The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry announced extension of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) of Government of India. The present Policy which came into force on 1st April 2015, was for 5 years and was extended thereafter upto 31st March, 2021. In view of the unprecedented situation arising out of the pandemic Novel COVID-19, which is persisting, the Government has decided to continue benefits under various export promotion schemes by extending existing Foreign Trade Policy by another six months i.e. up to 30th September, 2021 which will provide continuity in the policy regime. Similar extension is made in the related procedures, by extending validity of HandBook of Procedures. 

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has brought out 'BIS Talks' Films series on standardization in different technology sectors. The films are primarily educational in nature and present an overview of the standardization activities carried out through Technical Committees of BIS. It is envisaged that this knowledge would enable various stakeholders such as industry, academia, research & development institutions, Govt. Bodies, laboratories etc. to reap the benefits of standardization and also to contribute towards strengthening it through their valuable inputs. The 'BIS Talks' Films can be accessed through our website www.bis.gov.in or directly through the link  http://203.153.41.213:8081/php/bistalks/.

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.  

• IS 18000: 2020 Unified Digital Infrastructure - ICT Reference Architecture (UDI-ICTRA)

• IS 18010 (Part 1): 2020 Unified Digital Infrastructure - Unified Last Mile Communication Protocols Stack Part 1 Reference Architecture (UDI – ULMCPS – RA)

• IS 18003 (Part 1): 2020    Unified Data Exchange Part 1 Architecture

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.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will, from now on, also look after the development of Ropeways and Alternate Mobility Solutions. The move is expected to give a boost to the sector, by setting up a regulatory regime, and facilitating research and new technology to come into this sector. An amendment to the Government of India  Rules, 1961 has been notified, to enable this step. This means that the Ministry will have responsibility for development of ropeway and alternative mobility solutions technology, as well as construction, research, and policy in this area. Formulation of institutional, financial, and regulatory framework for the technology will also fall under the ambit of this move.

Fime has collaborated with the Government of India to develop and launch the testing infrastructure for India’s National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). Part of the national Make in India program, the ambitious initiative will deliver ‘One nation, one mobility card’ to bring unity, efficiency and smoother end-to-end travel experiences to India. Fime has become the first transit testing lab in India. Its technical consultancy, next-gen test tool and testing services are now helping local vendors, transit operators and banks to define, design, deliver and test automated fare collection (AFC) systems with confidence. 

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.

Auto industry body SIAM sought government support for localisation of electronic components, specially semiconductors, which is currently facing a global shortage, stating it would need huge investments. The shortage of semiconductors globally due to a spike in demand from the consumer electronics industry during the COVID-19 lockdowns has impacted automobile manufacturers in India as well. Semiconductors have become a crucial part in modern cars with increased electronic components and connectivity features.