The BIS has shared the Indian Standards catalogue and guidelines for adoption of Indian Standards with National Standards Bodies (NSBs) of 21 countries with whom India has cooperation arrangements.  This is to create awareness on indigenous Indian Standards among developing and least developed countries and to encourage them to use these wherever suitable, the consumer affairs ministry has urged the external affairs ministry to disseminate information on free availability of indigenous Indian Standards in countries through Indian missions.

The DoT has directed to give preference to locally produced cybersecurity products in public procurement. “Preference has to be given to ‘Make in India’ cyber security products in public procurement by central ministries/departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and government organisations,” the DoT said in a circular issued. The development came after the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology said that it was awash with complaints from droves of indigenous cyber product companies about the challenges, they were facing in participating in public procurement of such products.

With an eye on supporting domestic manufacturers, the government proposed an increase in customs duty on certain imported components used in automobiles. In the Budget 2021-22, the Finance Minister proposed an increase in customs duty of various parts including ignition wiring sets, safety glass and parts of signalling equipment to 15 % with effect from February. The government said the changes in basic customs duty is for creating a level-playing field for the benefit of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other domestic manufacturers.

The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) has been launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). The event was attended by Secretary, MoHUA & Secretary, MeitY and other officers of the Central and State Governments were also present at the launch.  Several other digital initiatives of MoHUA vis. India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX), SmartCode, Smart Cities 2.0 website, and Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS) were also launched.  These initiatives are among the ongoing efforts of both Ministries to realize the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India and AtmaNirbhar Bharat, by making cities more self-reliant and enabled to meet the needs of and provide services to their citizens.

• India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX): IUDX has been developed in partnership between the Smart Cities Mission and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. IUDX serves as a seamless interface for data providers and data users, including ULBs, to share, request, and access datasets related to cities, urban governance, and urban service delivery. IUDX is an open-source software platform which facilitates the secure, authenticated, and managed exchange of data amongst various data platforms, 3rd party authenticated and authorised applications, and other sources. 

• SmartCode Platform:  SmartCode is a platform that enables all ecosystem stakeholders to contribute to a repository of open-source code for various solutions and applications for urban governance. It is designed to address the challenges that ULBs face in the development and deployment of digital applications to address urban challenges, by enabling cities to take advantage of existing codes and customising them to suit local needs, rather than having to develop new solutions from scratch. 

• New Smart Cities Website ver. 2.0 and GMIS: In order to better connect with people on the Smart Cities Missions efforts and achievements, and to make it easier for ULBs and citizens to access resources related to their work, the Smart Cities Mission website has been redesigned to serve as a single stop for all Smart Cities initiatives. The Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS) is integrated with this website.  

In each of the 100 Smart Cities across the country, the appointed City Data Officer (CDO) is currently undergoing a six-week training by the Centre’s Smart Cities Mission and Tata Trusts to reimagine how data and information can solve local issues. In the “Enabling Data Driven Decision Making in Urban Local Bodies” course, their chosen case studies showcase their city’s new technological objectives. “The Ministry has developed a structured course specifically designed for training in data. Everyone has to deal with data. The kind of energy the City Data Officers are showing — the program has flourished.

Stating that the smart cities concept does not have a single dimension of focusing on just big or small cities, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has said that the target is to develop more than 4,372 cities as smart cities. “Our target is to develop our 4,372 cities, along with other cities, as smart cities. To make this happen, cities should use their land, resources, local people, and skills to move on different path,” he said at the virtual 4th Smart Cities Summit & 2nd Smart Urban Innovation Awards, organized by FICCI in the Capital. He said that the learning of one city chosen under 100 smart cities should be spread to other cities so that it becomes a light house.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways & MSME has urged car manufacturers give priority to the indigenous production of flex engines, which can be used in vehicles using alternative fuels such as ethanol. Meeting a delegation of carmakers from the Society of India Automobile Manufacturers, the Minister said that, with ethanol beginning to be easily available in the country, and more than 70% of gasoline consumption being done by two-wheelers, there is a need to develop indigenous technology for flex fuel vehicles.

India’s transition to EVs has advanced rapidly in the past few years. A supportive policy environment, improving economics, and emerging business models have poised the EV market for significant growth in the coming decade.  Key barriers related to EV adoption—including technology cost, infrastructure availability, and consumer behavior—must be overcome.

NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute has come out with a report titled “Mobilising Finance for EVs in India”: A Toolkit of Solutions to Mitigate Risks and Address Market Barriers” which identified solutions to direct capital and financing to aid in India’s EV transition.

With electric vehicles fast becoming the new reality, Union Minister for MSME and Road Transport & Highways has stressed the need to emerge as pioneers in developing leading battery and power-train technologies. Noting that the challenge we presently face is the control on strategic reserves of Lithium, which is used to manufacture Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries used in vehicles, the Minister has called upon the EV sector to shift towards a completely indigenous battery technology in the coming years. This could be metal-air, metal-ion and other potential technologies in the R&D pipeline. 

• G.S.R. 148(E): Mandating dual airbags for all passenger cars in India. Read more/Download

• G.S.R. 136(E): regarding Notification for electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety. Public comments are invited until 25th March Read more/Download

• S.O 1433(E) regarding Implementations of sections of MV Act 2019. Read more

• G.S.R 220(E) regarding Concession in Motor Vehicle Taxes against submission of Certificate of Vehicle Scrapping. Read more

• G.S.R 190(E) regarding Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021. Read more

• G.S.R 173(E) regarding Construction, Equipment and Maintenance of Motor Vehicles. Read more

• S.O 1232(E) regarding Vehicle Recall formula.