{"id":212953,"date":"2022-11-03T20:04:37","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T14:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=212953"},"modified":"2022-11-03T20:04:37","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T14:34:37","slug":"empowering-gati-shakti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/empowering-gati-shakti\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Gati Shakti"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Source<\/strong>: The post is based on an article\u00a0\u201c<\/strong>Empowering Gati Shakti\u201d <\/strong>published in\u00a0Business Standard<\/strong>\u00a0on\u00a03rd<\/sup> November 2022<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Syllabus: GS 3 \u2013 Information Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n

Relevance: <\/strong>reforms in Internet connectivity and its benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

News: <\/strong>\u00a0The article discusses the importance of telecommunication in the development of India and Gati Shakti.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is Gati Shakti and what are its aims?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Gati Shakti<\/strong> or the National Master Plan for logistics development<\/strong> on a digital platform was introduced in October 2021.<\/p>\n

It is based on the recommendations of the National Transport Development Policy Committee<\/strong> in January 2014.<\/p>\n

It establishes digitised institutional processes for comprehensive, integrated project planning and execution to assist ministries and\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0sectors. Thus, aiming at more efficient outcomes at reduced cost and time for logistics.<\/p>\n

Gati Shakti also includes digitised database<\/strong> and portal along with geographic positioning capabilities<\/strong>. However, the effectiveness of Gati Shakti platform depends on telecommunications reform.<\/p>\n

What does the different reports highlight on the importance of telecommunication?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A study conducted by World bank<\/strong> shows the importance of telecommunications (and electricity) for growth.<\/p>\n

Further a report published by Asian Development Bank<\/strong> confirms that internet and mobile density contribute to their high rate of growth in India and China.<\/p>\n

Therefore, there is a need to change the policy for telecommunication as it impacts many sectors.<\/p>\n

Which sectors have impact of telecommunication?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Environmental care & climate mitigation:<\/strong> Effective broadband coverage and shared networks improve both.<\/p>\n

Education and work life<\/strong>: Effective broadband coverage will enable learning in rural areas and provide employment opportunities.<\/p>\n

There are other areas such as e-commerce, distributed healthcare, government services, entertainment where broadband services are required.<\/p>\n

Therefore, there is a need to bring the reform in the policy to enable the use of internet services on wide-range.<\/p>\n

What are the reforms required?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

First,<\/strong> there is a need for inexpensive, higher capacity connectivity by enabling spectrum usage for wireless and shared networks.<\/p>\n

Second,<\/strong> there is a need to increase the network coverage along with high-speed wireless network at a reduced cost.<\/p>\n

Third,<\/strong> India has enabled restricted use of 60 GHz but government should permit telcos to use 60 and 70-80 GHz \u201cmmWave\u201d technology for pay-for-use backhaul<\/strong> with no extra cost (auctions, extra taxes).<\/p>\n