, the fraction of buses which have installed a sheet between the driver and the passengers, or recording innovative ways of ticket vending.
The popularity of the colour-coding based on such indicators may be effective in social mobilisation.

Social comprehension and local solution
- Mitigation and adaptation require social comprehension and local solutions.
- These need scientific studies by regional institutions and partnerships with civil society.
- Creating and supporting good metrics and providing data is an important step in that direction.
- This will not only save lives, it will reduce fear and help re-start normal life.
Decentralisation of science and governance
- The epidemic has underlined that publicness and decentralisation of science and governance is the only way of creating knowledge and the professional ability to solve our own problems.
- Without this, the post-corona Indian society would be an unhappy attempt at making the old arrangement work in a degraded reality of fearful and angry people.
Consider the question “Corona pandemic and subsequent measures to contain it has highlighted the need for decentralisation of governance. Elaborate.”

Conclusion

We must learn to live with the virus, but we must also find joy. Only through constant engagement and adaptation will we overcome fear and forge a new society that will sustain both life and happiness.
June 13, 2020
MOOC can’t be the substitute for learning in the classroom
Massive open online courses (MOOC) could not be panacea for the problems education faces. It can’t be the replacement for the learning in the classrooms. This article highlights the issues with adoption of MOOC and why it can’t be the replacement for learning in the classrooms.

UGC circular to adopt MOOC
- In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Grants Commission had issued a circular to universities.
- Through this circular, it encouraged them to adopt massive open online courses (MOOCs) offered on its SWAYAM platform for credit transfers in the coming semesters.
- But the move poses a great danger.
- But why it’s danger? Because it is also being seen as an instrument to achieve the country’s target Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education.
- GER in higher education is envisioned to be 30% by 2021; it was 25.8% in 2017–18.
Issues with MOOC and what classrooms offers
- MOOC-based e-learning platforms tend to reinforce a top-down teacher-to-student directionality of learning.
- This misses the point that teaching and learning are skills that are always in the making.
- The teacher is after all “an intellectual midwife” who facilitates in the birth of students’ ideas and insights through engaging in critical dialogue.
- In a conducive classroom environment, this role is often switched and the student plays intellectual midwife to the teacher’s ideas.
- Moving to a MOOC-based degree system would rob young teachers and students of these essential lessons in teaching and learning from each other.
- Policymakers behind the SWAYAM platform have left out courses in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, agriculture, and physiotherapy on the grounds that they involve laboratory and practical work.
- This move makes sense.
- But it seems to suggest that the pure sciences, the arts, the social sciences, and humanities curricula are largely lecture- and theory-based, and, therefore, readily adaptable to the online platform.
- Nothing can be farther from such a misconception.
- Implicit in every curriculum is the tacit assumption that the classroom is a laboratory for hands-on testing of ideas, opinions, interpretations, and counterarguments.
- A diverse and inclusive classroom is the best litmus test for any theory or insight.
- Multidisciplinarity happens more through serendipity — when learners across disciplines bump into each other and engage in conversations.
- Classroom and campus spaces offer the potential for solidarity in the face of discrimination, social anxiety, and stage fear, paving the way for a proliferation of voluntary associations that lie outside the realm of family, economy, and state.
- In the absence of this physical space, teaching and learning would give way to mere content and its consumption.
- Without a shared space to discuss and contest ideas, learning dilutes to just gathering more information.
- This could also dilute norms of evaluation, whereby a “good lecture” might mean merely a lecture which “streams seamlessly, without buffering”.
Online mode: add more value to the classroom education
- One could think of greater value-sensitive and socially just architectures and technologies that further foster classroom engagement.
- It also makes it accessible for students of various disabilities and challenges, thereby adding more value to the existing meaning of education.
- But public education modelled on social distancing is a functional reduction and dilution of the meaning of education.
- It could add value only as an addendum to the classroom.
Consider the question “Examine the issues with wide adoption of the MOOC to address the problems education sector in India faces.”

Conclusion

Such platforms must be seen only as stop-gap variants that help us get by under lockdown situations and complement classroom lectures.
June 13, 2020
Sahakar Mitra Scheme
The Union Ministry for Agriculture has launched Sahakar Mitra: Scheme on Internship Programme (SIP).

Note: Article 19 states that the Right to form co-operative societies is a Fundamental Right and DPSP Article 43-B provides for the promotion of co-operative societies.

Sahakar Mitra Scheme
- The scheme is an initiative by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), the cooperative sector development finance organization.
- It aims to help cooperative institutions access innovative ideas of young professionals while the interns will gain experience of working in the field to be self-reliant.
- The scheme is expected to assist cooperative institutions to access new and innovative ideas of young professionals while the interns gain experience of working in the field giving the confidence to be self-reliant.
- Professional graduates in disciplines such as Agriculture and allied areas, IT etc. will be eligible for an internship.
- Professionals who are pursuing or have completed their MBA degrees in Agri-business, Cooperation, Finance, International Trade, Forestry, Rural Development, Project Management etc. will also be eligible.
- Each intern will get financial support over a 4 months internship period.
June 13, 2020
FSSAI Food Safety Index for 2019-20
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently released its Food Safety report for 2019-20.

Food safety has been in news this year quite frequent. Do make a note of following – Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Red Octagon, Eat Right Movement, Food Safety Mitra etc.

The Food Safety Index
- The index ranks states on five parameters of food safety: human resources and institutional data, compliance, food testing facility, training and capacity building besides consumer empowerment.
- This is the second index on food safety, which FSSAI released on the occasion of World Food Safety Day with the theme “Food Safety is everyone’s business”.
- It was dedicated to those in the supply chain who have ensured the uninterrupted availability of safe food during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights of the report
- Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have topped an index that ranked states ensuring food safety in 2019-20.
- Among the smaller states, Goa came first followed by Manipur and Meghalaya.
- Among UTs, Chandigarh, Delhi and the Andaman Islands secured top ranks.
Back2Basics: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
- It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
- It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
June 13, 2020
Migrants and COVID
In this Article, we highlight some facts about migration in India, summarize key relief measures announced by the government and directives issued by the Supreme Court for the migrant population in relation to the lockdown.
Background

India has been in lock down since March 25, 2020.

During this time, the activities of production and supply of goods and services are on the lower side of growth.

Not surprisingly, the lock down has severely impacted migrants, several of whom lost their jobs due to shutting of industries and were stranded outside their native places wanting to get back.

Since then, the government has announced relief measures for migrants like in Atmanirbhar package, and made arrangements for migrants to return to their native place like Shramik trains.

On June 9, the Supreme Court directed central and state governments to complete transportation of remaining stranded migrants and expand focus of relief measures to facilitate employment for returning migrants.

The phenomenon of Migration

Migration is the movement of people away from their usual place of residence, across either internal (within country) or international (across countries) borders.

As per the Census 2011, India had 45.6 crore migrants in 2011 (38% of the population) compared to 31.5 crore migrants in 2001 (31% of the population).

Between 2001 and 2011, while population grew by 18%, the number of migrants increased by 45%.

In 2011, 99% of total migration was internal and immigrants (international migrants) comprised 1%.

Patterns of migration

Internal migrant flows can be classified on the basis of origin and destination.

One kind of classification is: i) rural-rural, ii) rural-urban, iii) urban-rural and iv) urban-urban.

As per the 2011 census, there were 21 crore rural-rural migrants which formed 54% of classifiable internal migration.

Rural-urban and urban-urban movement accounted for around 8 crore migrants each.

There were around 3 crore urban-rural migrants (7% of classifiable internal migration).

Another way to classify migration is: (i) intra-state, and (ii) inter-state.

In 2011, intra-state movement accounted for almost 88% of all internal migration (39.6 crore persons).

According to the 2011 Census, there were 5.4 crore inter-state migrants.

As of 2011, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were the largest source of inter-state migrants while Maharashtra and Delhi were the largest receiver states.

Inter-state Migration (in lakh)

Note: A Net out-migrant state is one where more people migrate out of the state than those that migrate into the state. Net in-migration is the excess of incoming migrants over out-going migrants.

Reasons for internal migration and size of migrant labour force

As of 2011, majority (70%) of intra-state migration was due to reasons of marriage and family.

While 83% of females moved for marriage and family, the corresponding figure for males was 39%.

Overall, 8% of people moved within a state for work (21% of male migrants and 2% of female migrants).

Movement for work was higher among inter-state migrants– 50% of male and 5% of female inter-state migrants.

Reasons for intra-state migration

Reasons for inter-state migration

Scope for Higher numbers

According to the Economic survey, 2016-17, Census data underestimates temporary migrant labour movement.

In 2007-08, the NSSO estimated the size of India’s migrant labour at 7 crore (29% of the workforce).

The Economic Survey, 2016-17, estimated 6 crore inter-state labour migrants between 2001-2011.

The Economic Survey also estimated that in each year between 2011-2016, on average 90 lakh people travelled for work.

Issues faced by migrant labour

People migrating for work face key challenges including:

Poor implementation of protections under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 (ISMW Act)

The ISMW Act provides certain protections for inter-state migrant workers.

Labour contractors recruiting migrants are required to: (i) be licensed, (ii) register migrant workers with the government authorities, and (iii) arrange for the worker to be issued a passbook recording their identity.

Guidelines regarding wages and protections (including accommodation, free medical facilities, protective clothing) to be provided by the contractor are also outlined in the law.

In December 2011, a report by the Standing Committee on Labour observed that registration of workers under the ISMW Act was low and implementation of protections outlined in the Act was poor.

The report concluded that the Central government had not made any concrete and fruitful efforts to ensure that contractors and employers mandatorily register the workers employed with them enabling access to benefits under the Act.

Lack of portability of benefits

Migrants registered to claim access to benefits at one location lose access upon migration to a different location.

This is especially true of access to entitlements under the PDS.

Ration card required to access benefits under the PDS is issued by state governments and is not portable across states.

This system excludes inter-state migrants from the PDS unless they surrender their card from the home state and get a new one from the host state.

Lack of affordable housing and basic amenities in urban areas

The proportion of migrants in urban population is 47%.

In 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs identified migrants in urban areas as the largest population needing housing in cities.

The Prime Minister Awaas Yojana (PMAY) is a central government scheme to help the economically weaker section and low-income group access housing.

Assistance under the scheme includes: i) slum rehabilitation, ii) subsidised credit for home loans, iii) subsidies up to Rs 1.5 lakh to either construct a new house or enhance existing houses on their own and iv) increasing availability of affordable housing units in partnership with the private sector.

Since housing is a state subject, there is variation in approach of States towards affordable housing.

Steps taken by the government with regard to migrant labour during the lockdown

Measures taken by the government to aid migrants include-

Transport:

On March 28, the central government authorised states to use the State Disaster Response Fund to provide accommodation to traveling migrants.

States were advised to set up relief camps along highways with medical facilities to ensure people stay in these camps while the lock down is in place.

On April 29, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed states to co-ordinate individually to transport migrants using buses.

On May 1, the Indian Railways resumed passenger movement with Shramik Special trains to facilitate movement of migrants stranded outside their home state.

Between May 1 and June 3, Indian Railways operated 4,197 Shramik trains transporting more than 58 lakh migrants.

Food distribution:

On April 1, the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs directed state governments to operate relief camps for migrant workers with arrangements for food, sanitation and medical services.

On May 14, under the 2nd Tranche of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, the Finance Minister announced that free food grains would be provided to migrant workers who do not have a ration card for two months.

The measure is expected to benefit 8 crore migrant workers and their families.

The Finance Minister also announced that One Nation One Ration card will be implemented by March 2021, to provide portable benefits under the PDS.

Housing:

The Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan also launched a scheme for Affordable Rental Housing Complexes for Migrant Workers and Urban Poor to provide affordable rental housing units under PMAY.

The scheme proposes to use existing housing stock under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Housing Mission (JnNURM) as well as incentivise public and private agencies to construct new affordable units for rent.

Further, additional funds have been allocated for the credit linked subsidy scheme under PMAY for middle income group.

Financial aid:

Some state governments (like Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh) announced one-time cash transfers for returning migrant workers.

Example: UP government announced provision of maintenance allowance of Rs 1,000 for returning migrants.

Directions by the Supreme Court

On May 26, the Court issued an order to the central and state governments to submit a response detailing all measures taken by the respective governments for migrant labourers.

On May 28, the Court provided interim directions to the central and state/UT governments for ensuring relief to the migrant workers: i) no train or bus fare should be charged to migrant workers, ii) free food should be provided to stranded migrants by the concerned State/UT government and this information should be publicised, iii) States should simplify and speed-up the process of registration of migrants for transport and those registered should be provided transportation at the earliest and iv) the state receiving migrants should provide last-mile transport, health screening and other facilities free of cost.

Reiterating their earlier directions, on June 5 (full order issued on June 9), the Supreme Court further directed the governments to ensure: i) transportation of all stranded workers wanting to return to their native place is completed within 15 days, ii) identification of migrant workers is immediately completed and the process of migrant registration be decentralised to police stations and local authorities, iii) records of returning migrant labourers are kept including details about place of earlier employment and nature of their skills, and iv) counselling centres are set-up at the block level to provide information about central and state government schemes and other avenues of employment.

The Court also directed the state/UT governments to consider withdrawal of prosecution/complaints under Section 51 of Disaster Management Act filed against migrant labourers who allegedly violated lockdown orders.

Try to answer the question:

Explain the structure and pattern of migration in India. Highlight the issues faced by them along with discussing some solutions that can be provided by center and state governments.

There is no denying the fact that the troubles of migrants are far from over even after they reach their home states. The issues of employment and sustenance need a serious policy revision both from the center and state governments.
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Reference source: https://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/migration-india-and-impact-lockdown-migrants
June 12, 2020
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ‘India Rankings 2020’
The National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking list has been released by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Practice question for mains:

Q. What is NIRF? Discuss the parameters and methodology used in the ranking. Also, discuss its key features and limitations.

About NIRF
- The NIRF is a methodology adopted by the Ministry of HRD to rank institutions of higher education in India.
- The Framework was approved and on 29 September 2015.
- There are separate rankings for different types of institutions depending on their areas of operation like universities and colleges, engineering institutions, management institutions, pharmacy institutions and architecture institutions.
- The ranking framework evaluates institutions on five broad generic groups of parameters, i.e. Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Perception (PR).
Why need such rankings?
- Rankings help universities to improve their performance on various ranking parameters and identify gaps in research and areas of improvement.
- The ranking is necessary for transparency and healthy competition.
Highlights of the 2020 rankings
- IIT Madras retains 1^st Position in Overall Ranking as well as in Engineering,
- Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru tops the University list.
- IIM Ahmedabad tops in Management Category and AIIMS occupies the top slot in Medical category for a third consecutive year.
- Miranda College retains 1^st position amongst colleges for a third consecutive year.
- Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi secures 1^st position in “Dental” category, dental institutions included for the first time in India Rankings 2020.
June 12, 2020
The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)
The govt. has launched the TULIP program for providing internship opportunities to fresh Graduates in all ULBs & Smart Cities.

Possible prelims question:

Q. The TULIP program recently seen in news is related to: HRD/Floriculture/Urban Livelihood etc.

TULIP
- TULIP is a portal jointly developed by the Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
- It will help reap the benefits of India’s demographic dividend as it is poised to have the largest working-age population in the world in the coming years.
- It would help enhance the value-to-market of India’s graduates and help create a potential talent pool in diverse fields like urban planning, transport engineering, environment, municipal finance etc.
- It will further the Government’s endeavours to boost community partnership and government- academia-industry-civil society linkages.
- This launch is also an important stepping stone for the fulfillment of MHRD and AICTE’s goal of 1 crore successful internships by the year 2025.
Why need such a program?
- India has a substantial pool of technical graduates for whom exposure to real-world project implementation and planning is essential for professional development.
- General education may not reflect the depth of productive knowledge present in society.
- Instead of approaching education as ‘doing by learning,’ our societies need to reimagine education as ‘learning by doing.’
June 5, 2020
PM Swanidhi Scheme for street vendors
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a micro-credit facility for street vendors under the Swanidhi Scheme.

Try this question from CSP 2016:

Q.Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to

(a) rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide then with suitable sources of livelihood

(b) release the sex workers from the practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood

(c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavenger

(d) release the bonded labourers free their bondage and rehabilitate them

PM Swanidhi Scheme
- The Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme is aimed at benefiting over 50 lakh vendors who had their businesses operational on or before March 24.
- The scheme was announced by Finance Minister as a part of the economic package for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
- The loans are meant to help kick-start activity for vendors who have been left without any income since the lockdown was implemented on March 25.
- The scheme is valid until March 2022.
Expected beneficiaries
- This loan will be given to those who run shops on the roadside, handcart or streetcar.
- Fruit-vegetable, laundry, saloon and paan shops are also included in this category.
Facilities provided under the scheme
- The vendors will be able to apply for a working capital loan of up to ₹10,000, which is repayable in monthly instalments within a year.
- On timely/early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy of 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through direct benefit transfer on a six-monthly basis.
- The loans would be without collateral. There will be no penalty on early repayment of the loan.
June 2, 2020
PM-CARES is not a public authority under RTI Act
The PMO has refused to disclose details on the creation and operation of the PM-CARES Fund, telling a Right to Information applicant that the fund is “not a public authority” under the ambit of the RTI Act, 2005.

Practice question for mains:

Q. The PM-CARES fund is an old wine in a new bottle. Discuss its feasibility and how it is different in context to the PMNRF.

About PM-CARES Fund
- The fund will be a public charitable trust under the name of ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’.
- The PM is Chairman of this trust and members include the Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.
- Contributions to the fund will qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending that companies are mandated to make.
- The Fund accepts micro-donations as well.
Not a public authority
- The PMO cited a Supreme Court observation that indiscriminate and impractical demands under RTI Act for disclosure of all and sundry information would be counterproductive.
- PM-CARES Fund is not a Public Authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.
- However, relevant information in respect of PM-CARES Fund may be seen on its website.
Then, what makes an authority, Public?

The relevant section of the RTI Act defines a “public authority” as “any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted —
- by or under the Constitution;
- by any other law made by Parliament;
- by any other law made by State Legislature;
- by the notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government — and includes any (i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed; (ii) NGO substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate govt.
Arguments against PM-CARES
- The fund carries a public name, the composition of the trust, control, usage of an emblem, government domain name etc. that signifies it as a public authority.
- PM is the ex-officio chairman of the Trust, while three cabinet ministers are ex-officio trustees.
- The composition of the trust is enough to show that Government exercises substantive control over the trust, making it a public authority.
June 2, 2020
What is the National Numbering Plan?
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended that a new National Numbering Plan be issued at the earliest so that a uniquely identifiable number can be provided to every subscriber in India.

The TRAI and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal are quite often seen in the news. Most recent was the dispute risen due to AGR dues.

TRAI has a wide range of jurisdiction over Telecoms. Keep a track on all such news.

National Numbering Plan
- The management of numbering resources is governed by the National Numbering Plan.
- The Department of Telecom administers the numbers for fixed and the mobile networks based on the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) recommendations.
- TRAI has recommended automated allocation of numbering resources be done using number management system software to speed up the process
Broadly, the TRAI has recommended:
- switching to an 11-digit mobile number,
- reallocation of mobile numbering resources surrendered by operators who have shut shop and
- prefixing zero for all mobile calls made from fixed line
Issues with 11 digit number
- TRAI said that some serious problems are anticipated with a change in the mobile number from 10 to 11 digits.
- Migrating to 11 digits would require widespread modifications in the configuration of switches involving cost.
- This would also cause inconvenience to the customers in the form of dialling extra digits and updating phone memory.
- This could lead to more dialling errors, traffic, and loss of revenue to telecom operators.
Still, why need a plan as such?
- The total number of telephone subscribers in India stands at 1,177.02 million with a teledensity of 87.45% at the end of January 2020.
- This increasing digitization would pave the way towards the dream of digital India and mobile economy.
- Thus, it has become necessary to review the utilization of numbering resources in the country.
- Considering the above scenario the implementation of the TRAI’s recommendation with solutions to possible issues would help for sustainable growth of the telecommunication services.
- Hence TRAI needs to review the utilization of the numbering resources and make some policy decisions to ensure that adequate resources are available for sustainable growth of the telecom services.
Back2Basics: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
- The TRAI is a statutory body set up under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
- It is the regulator of the telecommunications and its tariffs in India.
- The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
- TRAI regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, interconnections, quality of service, DTH services and mobile number portability.
June 1, 2020