EUROPE | JANUARY 2022| ISSUE 10

Message From SESEI

Greeting from Project SESEI!!!
Dear Readers,

I would like to begin by wishing you all a very Happy and safe 2022. I welcome you all to the tenth edition of the “SESEI newsletter - Europe.” Sharing of information and latest updates is one of key characteristic of the SESEI Project. It allows stakeholders to understand, stay abreast and take informed action based on the news and information shared with our readers.

I am also very happy to inform you that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), national standard development body of India, has published Indian Standard IS 17802-"Accessibility for ICT Products and Services, Part 1: Requirements" which is a technical adoption of European Standard EN 301 549 v3.2.1 as developed by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. The Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) has notified WTO of Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Systems (MTCTE) for Telephone sets, including telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks. Commerce and Industry Minister called for waiver of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in World Trade Organization (WTO) and dismantling new trade barriers in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government of India also launched National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to students.

The Smart Cities Mission has been falling behind the schedule and the covid pandemic has affected the completion of the projects. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has extended the timeline for the implementation of Smart Cities Mission to June 2023 due to the Covid pandemic and other reasons. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in collaboration with Smart Cities Mission, National Institute of Urban Affairs and GIZ India organized a Smart Move Innovative Urban Mobility Challenge, which was won by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee for their interactive passenger information system to predict the crowding levels in the public transit system.

A comprehensive sectoral report on the Smart Cities has been prepared by SESEI, providing details on the various initiatives and standards related activities carried out by the Govt. of India under the smart cities mission.

The automotive sector in India is buzzing with activities, a lot has been initiated by the Ministry of Heavy Industry (MoHI) to roll out the Electrical Vehicle (EV) vision of the country to achieve hundred percent electrical vehicles on the Indian roads by 2030. The Automotive Research Foundation of India (ARAI), Pune, is working on standardization of charging infrastructure, which is scheduled to be launched by the top of 2022, for fast charging, the prototype. Similarly, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay along with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) is working on developing flagship products, standardizing technical specifications and customizing solutions for the Indian EV charging ecosystem.

The Central government launched ‘E-Amrit’, a web portal on electric vehicles (EVs), at the ongoing COP26 Summit in United Kingdom’s Glasgow. E-Amrit is a one-stop destination for all information on electric vehicles–busting myths around the adoption of EVs. Several states have also formed their various EV policies and are encouraging people to adopt EVs with various subsidy schemes in a bid to reduce the carbon footprint.

We all know that Information Communication Technology will be the key sector for all industries and for the growth of the countries economy. Artificial Intelligence, blockchain and IoT/M2M will be leaving lasting impressions on the way we live. Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MEITY) released “National Strategy on Blockchain” with the vision to create trusted digital platforms. The Department of Telecommunication has created a technology innovation group focused on the 6G technology, with the hopes of taking the lead in global technology development. The Innovation Group will be focusing on creating roadmap for research and development (R&D), pre-standardization, application and product development, and action plans for 6G technology. C-DoT ( Centre of Development for Telematics has launched a Quantum Communication lab, becoming the first organization in the country to provide indigenous quantum secure telecom products and solutions.

The 5Gi standards developed by Telecom Standards Development Society of India (TSDSI), is all set to be formally incorporated in the global 5G standard (3GPP). The DoT has been coordinating with the global players for the incorporation of 5Gi with the 3GPP standard. The new ICT technologies also necessitates the need to have robust cyber security strategy. The National Security Council is working on the National Cybersecurity Strategy, over the last two years and is in the cabinet for the final stamp.

In the Realm of Green Energy and Resource efficiency, India is ensuring positive actions and steps. Apart from proposing tweaks in its laws to make it mandatory for industrial units to use a minimum share of green energy in overall electricity consumption as the country seeks to move away from fossil fuels and fight climate change. The government is also working on providing fiscal incentives to encourage a circular economy. Extended producer liability in 11 sectors or products and a refund option for products after use besides some other fiscal sops could be introduced to aid the switch to circular economy from a linear one.

Both India and European Union have also agreed to work together in the areas of clean energy with a focus on offshore wind, green hydrogen, and solar power besides deciding to encourage investments in the field of energy efficiency. Some of the areas identified for cooperation included ensuring nearly zero energy buildings and renewable energy sources, including solar and offshore wind

Similar, interesting articles and updates from the other priority sectors are provided in this newsletter. As always, we look forward to your comments and suggestions to further improvise it. Happy New Year and happy reading once again.

Hope you will find this Newsletter informative. Happy Reading!!!!

Warm regards,
Dinesh Chand Sharma (Seconded European Standardization Expert in India)
Director – Standards & Public Policy
Mobile: +91 9810079461, Desk: +91 11 3352 1525
E-mail: dinesh.chand.sharma@sesei.eu

Read More ⇾

Message From SESEI

Read More ⇾

Standards/ TBTs / IPR-Market Access

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) adopted EN 301 549 Standard as Indian Standard

2022-01-10 354 0

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standard development body of India, has published Indian Standard IS 17802-"Accessibility for ICT Products and Services, Part 1: Requirements" which is the technical adoption of European Standard EN 301 549-"Accessibility Requirements of ICT Products and Services" developed by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. Modifications have been made to adapt it to India and are limited to referencing the relevant regulatory context (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016) and the official languages of India.

TAGS #standards

Read More ⇾

Prime Minister Calls for Stable Global Supply Chain and Cyber Security Standards

2022-01-10 141 0

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS), called for a resilient and stable global supply chain and raised the idea of developing global standards on cyber security. The PM's comments on developing global standards on cyber security are significant amid allegations of hacking by China.

TAGS #standards

Read More ⇾

TEC Applies for TBT with WTO to notify (MTCTE) – Phase III & IV

2022-01-10 233 0

India has submitted TBT notification - G/TBT/N/IND/218” related to 8517 - Telephone sets, including telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks “ to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for protection of human safety and Quality. This TBT was filed by the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC), under the Department of Telecommunications to notify Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Systems (MTCTE) – Phase III & IV.

TAGS #standards

Read More ⇾

National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) launched

2022-01-10 126 0

A National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) under the initiative of the Government's "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav", has been launched by Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT on 8/12/2021. The pan-India ambitious mission aims to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to 1 million students. It aims to inculcate the spirit of creativity and innovation to students of higher education (classes 8 to 12) and ignite and inspire the students at college/Universities to innovate and protect their creations. During the launch, Govt. emphasized the importance of the role of a strong IPR ecosystem in the advancement of a country and how IPR is an important tool for the IP holder to become a "Job giver rather than job seeker".

TAGS #NIPAM

Read More ⇾

Commerce and Industry Minister Reiterates Call for IPR Waiver at WTO

2022-01-10 132 0

Commerce and Industry Minister called for waiver of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in World Trade Organization (WTO) and dismantling new trade barriers in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In October 2020, India and South Africa had submitted the first proposal, suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) in relation to the prevention, containment, or treatment of Covid-19. In May, a revised proposal was submitted by 62 co-sponsors, including India, South Africa, and Indonesia. The TRIPS agreement came into effect in January 1995.

TAGS #industry

Read More ⇾