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.

• Implementation of Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 - Notification of RE items under para-3(a) of PPP-MII Order. Read more

• Pre-qualification criteria for Elevator/Lifts. Read more

• Misclassification of Goods as Works in procurement. Read more

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With the aim of taking the lead in implementing 5G, India’s ongoing project to set up ‘Indigenous 5G Test Bed’ which was launched in March 2018, with a total cost of 224.01 million, is expected to be ready by October, 2021 to improve the national capability in telecommunications technology, which fills the Indian telecommunications manufacturers. To provide test beds full access for research teams to work on new concepts or ideas that have potential for standardization in India and on a global scale, make a test bed available for Indian operators to understand the workings of 5G technologies and security aspects and to plan their future. networks are among the main objectives of the ‘5G Test Bed’.

The Centre is going to launch a National Programme on AI soon. The programme will identify high value data sets in the public sector and provide access to the data to AI models. The government will also set up a Centre for Transformational AI to tap the data in various sectors and make it available for AI models, according to Joint Secretary, MEITY. The govt. will launch Digital India 2.0 with an aim to take the digital service offerings, infrastructure and cyber security to next level. More services will be offered through digital platforms, India will focus on developing indigenous cybersecurity products and robust digital infrastructure.

DoT is likely to issue guidelines on implementation of production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes for manufacturers in the sector and start inviting applications for the same. Telecom gear makers firms such as Ericsson and Nokia are keen to expand their operations in India, and global companies like Samsung, Cisco, Ciena and Foxconn have "shown interest" to set up manufacturing bases in the country for telecom and networking products for domestic and export markets. "Telecom PLI has already been approved by the government. The DoT is ready with guidelines to implement it, application format, incentive allocation, etc.

The government eased the path for 5G rollout in the country by reducing to six months the notice period for offering any new technology using the spectrum being put up for auction in March. Earlier, the Telecom department DoT has asked telecom operators to give one year notice before starting any technology using spectrum across the seven frequency bands that will be offered in auction on March 1. "In case of switching over to different technology while rolling out the networks for compliance of roll out obligations, information regarding the new technology should be given at least six months before any new technology base station is offered for testing," the amendment in the spectrum auction clause released by the DoT said.