The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in India is responsible for the implementation of two significant schemes. These initiatives are known as the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) and the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE).
SHRESHTA focuses on providing financial assistance to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) undertaking educational projects for students belonging to Scheduled Castes. This scheme covers three types of projects, namely Residential Schools, Non-Residential Schools, and Hostels for primary and secondary level students. Recently, a new component called Mode-I has been introduced to promote quality residential education for meritorious Scheduled Castes students in top-class residential high schools via a national entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
SMILE, however, aims to provide support for marginalized individuals in terms of livelihood and enterprise. Unfortunately, this scheme does not cover people from the Scheduled Castes.
Indian Government’s Response to Cybercrime
The Indian government had been diligent in implementing measures to combat cybercrime and other related criminal activities within the country. A significant step in this direction is the establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The I4C serves as a platform in dealing with cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated way.
To address online criminal activities, the I4C has recommended the blocking of over 500 internet-based applications that have been found to be involved in illegal activities. Additionally, they’ve launched the National Database of Offends of Foreign Origin (NDOFO). This registry contains information about foreigners involved in crimes in the country which covers both convicted and accused foreign offenders.
To supplement this, the National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) was launched, providing a searchable registry of convicts involved in sexual crimes including rape, molestation, stalking and child abuse. The NDSO currently holds records of 13 lakh offenders.
Further, a cyber fraud helpline number 1930 has been established to aid victims of financial fraud, enabling relevant agencies to freeze the involved SIM card and bank account.
Policy Improvements in J&K
During the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (ASSOCHAM) annual meeting, the Indian government outlined its strategy for creating conducive investment environment in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). They plan to improve law and order situations and introduce beneficial policies.
A key goal is to decrease logistics costs to 7.5% of GDP from the current 13%. This will be facilitated by a planned investment of ₹100 lakh crore in infrastructure, which includes initiatives such as doubling railway lines, dedicated freight corridors, and 11 industrial corridors.
India and Romania Defence Cooperation
The Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations of Romania had a bilateral meeting with Indian officials to discuss matters including military cooperation, joint defence development and production, and capacity building. An Agreement on Defence Cooperation was signed, reinforcing bilateral defence relations.
Both parties discussed regional security challenges and committed to enhance cooperation in all defence sectors. This interaction showcased the growing relationship between India and Romania in the field of defence, highlighting their joint aim to enhance capabilities, promote stability, and ensure security in their respective regions.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024